Reflections on Yom Hazikaron 2022

My Israeli husband, Mickey, and I traveled to Israel from Detroit for a family visit. We were there for Yom Hazikaron. Like Israelis, we, too, went to the community ceremony in the town center. Each town holds a ceremony memorializing their citizens who have fallen in wars and terrorist attacks. We were in Hod Hasharon where Mickey׳s sister and family reside.

Smiling faces flash on the screen
Strong and vibrant
Names and faces one after another
Remembered year after year

Nitsan fell before the State
Chaim in the War of Independence
Yacov in Sinai War
Amir during Six Day War
Arik in Yom Kippur
Shimon in Lebanon
Miriam by terrorists
196 from this town

The number of Israel’s casualties of war stand at 24,068 as of May 2022. The number of civilian terror victims who perished in attacks totals 4,216.

The next morning, we went to the cemetery for the fallen in Givatayim. We went to the section called: “Section for the Fallen from Haganah, Security, and Illegal Immigration” for a ceremony. Here 78 citizens of Givatayim and Ramat Gan are buried. Mickey׳s family has lived in Ramat Gan since 1934. Mickey׳s uncle, Nissan Natan Goldenberg ז״ל was murdered in 1938, when a convoy that he was guarding was ambushed by a gang of Arab terrorists.

We visited Mickey׳s uncle, Nitsan Goldenberg’s grave. His name and picture were displayed on the screen the night before at the Ramat Gan ceremony where 895 citizens were remembered.

Israeli casualties by war, conflict or incident before the establishment of Israel was 1303+.

Mickey׳s great grandfather was also included in this count. Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer ז״ל, was murdered by terrorists in his home in the Old City of Jerusalem, defending his family in 1920.  He is buried in a similar cemetery outside of Jerusalem.

The siren sounds
We stand in prayer
Names recited

You sit next to me
Hold my hand
I smile,
Squeezing yours
In gratitude