On Israel's Memorial Day, a Prayer for the Soldiers of the IDF

All Israel has been busy this week preparing for the coming together of two major annual observances, Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day). We're making a practice of extending our annual Passover visit to Jerusalem to include these special days.

All schools have special plays and ceremonies on Yom HaZikaron, outdoors if the weather cooperates, to remember the soldiers who fell in Israel's wars and the victims of terrorism. As the sad day ends, the country is transformed at nightfall into all night partying that lasts through the following day to commemorate the founding of the state 67 years ago.

At many of the memorial ceremonies, names are read, photos projected on screens and walls, prayers are read and appropriate songs are sung. 

We're doing our part at Jewish Humor Central on Yom HaZikaron, which starts tonight, by abstaining from humor for the day and posting a beautiful rendition of the Prayer for the Welfare of Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by Shai Abramson, the Chief Cantor of the IDF. (How many other countries do you know of whose army has a position of Chief Cantor???)

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)