Letter from the President
On the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel
Dear Friends,
This coming Thursday, we celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day), marking the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. Yom Ha’Atzmaut is preceded by Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance for all those who gave their lives in the defense of Israel. I cannot think of any other country that places side by side a solemn day of memory with a day of total celebration, acting as a sober reminder that Independence comes at a price.
The two loud ear-piercing sirens that ring through Israel’s streets during Yom HaZikaron bring the entire country to a complete standstill. Cars, buses, and trains stop dead in their tracks as people stand while the siren wails. To an outsider, the scene may seem surreal. But, to us Israelis, this serves as a sharp reminder of over 25,000 Israeli soldiers and civilians who have lost their lives in wars, training accidents, and terror attacks.