Yom HaZikaron at ICJA

Students marked Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, at ICJA, with a morning tekes. Thank you, Rabbi Reuven Brand, Rosh Kollel of the YU Torah Mitzion of Chicago, Rav Eyal Reuveni, Judaic teacher at Hillel Torah and IDF officer, and the many ICJA students and teachers who participated in this moving ceremony. Students davened, sang, and remembered Israel’s fallen. Students and teachers highlighted the lives of five Israelis who fell al Kiddush Hashem, helping students connect with Israel’s losses through leaning about these five precious lives, and lit yahrzeit candles in their memories.

In addition to our meaningful Yom HaZikaron tekes, ICJA students marked the day with learning. What is the meaning of “zachor,” remembrance? How are we as Jews commanded to remember? In each of their classes on Yom HaZikaron, students grappled with these questions, learning, and reading diverse sources to help them discuss the many meanings and functions of remembrance. One powerful document all ICJA students discussed is the final letter written by Sgt. Adi Leon, z”l, who fell during Operation Swords of Iron, in which he discusses how he would like to be remembered: https://drive.google.com/…/1-sGslLgihN3wRYoMiaD…/view…