Jewish Holidays

Yom HaZikaron

Israel’s Memorial Day

“Jews fought, and never more so than in the State of Israel, with the courage that you find only in those whose ultimate aim is not victory but peace, not triumph but life. Let us remember them and their past, and look today at the Israel they have built. A land of freedom and energy and creativity and life.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

When is Yom HaZikaron 2026

4 Iyar 5786


Begins: Sundown on Monday 20 April 2026
Ends: Nightfall on Tuesday 21 April 2026

Videos on Yom HaZikaron

Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut during the coronavirus pandemic

In this livestreamed shiur, Rabbi Sacks reflects on Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut 2020 - and how we are observing...

Israel: Home of Hope

In honour of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut, here is a short video created in April 2020, the audio of...

Animations

Screenshot

The Everlasting Flame (Yom Ha'atzmaut animation)

An animated video of Rabbi Sacks' thoughts on the heroic Jewish journey

Israel: Home of Hope (animated video)

This new animation illustrates Rabbi Sacks' narration included in the album Israel: Hope of Hope, originally produced to celebrate Israel's...

Yom Ha'atzmaut Addresses

Yom Ha'atzmaut 5773: The Everlasting Flame

On 15th April 2013, the Chief Rabbi delivered the keynote address at the Bnei Akiva UK’s annual Yom HaZikaron /...

Yom Ha'atzmaut 5772: Believing in the Power of Possibility

A video recording and transcript of the address delivered by Rabbi Sacks in 2012 for Yom Ha'atzmaut.

Read about Yom HaZikaron

From The Archives

Essays and writings from Rabbi Sacks' extensive body of work

Trees cast their shadows on the Jerusalem stone of the city

BOOK EXTRACTS, BOOK EXTRACTS

Who Am I? Who Are We?

Many of Rabbi Sacks’ readers and listeners remember him describing his experiences before, during, and after the Six Day War,...

SPEECHES, STATEMENTS, SPEECHES

Fragments of Memory

This speech was delivered by Rabbi Sacks at the National Holocaust Memorial Commemoration Ceremony in Hyde Park, London in May...

YOM HA'ATZMAUT SPEECHES

Yom Ha'atzmaut 5766: Israel Undefeated

Rabbi Sacks delivered this Yom HaZikaron-Yom Ha'atzmaut address at the Bnei Akiva ceremony in May 2006, at Finchley Synagogue (Kinloss)....

The Prince of Wales, centre, wearing a kippa (skull cap), with the Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks, left, and the Israeli Ambassador to the UK Dror Zeigerman, right, at the United Synagogue in St Johns Wood, London tonight. The Prince attended a service to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. PA Photo/pool/WPA.   (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

YOM HA'ATZMAUT SPEECHES

Yom Ha'atzmaut 5765: Israel - Our Hope and Pride

Rabbi Sacks delivered this Yom HaZikaron-Yom Ha'atzmaut address at the Bnei Akiva ceremony on Wednesday 11th May 2005 at Finchley...

YOM HA'ATZMAUT SPEECHES

Yom Ha’atzmaut 5762: The World Should Be Protesting Right Now

This extract was delivered by Rabbi Sacks as part of his Yom HaZikaron-Yom Ha'atzmaut address at the Bnei Akiva ceremony...

YOM HA'ATZMAUT SPEECHES

Yom Ha’atzmaut 5761: Bless the People Who Do Not Give Up

This address was delivered in 2001 in Finchley Synagogue, as part of Bnei Akiva’s annual service for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.