Yom Hazikaron 2021

13th April 2021 by yonetegottfried

What is Yom HaZikaron and how does Israel observe it?

Yom HaZikaron is the day of national remembrance in Israel to commemorate all the soldiers and people who lost their lives during the struggle to defend the State of Israel. On this day we mourn and remember our fallen soldiers and all lives lost by terror. Yom HaZikaron, which goes by the Jewish calendar, begins with a siren at 8:00 in the evening (13 April, 2021). As soon as the siren is heard, Israeli citizens stop whatever they’re doing, wherever they are, and stand firm to honor those they’ve lost. People driving on highways stop their cars in the middle of the road to get out and stand in remembrance. A whole office will stop working and a family having dinner will stop eating in order to spend a minute in respectful silence.

After the first siren, the State Memorial Ceremony begins at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, and the President take part in this ceremony. The next day, there’s another two-minute siren at 11:00 in the morning. This siren marks the beginning of private memorial ceremonies that take place in cemeteries or schools.

At night, (on 14 April, 2021) the final ceremony is held at Mount Herzl National Cemetery. This ceremony ends Yom HaZikaron and marks the beginning of Israel’s Independence Day.

Generally, in other countries, the Remembrance Day (Yom HaZikaron) of fallen soldiers and the Independence Day occur in two separate days of the year. In Israel, it was decided in accordance with the law that the Independence Day needs to begin the moment that Remembrance Day ends. This is because the State of Israel wouldn’t be able to celebrate its existence if it weren’t for those who gave their lives for it. We wouldn’t be able to have one of those days without the other one. We honor their memory and everything they fought for, so that today, we can celebrate our independence.

Yom HaShoah – Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day

8th April 2021 by yonetegottfried

Yom HaShoah (Yom HaShoa, Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laGvura) officially translates to “Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and Heroism”, but is often known as “Holocaust Remembrance Day” in English. It is an occasion to commemorate the lives and heroism of the six million Jewish people who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. Yom HaShoah is on the 27th day of Nisan, the first month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar.

Yom HaShoah begins in Israel at sundown on 7 April, 2021 in a state ceremony held in Warsaw Ghetto Square at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Authority, in Jerusalem. During the ceremony the national flag is lowered to half mast, the President and the Prime Minister both deliver speeches, Holocaust survivors light six torches symbolizing the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and the Chief Rabbis recite prayers.

On Yom HaShoah, ceremonies and services are held at schools, military bases and by other public and community organizations – but this year, when many formal Holocaust ceremonies are canceled, Zikaron BaSalon offers a unique and authentic way to keep the tradition and the memory alive.

“This year, our most important commitment is to protect the safety of the Holocaust survivors, as they are the most vulnerable, thus, Zikaron BaSalon is going to proceed without live testimonials from our survivors. Additionally, we are working to ensure that we keep Zikaron BaSalon running and following all the restrictions necessary, which means that we’re going to host Zikaron BaSalon digitally.”

On the eve of Yom HaShoah and the day itself, places of public entertainment are closed by law. Israeli television airs Holocaust documentaries and Holocaust-related talk shows, and low-key songs are played on the radio. Flags on public buildings are flown at half mast. At 10:00 am, on 8th April, 2021 an air raid siren sounds throughout the country and Israelis are expected to observe two minutes of solemn reflection. Almost everyone stops what they are doing, including motorists who stop their cars in the middle of the road, standing beside their vehicles in silence as the siren is sounded.

Airbnb Superhost #14 – so proud

7th April 2021 by yonetegottfried

I am incredibly proud to announce that we have now earned Airbnb Superhost Status a fantastic 14 times in a row! This means that we’ve received Airbnb’s seal of approval for a high standard of accommodation due to fantastic reviews from our wonderful guests.

Thank you to our clients and thank you so much Adie Levinson and Sue Kiali for all that you do. I’m immensely proud of all of our hard work and all that we have achieved with Israel Property Care and IPC Vacation Rentals despite Covid and the impact that it has had on the travel industry.

Keep well and stay safe everyone xx

#superproud #superhost #airbnb #14 times