Jewish Federation of Central NJ
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
STUDENTS TO STAND SILENT WITH TWO MINUTE SIREN
Commemoration Coincides with Israeli Observance in Memory of Slain Soldiers
Scotch Plains, NJ, March 26, 2009-The Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey will be staging the sounding of a simultaneous community-wide moment-of-silence siren at 11 am on Tuesday, April 28, the day that commemorates Yom Hazikaron (Israel Fallen Soldiers & Victim of Terror Remembrance Day). Participating Jewish organizations, day schools, agencies and synagogues have been provided with a siren audio, which they will play throughout their facilities at the appointed time.
· The demonstration will mirror the haunting siren and two minutes of silence observed in Israel where people stop what they are doing in their homes, offices, shops and classrooms, where even cars stop on highways across the country, and the entire nation goes silent for two full minutes. (Visit YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ausdb6xAuxM)
Yom Hazikaron: Background
This day honors veterans and fallen military personnel of the Israel Defense Forces and other Israeli security services who died in the modern Arab Israeli conflict, as well as fallen members of the Jewish Brigade, and of the various paramilitary organizations of the pre-state Yishuv, such as the Haganah and Irgun, who died before the establishment of the state. Yom Hazikaron also commemorates civilians murdered by acts of terrorism. As of 2007, Israel has honored the memories of 22,305 people who were killed in the line of duty (including non combat related deaths during military service), an addition of 233 since 2006, and 1,635 civilian terror victims.
Yom Hazikaron always precedes the next day’s celebrations of Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha-Atzma’ut, which marks the anniversary of the Proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Scheduling the Memorial Day right before the Independence Day is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers’ sacrifice. This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service.
The day includes many national ceremonies for fallen soldiers in which senior public officials and military officers are present. The day opens the preceding evening, given that in the Hebrew calendar system days begin at sunset, with a one-minute siren during which most Israelis stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many national-religious (religious-Zionist) 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 Western Wall, at which time the flag of Israel is lowered to half-mast.
A two-minute siren is heard the following morning, at 11:00 am, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gathering, which are held at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close just before sunset in the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full mast.
To arrange for photographs or for further information, please contact
Director of Marketing & Communications, Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey
Tel (908) 889-5335, ext. 314 or [email protected].

