I. Israel’s Memorial Day, 7-8 May 2019 – Yom Ha-Zikaron

HONOURING THE FALLEN

Many countries have a specific day set aside to remember and honour those persons who fell in war. In the USA, the last Monday in May is set aside for Memorial Day.  In Newfoundland and Labrador, in Canada, 1 July every year is Memorial Day. Across the Commonwealth, the second Sunday in November is set aside for a memorial day called Remembrance Sunday. In Sweden, Veteran’s Day is observed annually on 29 May, when Swedes honour those serving in the Armed Forces in international military and peace-keeping operations, as well as commemorating those who died during their service.

Israel’s first dedicated Memorial Day stamp, marking the 1966 ceremonies. The 40 Agorot stamp was designed by Oswald Adler and it was issued on 20 April 1966. It shows the monument in memory of the ‘Liberators of Galilee’ inaugurated in 1959

Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers – Yom Ha-Zikaron – is marked each year on the 4th of the Hebrew month of Iyar or in proximity to that date. In 2019, it will be held from the evening of Tuesday 7 May until the evening of Wednesday 8 May.

Illustration on the official First Day Cover issued in 1966 to carry the Memorial Day stamp. It shows the Lower Galilee monument to the fallen

Yom Ha-Zikaron is observed for all Israeli military personnel who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for those who have been killed subsequently while on active duty in Israel’s armed forces.  It is always marked one day before Independence Day, emphasising and symbolising the connection between the fallen and the establishment of the State of Israel.

55 Agorot stamp designed by Eliezer Weisshoff and issued on 24 April 1968 to mark Yom Ha-Zikaron that year. The tab shows the IDF insignia with the inscription, ‘Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Defence Army 1968’. The stamp motif is symbolic, depicting three rifles crossed over

Israel’s day of memorial is anchored in law, with the Knesset passing the ‘Heroes’ Remembrance Day (War of Independence and Israel Defense Army) Law’ in 1963. Through an amendment in 1980, it was  renamed in the ‘Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars Law’. The significance of the change was that from then on Yom Ha-Zikaron would be a day to honour not only those who fell in the creation of the state, but all those killed in action during pre-state battles as well.

Illustration on the official First Day Cover issued for the 1968 Memorial Day stamp, expressing… ‘Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Defence Army 1968’.

Indeed, the commemoration has also been extended to include civilian victims of terrorism. Memorial Day is also in commemoration for deceased members of the Israeli Police, the General Security Service, and the Mossad.

1.85 Israeli Pound stamp designed by D. Cohen, issued on 25 April 1976 to mark Yom Ha-Zikaron that year. It shows the memorial to the fallen of the 8th Division at the entrance to Ben-Gurion Airport

Memorial Day begins at sundown and ends at sundown the following day. All places of entertainment in the country close and the President broadcasts a speech of condolence to bereaved families.

The tab inscription reads, ‘Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Defense Forces – 1976’

Events open at 8:00 p.m. with a one-minute siren across the country, followed by a national ceremony held at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The ceremony is attended by the President and the Chief of Staff. Other gatherings and services are held across Israel.

Illustration on the official First Day Cover issued to carry the 1976 Memorial Day stamp

The following day, a two-minute siren is sounded across the state at 11:00 a.m., followed by national memorial services held in all military cemeteries. These are attended by the families of the fallen, public figures and representatives of the government, police and the security forces. The central service is held at the military cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem.

One of the 1.50 Israeli Pound stamps from a sheet issued on 23 April 1978 marking Yom Ha-Zikaron. The sheet carried 15 separate stamps illustrated with children’s art

The services held in military cemeteries across the country include the lowering of the state’s flag to half-mast, prayers, a speech by a public figure such as Knesset members and government ministers, and wreath-laying by representatives of institutions and organisations.

Another of the stamps from the sheet marking Yom Ha-Zikaron, 1978. The art was part of memorial wall at ‘Yad Lebanim Museum’, in Petah Tikva

The ceremonies usually end with a military gun salute. Other ceremonies are held at memorials for the fallen, educational institutes, military bases and public institutions. The media broadcasts programs on the fallen, their acts of bravery and their heritage.

A national service is held at 13:00 in memory of victims of terrorist acts, taking place at the central memorial in their honor at Mt. Herzl. All services during this day are held by the local authorities and IDF representatives. A torch-lighting ceremony at Mt. Herzl is the closing event of the Memorial Day, and the opening ceremony for Independence Day.

1.20 NIS stamp designed by D. Ben Hador and issued on 18 April 1999 to mark Yom Ha-Zikaron, 1999. The stamp shows the monument for Bedouin soldiers who gave their lives for the country. It is located in Alonim Reserve, also known as the Rish Lakish National Park, near route 77 at the Bedouin Fighter Junction near the Beit Natofa reservoir. Designed by architect Afri Degany,  the monument is reminiscent of a Bedouin tent

The first Israeli postage stamp marking Yom Ha-Zikaron was issued on 20 April 1966. It illustrated the monument inaugurated 60-years ago on 4 April 1959 by President Ben Zvi, and  in memory of the ‘Liberators of Galilee’. The monument is built from light-coloured stone from the quarries of Lower Galilee, and it was designed by Dr. Asher Hiram (1897-1973), a Jerusalem architect of Hungarian origin.

1.50 NIS stamp designed by H. Kivkovitz and issued on 3 May 2005 to. mark Memorial Day, 2005. The stamp shows the Memorial for the Last of Kin, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem. The ‘Last of Kin’ were Holocaust survivors, the last remnants of their families, who immigrated to Israel and were killed during their army service in Israel’s wars

A second selection of Israeli Memorial Day stamps will be posted in April 2020, in less than a year.