Eretz Tzvi - A Song for Yom HaZikaron - Israel's Remembrance Day

Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, is always preceded by Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for its fallen soldiers. The message of linking these two days is clear: Israelis owe their independence — thebb very existence of the state — to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.

This year Yom HaZikaron began last night and will be observed today until nightfall when the Yom HaAtzmaut festivities begin and continue through tomorrow night.

To mark Yom Hazikaron we're sharing a video of IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson singing Eretz Tzvi, originally made popular by singer Yehoram Gaon.

The song is about Mivtza Yonatan, an operation to rescue hostages from Entebbe airport in Uganda on July 4, 1976. Air France flight 139 from Tel Aviv was hijacked after its Athens stopover, diverted to Libya and ended up in Idi Amin airport.

Originally named Mivtza Entebbe, the mission was later named in honor of Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) who died in the operation.

In 1977 a movie was made of the mission - "Operation Thunderbolt."

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  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.