Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) 2016
Yom Hazikaron or Day of Remembrance is a special day on the calendar for every Israeli and it should also be for every Jewish person living in the Diaspora. It is a day in which the brave fallen soldiers and people of Israel who lost their lives in terror attacks are remembered. A nation who remembers it’s fallen is a strong nation.
Since the stabbing and ramming attacks started during September 2015, many soldiers and citizens either lost their lives or were seriously injured. As a Christian and staunch supporter of Israel, I also feel duty-bound to remember the soldiers who gave their lives for their country and also to those who just went on with their daily lives as ordinary citizens, but lost it at the hands of terrorists.
On 14 September 2015, Alexander Levlovitz (64) lost control of his vehicle and crashed while on the way home from celebrating Rosh Hashanah with his family. The injuries claimed his life while 2 passengers were seriously injured.
On October 1, 2015, Eitam Henkin and his wife Naama, both in their 30’s were ambushed by Palestinian gunman as they drove with their four children in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). The children, all under the age of 10, were only slightly injured. The tragedy is that they will grow up without their mother and father.
On October 3, 2015, a Palestinian man approached a group of Israeli’s in Jerusalem’s old city and began stabbing, killing Nahmia Lavi (23) and Aaron Bennet (24) and injured a women and her baby.
On October 13, 2015, Rabbi Yeshayahu Krishevsky (60), Haim Haviv (78), Alon Govberg (59) and Richard Lakin (76) were killed in a stabbing and shooting attack on a bus in Southern Jerusalem. Fifteen were injured in the same attack.
On October 18, 2015, Omri Levy, a 19 year old IDF soldier were killed by a Palestinian assailant.
On November 4, 2015, Staff Sergeant Benjamin Yaakovovich (19) died four days later of his wounds after a Palestinian terrorist rammed his car into him.
On November 13, 2015 Rabbi Yaakov Litman (40) and his son Netanel Litman (18) were shot to death by a Palestinian gunman who opened fire on their vehicle near the Otniel Junction.
On November 19, 2015, Reuven Aviram (51), Rabbi Aharon Yesiab (32), Yaakov Don (51) and Ezra Schwartz (18) were killed by Palestinian terrorists.
On November 23,2015, Hadar Buchris, a 21-year old women were killed in a stabbing attack at a bus stop and a 20-year old Israeli soldier, Ziv Mizrahi stabbed to death at a gas station.
Genadi Kaufman (40) died of his wounds on December 7, 2015 three weeks after a stabbing attack at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
On December 23, 2015, Rabbi Rueven Birmajer (45) was stabbed and killed outside Jaffa gate in Jerusalem.
On January 1, 2016, Alon Bakal (26) and Shimon Ruimi (30) were killed by an Arab-Israeli at a New Year’s celebration.
On January 17, 2016, Dafna Meir (38) was killed in her kitchen by a knife-wielding Palestinian terrorist. This barbaric attack left six children without a mother.
On January 25, 2016, Shlomit Krigman (38) went to the market and was attacked and killed by a terrorist.
On February 3, 2016, three terrorists armed with knives, guns, and explosives, attacked a group of IDF soldiers at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, killing Hadar Cohen (19).
On February 18, 2016, an off duty IDF soldier 21-year old Sergeant Tuvia Yanai Weissman, was killed in a stabbing attack.
On Remembrance Day (Yom Hazikaron) 10 May 2016, we need to reflect and honour the lives of these precious people. It is the least we can do and never stop to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It is now more relevant than ever.