Nachman Shai on Yom HaZikaron

As we approach Yom HaZikaron in 2022, Dr. Nachman Shai is Israel's minister of Diaspora affairs. Two years earlier, the former IDF chief spokesman and former member of the Knesset was a visiting professor at Emory University in Atlanta. During that time, he recorded this video about Yom HaZikaron, which brings home how personal Israel's Memorial Day is for its citizens. Dr. Shai emphasizes the responsibility to mourn for those who died before they could have families to remember them.

The video provides an opportunity to address the differences in how soldiers are seen and remembered in Israel, where most citizens have an obligation to serve in the military, and in countries such as the United States, where military service is voluntary. How does Yom HaZikaron differ from U.S. Memorial Day? How should we feel, think and/or act on Yom HaZikaron and year-round? How should we show support for Israel and the IDF?

The web page includes links for further study on the issues Dr. Shai raises.