Israelis will come to a somber pause on Monday evening, as a one-minute siren will sound in honor of the country's 24,213 fallen soldiers and 4,255 victims of terror, marking the beginning of the annual 24-hour period of mourning during which official and civilian ceremonies will take place nationwide.
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The first ceremony to honor the fallen will be held at 04:30 p.m. at the Beit Yad Lebanim in Jerusalem, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, political and military officials, and grieving families in attendance.
The one-minute siren will sound at 08:00 p.m., after which a memorial ceremony will begin at the Western Wall, to be attended by President Isaac Herzog and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
Memorial Day is a solemn day in Israel, where grief is often openly expressed in public ceremonies. In a country where almost everyone knows someone who died fighting, most people are grieving for someone they knew personally.
There will be candlelight ceremonies in schools and public institutions and mournful programs about Israel's wars broadcast on public television.
On Tuesday morning, at 08:30 a.m. will begin the memorial ceremony at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. At 11:00 a.m. the second one-minute siren will sound, followed by a state ceremony at the National Memorial Hall for Fallen Soldiers as well as memorials across cemeteries in Israel.
Memorial Day will come to a close at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday when Israelis will allow their sadness to give way to mirth as they celebrate Israel's 75th Independence Day with patriotic parties and events happening throughout the country.
At the closing ceremony, Rabbi Leo Dee, who lost his wife Leah and daughters Maia and Rina earlier this month, will recite the Yizkor memorial prayer.
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