Tonight the nation of Israel will unite to observe Yom HaZikaron - Israel\'s Memorial Day - for soldiers who fell in Israel\'s various wars. An official ceremony tonight at the Western Wall in Jerusalem will mark the onset of the special day, beginning with a minute-long siren sounded throughout the country at 8 PM. A two-minute siren will be heard tomorrow at 10 AM.
In honor of the day, tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the country\'s 42 military cemeteries tomorrow, where official memorial ceremonies will be held at 11 AM. Other ceremonies will pay tribute to the ten fallen soldiers and civilians at the Haramiya junction on March 3, the Etzel fighters who were hung by the British during the Mandate period, and others.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited several of the wounded soldiers and terrorist-attack victims in Hadassah-Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem today. He told them that he too was seriously wounded in battle, during the War of Independence, and that even serious wounds can be overcome.
This year Israelis will also have in mind 466 of their fellow countrymen who have been killed in the current Oslo war - including 391 soldiers and civilians who have been killed since last Yom HaZikaron. Tel Aviv resident Renee Halevy, who made Aliyah from the U.S. 16 years ago, told Arutz-7\'s Josh Hasten today that Yom HaZikaron this year presents special challenges:
\"Israelis have been on an emotional roller coaster ride this past year that is mentally draining... It\'s not just our problem with the Arabs. Now, more than ever, Am Yisrael (the Nation of Israel) must reach out to one another in brotherhood. We must lend a helping hand to our friends and neighbors, and start once again committing ourselves to leading truly spiritual Jewish lives... It\'s been a rough year, but we still have the opportunity to [fulfill the above].\"
Tomorrow night, Israelis will shift from \"sadness to joy,\" beginning the 54th Independence Day (Yom HaAtzma\'ut) celebrations. Some of Israel\'s accomplishments in the past half-century include the absorption of almost three million immigrants from around the world. Israel\'s population currently stands at 6.53 million - an eightfold increase since 1948, when the population numbered 806,000. Almost two-thirds of them are native-born Israelis. The population includes some 1.2 million non-Jews - approximately the same proportion as when the State was established. The percentage of the world\'s Jews living in Israel is constantly on the rise, and is now measured at approximately 37%; it was 30% in 1990, and 20% in 1970.
Although some Independence Day celebrations have been called off due to the security situation, many thousands are expected to celebrate the national holiday by touring the land, visiting various national museums and installations (most of them with free admission), having traditional barbecues at home or in public parks, and special festival prayer services. Second-year Israeli Rina Ripstein of Jerusalem told Arutz-7 today that despite the current situation, her Yom HaAtzma\'ut plans are intact: \"We can\'t let the Arabs think that their terrorism will force us to stay home on our Independence Day. It is a day full of meaning for us, and I won\'t change my plans... Let us hope for a year of peace.\"
In honor of the day, tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the country\'s 42 military cemeteries tomorrow, where official memorial ceremonies will be held at 11 AM. Other ceremonies will pay tribute to the ten fallen soldiers and civilians at the Haramiya junction on March 3, the Etzel fighters who were hung by the British during the Mandate period, and others.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited several of the wounded soldiers and terrorist-attack victims in Hadassah-Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem today. He told them that he too was seriously wounded in battle, during the War of Independence, and that even serious wounds can be overcome.
This year Israelis will also have in mind 466 of their fellow countrymen who have been killed in the current Oslo war - including 391 soldiers and civilians who have been killed since last Yom HaZikaron. Tel Aviv resident Renee Halevy, who made Aliyah from the U.S. 16 years ago, told Arutz-7\'s Josh Hasten today that Yom HaZikaron this year presents special challenges:
\"Israelis have been on an emotional roller coaster ride this past year that is mentally draining... It\'s not just our problem with the Arabs. Now, more than ever, Am Yisrael (the Nation of Israel) must reach out to one another in brotherhood. We must lend a helping hand to our friends and neighbors, and start once again committing ourselves to leading truly spiritual Jewish lives... It\'s been a rough year, but we still have the opportunity to [fulfill the above].\"
Tomorrow night, Israelis will shift from \"sadness to joy,\" beginning the 54th Independence Day (Yom HaAtzma\'ut) celebrations. Some of Israel\'s accomplishments in the past half-century include the absorption of almost three million immigrants from around the world. Israel\'s population currently stands at 6.53 million - an eightfold increase since 1948, when the population numbered 806,000. Almost two-thirds of them are native-born Israelis. The population includes some 1.2 million non-Jews - approximately the same proportion as when the State was established. The percentage of the world\'s Jews living in Israel is constantly on the rise, and is now measured at approximately 37%; it was 30% in 1990, and 20% in 1970.
Although some Independence Day celebrations have been called off due to the security situation, many thousands are expected to celebrate the national holiday by touring the land, visiting various national museums and installations (most of them with free admission), having traditional barbecues at home or in public parks, and special festival prayer services. Second-year Israeli Rina Ripstein of Jerusalem told Arutz-7 today that despite the current situation, her Yom HaAtzma\'ut plans are intact: \"We can\'t let the Arabs think that their terrorism will force us to stay home on our Independence Day. It is a day full of meaning for us, and I won\'t change my plans... Let us hope for a year of peace.\"