Yom HaZikaron is Israel’s day of remembrance and commemoration of their fallen soldiers. It began at sundown yesterday and will continue until sundown today.

Last night at 8:00pm a siren sounded throughout Israel, announcing the beginning of remembrance of the 24,213 soldiers who have fallen since Israel’s rebirth in 1948. At 11:00am this morning (Israel time), another siren will sound, calling the entire nation to literally stop and remember the fallen. All businesses are closed, all vehicles will stop, walkers will stand still, and Israelis will focus all attention to the memory of those lost.

No one does it quite like Israel…and no nation follows their most solemn civil remembrance with their most joyful!

At sundown tonight, mourning turns to joy and Israelis will begin raucous celebration of their 75th birthday! More on that later today. But for the moment, let’s join our Israeli friends in commemoration and honor of the soldiers who have given their lives for Israel’s independence and freedom.

May every Israeli family mourning the loss of a loved one know the love of God in deepest measure today. Israel, Christians love you and stand firmly with you!