Yom Hazikaron is Israel’s official day which is marked in the memory of those soldiers and civilians who were the victims of terrorism. Observed either by the end of April or start of May every year, the day is the solemn time and is marked by ceremonies and silences across the country. It runs from sundown to sundown. In 2019, Yom Hazikaron will begin on the evening of May 7 and will end on the evening of May 8.

Yom Hazikaron begins at sundown i.e. around 8.00pm when a siren is blown across the country for one minute. People stop whatever they are doing, including driving, and they observe the silence to pay respect and remember the dead. In Jerusalem, the official State Ceremony is held in the evening to mark the beginning of Yom Hazikaron. The next day, a siren sounds for two minutes, at 11.00am and again the people stop everything to remember their loved ones. After this, several memorial ceremonies take place across the country to remember the country’s fallen. In the evening, between 7 and 8.00pm, another state ceremony is held marking the end of Yom Hazikaron. It is held at Mount Herzl, Israel’s National Military Ceremony. The following day is celebrated as Israel’s Independence Day.