Four Ways to Remember and Thank Israeli Soldiers

On Yom Hazikaron (Israel's Memorial Day), we pause as a nation to remember Israel’s fallen soldiers who gave their lives protecting the Jewish people in our homeland. In Israel, the siren that echoes across the land pierces through every heart, because every soldier killed represents a whole future unlived and a family forever broken.

On this grief-saturated day, here are four ways to honor their memory and thank the soldiers who wake up every morning to guard our borders and defend the right of Jews everywhere to exist.

1. Light a yahrzeit candle.

In Jewish tradition, we light a special candle when someone dies to represent their unique soul, as the verse says, "The soul of man is the lamp of God." (Proverbs) A yahrzeit candle burns for 24 hours as a quiet, continuous act of remembrance, a symbol that the memory of our fallen soldiers lives on and their souls keep climbing upward, like a flame, in the hearts of all who love them.

This Yom Hazikaron, light a candle for a specific soldier whose story you know or can look up. What was he like? What did he dream of doing? Who did he leave behind? If you can, print out his photo to place beside the candle and thank him for giving his life for the Jewish people.

2. Write a letter to a soldier currently serving.

One of the most devastating moments a soldier can face is losing a friend in battle. The bond between soldiers serving together runs deeper than most of us will ever know. They will do anything to protect each other, and many end up giving their lives so their friends can survive. On this day especially, those surviving soldiers are not only grieving their friends, they often carry a heavy guilt that they are alive because of their friend's sacrifice.

Write one of them a letter today. It doesn't have to be long, just honest: you're thinking of them, you're grateful for what they do, and you recognize what they've lost. For you, it may feel like a small gesture given the weight of their grief. For them, it can mean everything. It tells them they are not alone, and that their friends died for millions of people who see and honor that sacrifice.

3. Visit Mount Herzl.

Israel's national military cemetery in Jerusalem holds the graves of soldiers who died defending the country from the War of Independence to today. Walking among those graves puts you in direct, tangible contact with the enormity of what our soldiers have given. Visiting in person, or watching a video online, connects you to the national mourning happening across Israel right now. Each name, date, and age carved into a headstone is a chance to bear witness. A short prayer or a moment of silence says: this person mattered, and they are not forgotten.

4. Support the families of fallen soldiers.

The loss these families carry does not end. Every birthday, every holiday, every family gathering reignites the grief of their child's absence. Many don't want to ask for help, and some don't know how. There are practical ways to show up: sending meals, gift baskets, or toys and games for their other children. There are also emotional ways: reaching out on a soldier's yahrzeit or birthday to let them know you're thinking of them.

If you're speaking with the parents of a fallen soldier, don't try to fix or minimize their loss. Just be present. "Tell me about him. I don't know what to say, but I'm thinking of you today." The most important thing you can do is simply not disappear after the initial mourning period. Most families say the hardest part isn't the first few weeks. It's the silence and loneliness that follows.

No matter where you are in the world, you can honor the memory of Israel's fallen soldiers and support the brave men and women who continue to put their lives on the line for our survival. Yom Hazikaron is a day to come together not just to mourn the countless lives given to defend our people, but to say thank you. Thank you to the soldiers who gave up their futures so that we can have one. Thank you to the parents who sent their children into battle so that our children can be safe. And thank you to Israel for having the courage and the strength to keep fighting for Jews everywhere.

May the names of our fallen soldiers be honored and their memories be a blessing. May God comfort all the grieving families, and may our soldiers be protected as they continue to guard our borders and fight for our lives.