With the state of our world right now, it’s easy to get caught up in the politicization of moments and forget the daily human elements and connections that mean so much.  Israel’s commemoration of Yom HaZikaron, a memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, takes place this week (April 20^th-21^st).  I worry that there are some who are too busy focusing on the war with Iran and Lebanon who might forget the significance of this day; a day intentionally placed to stop us in our tracks and help us remember.

To many, the more than 25,000 Israeli soldiers and upwards of 4,000 civilians who were victims of war and terror since 1860 aren’t just the fallen. Israel has mandatory military service which translates into each of these names being husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons, daughters, friends, teachers, lovers, co-workers and neighbors. Each one had a regular life, a purpose; someone who missed them. The popular song Giborei Al, released by Hatikvah 6 and translated here by David Arkin, puts this ordinariness eloquently.  

So, the Tanakh teacher is in Givati 

The language teacher in Modi’in 

The neighbor from above a builder, but already a month has been in milu’im 

The lawyer she’s an Operations Officer 

Carrying out shifts in the Agudah 

Her brothers a Hitech exec, now a sniper on the roofs of the Re’zu’ah 

The tough manager of the bank branch, she’s a Sam’gad in Yehudah and Shomron 

Doron, he’s an owner of a toy shop, now a company commander in Shirion 

And our Armedi, kaparah, who mostly sings in Caesarea 

A combat engineer recovering heroically after he was injured in the heart of Gaza 

It’s true that everyone here looks ordinary, but  

We’re a nation of Superheroes 

Within each one conceals a soldier 

Ready to save the world 

Maybe not even Superheroes, maybe just regular people who give of themselves to care for the safety and security of their fellow Israelis.  Individuals who need us to momentarily look past the politics, the disagreements, the fear, the sadness, the hope, the anger, and every other emotion that fills our hearts and minds each day so we can recite their names and celebrate and cherish their memories on Yom HaZikaron. That is our lasting tribute, our Yizkor (remembrance) for them.   If you’re looking to honor a fallen soldier, this is one way to do it. 

 Home page – Honor Israel’s Fallen 

How will you mark Yom HaZikaron? 

Whether you are in Israel, or outside of Israel, how can you hold space for a mix of emotions at 8pm and again at 11am (local Israel time) when the siren is sounded for a minute or two of silence?  

Who will you be remembering this year?