‘AM YISRAEL CHAI’

 

During the months of April and May 2025, three very important days are commemorated by Jewish people both in Israel and throughout the world.  The three days are ‘Yom Hashoah’, ‘Yom Hazikaron’, and ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’. 

Each of these days is very significant for Jewish people throughout the world. One specific day, however, has worldwide significance – that day is ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’.

This year, ‘Yom Hashoah’ was commemorated on the 24th of April.

 

‘Yom Hashoah’ remembers the death of six million Jews through the Holocaust which took place from January 30, 1933 - when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany - to May 8, 1945

 

In this article, I want to take a look at ‘Yom Hazikaron’, and ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’.

 

‘YOM HAZIKARON’ (FALLEN SOLDIERS MEMORIAL DAY)

 

Israel Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. The day preceding this celebration, ‘Yom Hazikaron’, is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence. 

The total number of soldiers and security personnel who fell since the War of Independence is over 21,000. The total including those who fell in the struggle for the state before 1948 is over 22,000.

 

On this day, Jewish people honour the memory of the young men and women who gave their lives for the creation and security of the Jewish State. 

‘Yom Hazikaron’ is an Israeli national holiday, and this year it is commemorated on the 30th of April.

 

‘Yom Hazikaron’ includes many national ceremonies for fallen soldiers in which senior public officials and military officers are present. The day opens the preceding evening at 20h00, given that in the Hebrew calendar system days begin at sunset. 

A one minute siren is sounded during which most Israelis stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time as well. The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at the ‘Kotel’ (Western Wall), at which time the flag of Israel is lowered to half-mast.

 

A two-minute siren is sounded in the morning, at 11h00 Israel time, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies as well as private remembrance gatherings which are held at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close between 19h00 – 20h00 in the official ceremony of the beginning of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full mast.

 

Thousands of Israeli soldiers, some of them young boys and girls just out of school have died defending Israel during the various wars fought against them by the hostile surrounding Arab nations as well as the war against terrorism. 

Arab nations are still trying to annihilate Israel, some of them stating that they ‘dream of a map without Israel’ – of course, this will never happen.

 

Please pray for the protection of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) soldiers. More importantly, pray for their salvation. 

 

‘YOM HA’ATZMAUT’ (INDEPENDENCE DAY)                              

 

Isaiah 66:8: “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labour, She gave birth to her children.”

 

The Balfour Declaration was a letter dated 2 November 1917 from the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland in which the following was stated: “His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

 

This year marks the 108th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, and in 1947, with a stroke of a pen, modern day Israel was signed into existence. 

On the 14th of May, 1948 the state of Israel was birthed with its own government, army and police force thus fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 66:8.

This year, ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’ is celebrated on the 1st of May. 

 

‘Yom Ha'atzmaut’ commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948, celebrating the declaration of the State of Israel by David Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, and the end of the British mandate of Palestine.

This ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’ commemorates 77 years of the independence of Israel. 

 

Modern day Israel is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 66:8 which declares: “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labour, she gave birth to her children.” 

 

Many people say that G-d has rejected the Jewish people and Israel and that Israel has been replaced with the church. They say that G-d has no plan for the Land of Israel today and that Israel is just ‘another country’. They also say that the current return of the Jewish people to Israel is ‘just a coincidence’ and that it is not the fulfillment of prophecy.

This is not true. G-d’s intention has always been to bring the Jews back to the land promised to Abraham and his descendants (the Jewish people) – Israel, and Isaiah 11:11-12 confirms this: “It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria, and Egypt, from Pathros, and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath, and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” 

In fact we are living in the very time of the fulfillment of the above prophecy.

 

One of the requirements for the return of Yeshua is that modern day Israel has to exist and be under Jewish control; for it is to Israel, specifically the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, that the ‘Moshiach’ (Messiah), Yeshua, will return.  

This is why I wrote earlier that ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’ has worldwide significance…because it was on this day, 77 years ago, that Almighty G-d birthed modern day Israel ushering in the Messianic era.

 

Let us rejoice with Israel as she celebrates 77 years of independence, and let us marvel at G-d’s faithfulness in fulfilling His word.

 

We at Emet Ministries stand together with Israel and the Jewish people and mourn with them as they mourn the death of six million Jews in the holocaust as well as the death of all the soldiers who have given up their lives defending their Jewish homeland.

We also rejoice with Israel and the Jewish people as Israel celebrates 77 years of independence.

 

However this ‘Yom Ha’atzmaut’ will again be different as there will be muted celebrations because of the Israeli hostages who still remain captive by Hamas.

There will be muted celebrations as Israel mourns the loss of more than 1,200 Israelis on October 7.

There will be muted celebrations as Israel mourns the loss of over 900 IDF soldiers and police officers since October 7.

 

Please pray for Israel and her people, especially at this very difficult time for Israel.

Together with Jews all over the world, we proudly proclaim: ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ – The Nation of Israel Lives.

 

‘AM YISRAEL CHAI’

 

 

THE NATION OF ISRAEL LIVES