Today is one of the most solemn and important days in Israel: Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day.
A day to weep for, honor and remember the 23,544 fallen solders and 4128 victims of terror.
If you have never been in Israel for Memorial Day, the two-minute siren, sounded at 11 o’clock in the morning – during which the entire country collectively comes to a standstill – is an experience of communal solidarity that exists nowhere else in the world.
As many of you know, I lived in Israel for twelve years before moving to Kansas City. My two sons were born in Israel. My husband and I met — and married — in Israel.
Just days before I met Frankie, he was discharged from his thirty months of service in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli army.
Frankie moved to Israel when he was 18. After one-year in the mechina program at Hebrew University, he officially made aliyah and was drafted into the IDF.
While I didn’t know my husband during this time (I made aliyah just a few months before his service finished), I am incredibly proud of his service. I am especially proud that he did this as a “Lone Soldier” – chayal boded — and continued to serve a month or more every year in reserve duty until we moved to America.
In honor of all of Israel’s soldiers and especially those who lost their lives as lone soldiers, like Michael Levin and Alex Singer, I wanted to do something special this Yom HaZikaron.
That’s why I share this post – and why, for the next 36 hours (through the end of Yom Ha’Atzmaut), 50% of all money earned from Kosher on a Budget will be donated to the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center. Please take a moment to read about Michael’s life and the incredible work being done in his memory to assist other chayalim bodadim.
Do you have stories of Israeli soldiers near and dear to your heart? Please tell us about them in the comments below.
I currently have 2 children having made aliyah living in Israel. My son, now married and living in EFRAT was a chayal boded. His unit came off the field to attend his wedding and danced for hours to really be “mesameach chatan v’kallah”. They became his family when his own were so far away. It is not easy at all to be a lone soldier and my heart goes out to them on this yom hazikaron.
Thanks for sharing your son’s story. I love how the army can really become your family.
Beautiful, Mara. I was a lone soldier back in the day, and it is really hard! Thanks for alerting me to these programs — I’m gong to look into “adopting” a lone soldier.
He or she will be lucky to have your family as their mishpacha meumetzet!