Masa Israel Journey, the leader in global Jewish and Israel-focused programming, will hold its 17th annual Yom HaZikaron ceremony at Yad L’Shiryon in Latrun, Israel. As the largest English-language observance of its kind, the event will host more than 4,500 attendees in person and countless viewers worldwide to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.
This year’s commemoration takes on special significance. In the wake of the October 7th massacre, the ongoing war, and a sharp rise in global antisemitism, Israel and Jewish communities everywhere are grappling with profound grief and shock. Under the theme “Together We Remember,” the ceremony offers a space for collective mourning and the resilience necessary to rebuild and maintain hope.
Notable attendees will include government representatives such as Yossi Fuchs, Cabinet Secretary of the Government of Israel; and Jewish leaders like Rebecca Caspi, Senior VP, Global Operations & Director General, JFNA Israel; and Yehudah Setton, CEO, The Jewish Agency for Israel. They will be joined by Masa Fellows and alumni, board members, Jewish Federation delegates, bereaved families, and community members in honoring the memory of those we have lost.
The ceremony will be live streamed to a global audience in the Times of Israel, with speeches by Major General (res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa Israel Journey.
This year’s ceremony shares the stories of Masa alumni who fell in battle: Major General Ronny Ganizat Z’L, a French combat soldier who fell in combat in South Lebanon, on September 10th, 2024. He was in his third round of reserves since the outbreak of the war. Ronny left behind a wife and little children; and Sergeant Ilan Cohen Z”L, an Argentinian combat soldier, who fell in Gaza as part of an operation that succeeded in returning four kidnapped bodies.
In addition, the ceremony will share the stories of Captain (posthumously) Daniel Peretz Z’L, a South African born platoon commander in the Armored Corps, who fell defending the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7th. His body was kidnapped into Gaza and has still not been returned; Hersh Goldberg-Polin Z”L: Born in Berkeley, California. Hersh was shot and kidnapped from the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7th, 2023. His death was announced on September 1st, 2024, when his body was recovered from Gaza, shortly after having been shot to death in Hamas captivity; Bruna Valeanu Z”L, made Aliyah from Brazil in 2014. She served as a shooting instructor in the army. She was murdered at the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7th; Hanani Glazer Z”L, made Aliyah from Brazil to serve as a lone soldier in Golani. On October 7th upon hearing rocket fire at the Nova Festival he tried to escape towards Kibbutz Be’eri but ended up changing direction towards Kibbutz Re’im. He was subsequently murdered when Hamas terrorists threw grenades and shot into the shelter he was hiding in; and Inspector Andrei Poshibai Z”L, born in Ukraine, Served in the Towns District of the Southern Region as a patrol officer in the Israeli Police. On October 7th, Andrey acted with incredible daring to rescue people from the Nova Festival, when he became embroiled in a gunfight with terrorists. Andrey was the last of the officers to fall. He left behind parents, a sister, and a brother.
“Yom HaZikaron, our Day of Remembrance, is an essential part of Israel and the Jewish people: says Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa Israel Journey. “Each year, we hold the ceremony in English and other languages, primarily to make this day accessible to Masa fellows in Israel — in a language they understand and with content they can relate to. This year, this goal feels more important than ever. The Jewish people are at a pivotal moment, and our unity, our ability to empathize, and our expression of solidarity with the entire Jewish people, wherever they may be, are critical. That’s why this year’s ceremony theme is — ‘Together We Remember.’
Together, we remember. Together, we grieve. Together, we honor the memory of those who have fallen defending our homeland. And together, we hold our heads high with hope for the future. This ceremony is for us to focus on the heroes, cherish the world they left behind and try to be worthy of their sacrifice. May their memory be a blessing”.
Masa alumni and staff will honor the memories of their fallen loved ones, including Captain Omer Nautra Z”L (USA), a soldier still been held in Gaza. His childhood friend, Abigail, Masa fellow, will talk about Omer in the ceremony; and Yogev Pezi Z”L, Israeli who served as a Shaliach to a Jewish summer camp in the United States where he became friends with Sofia, an American participating now in a Masa program in Israel.
During the ceremony, wreaths will be laid by bereaved families and representatives from the Israeli government and Knesset and world Jewish organizations such as Keren Ha-Yesod and JFNA. Additionally, a prayer for the safe return of all hostages will be delivered.
“On Yom Hazikaron, we come together with deep sadness and a strong sense of responsibility. We remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for the State of Israel. Their memory serves as a moral compass, connecting the past to the future” said Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog. “The olim who fell in battle represent the heart of the Israeli spirit — courage, unconditional love, and hope for a shared future. Their stories show the deep and unbreakable connection between the Jewish people and the State of Israel. It is a miracle like no other”.
For more information or to watch the live stream, visit Masa’s Facebook and YouTube, or go to the live stream in Times of Israel.