Ultra-Orthodox Israelis hold ‘unprecedented’ Memorial Day ceremonies

Jerusalem’s chief rabbis attended an event honoring soldiers from Haredi units who have given their lives. 

By World Israel News Staff

A ceremony that is being called unprecedented took place on Tuesday night as Israel marked Memorial Day for the country’s fallen soldiers and terror victims, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

This event commemorated those among the Haredi Orthodox community who have been killed serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The ceremony took place in the Heichal Shlomo complex in Jerusalem, the seat of the country’s chief rabbinate.

Some 800 people, including the chief rabbis of Jerusalem, Aryeh Stern and Shlomo Amar, reportedly attended the commemoration.

Also present were members of the Nahal Haredi-Netzah Yehuda battalion.

Two of the battalion’s members, Sgt. Yosef Cohen and Staff Sgt. Yovel Mor Yosef, were killed in December 2018 in a terrorist shooting in Samaria.

Among various parts of the Haredi sector, a reported increase in acknowledging this day has been reported.

Between the controversial issue of how many in the community enlist in the military and the matter of whether to religiously recognize the establishment of the current secular Jewish state, there has been apprehension to connect with the state ceremonies.

There is also a common feeling among Haredi Jews that the soundings of sirens during which Israelis stand at attention on Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day is not a Jewish custom.

Yet, Haredi politicians were said to be in attendance on Tuesday night in various communities.

A ceremony took place in the Haredi community of Immanuel in Samaria, according to the Haredi B’Hadrei Hareidim website, which referred to this event as unprecedented as well. Immanuel was established in 1983.