Sirens sounded throughout Israel this morning and flags were lowered to half-mast as the Jews of Israel mourned those who had fallen in Israel’s wars. The Memorial Day observance began last night with prayers in synagogues throughout the country. All places of entertainment were closed. Special services were held at military cemeteries and memorial parades were held in all schools. The nation’s annual Memorial Day is traditionally observed just prior to the celebration of Israel’s birth anniversary.
In a special address to the nation, President Shazar analyzed the present situation and said that “the supreme task also facing Jews throughout the world is the fight against the ravages of assimilation and the strengthening of Israel. ” He also stressed that it was vital to defend vigorously Jewish educational, cultural and religious life in countries where this was denied to Jews and the right of such Jews to emigrate to Israel, a clear reference to the situation of Soviet Jewry.
He hailed the bravery of those who gave their lives “so that we can live” and he called for a better understanding and tolerance between all communities and minorities in Israel. Two minutes of silence was observed throughout Israel in honor of the war dead. Fresh flowers were placed on War of Independence relics on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway.
Several thousand survivors of Nazi concentration camps made a pilgrimage to the shrine on Mount Zion last night to mark the 19th anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen camp. The pilgrims, members of the Sheerit Hapleita (surviving remnants), recited chapters from the Mishna, kindled memorial lights and recited Kaddish. An earlier meeting to commemorate the camp liberation anniversary was held in Tel Aviv and attended by 3, 000 persons.
A tribute to the memory of Izhak Ben-Zvi, Israel’s second President, was paid yesterday at a memorial meeting on the first anniversary of his death in the presence of President Shazar, Mrs. Ben-Zvi, Premier Eshkol, Speaker Kaddish Luz, Cabinet Members, the Chief Rabbis and diplomats. The ceremony was held in Jerusalem’s Communal Hall.
Just before sundown today, the official memorials were concluded. Israel turned to celebration of its 16th anniversary with zest and gaiety.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
