The traditional sounding of shofars all over Israel marked the end of Yom Kippur last night and the beginning of a special Memorial Day officially declared to honor Israeli soldiers who fell in the war that began on Yom Kippur, 1973. Thousands of bereaved families, comrades in arms and representatives of the armed forces attended services for the Yom Kippur War dead at military cemeteries throughout Israel today.
The Yom Kippur just ended was one of the quietest in recent memory. The weather was mild, tempered by breezes, which made the fast easier for those who observed it. There were fewer calls for medical assistance for people who collapsed in the crowded synagogues. In a few instances, in Rehovot and near Hadera, the free movement of ambulances, police cars and other emergency vehicles was impeded by religious zealots who hurled stones at them.
Police reported fewer incidents of burglary, a favorite crime on days when most people are away from their homes. There were no terrorist acts. Security was tight. The occupied territories were sealed off from Israel proper beginning at noon Friday and no residents of the West Bank were allowed to cross the line.
In Haifa, however, firemen were kept busy battling a forest fire that threatened a nearby industrial section. After eight hours the blaze was brought under control.
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.
