Melbourne’s 2017 Yom Hazikaron solemn ceremony will allow the community to collectively remember and honour people who have fallen serving in Israel’s Defense Forces or were victims of terror.

This year’s commemoration will mark 50 years since the Six Day War, 20 years since the Galilee helicopter disaster, and 30 years since the First Palestinian Intifada. Sadly, as terror attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world have escalated, this too will be a focus of the ceremony.

Traditionally, community members who have lost a relative or friend will share their stories and will light a memorial candle.

One of the candle lighters, Efri Bart, who lost two brothers in the Yom Kippur War, said, “I really miss being with my family in Israel over Yom Hazikaron. It’s a special time when we would get together to bring back the memories of those we lost, to support and hug each other… Sharing my story with the Melbourne community at the Yom Hazikaron ceremony will ensure that my brothers’ memory lives on no matter how many years pass.”

Melbourne’s 2017 Yom Hazikaron commemoration will take place on Sunday evening, 30 April 2017, at Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Clayton Campus.