Israel observed Holocaust Remembrance Day with solemn ceremonies and a powerful message from Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The commemoration, marked by a nationwide moment of silence and military tributes, underscores the enduring link between the memory of the Holocaust and the Israeli doctrine of national defense.
Each year, Israeli society comes to a halt as sirens mark the beginning of Yom HaShoah, memorializing six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. Soldiers stand rigid at attention, workplaces pause, and citizens stop in their tracks as the country collectively remembers both the trauma of the past and the resolve to protect the future. General Zamir’s directive, distributed throughout ranks and read at army bases, frames this commemoration not as an abstract historical reflection, but as an urgent reminder of why Israel’s security remains a foundational national concern.
The message, succinctly captured in the phrase “מתוך השבר הגדול הם בנו לנו בית לאומי” (“Out of the great catastrophe, they built us a national home”), pays tribute to Holocaust survivors whose resilience enabled the Jewish people to reclaim sovereignty in their ancestral land. Many early citizens, including IDF members, were themselves survivors or children of survivors who arrived in Israel after unimaginable loss. For them, establishing and defending a homeland was both a necessity and a moral mission.
These themes resonate even more deeply in the wake of contemporary tragedies. The October 7, 2023 massacre, when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel, killing over 1,200 civilians and taking more than 250 hostages, is seen by many Israelis as the gravest assault on Jewish life since the Holocaust. The attack’s scale and brutality—featuring mass executions, abductions, and other atrocities—reemphasized the dangers faced by the Jewish state from Iranian-backed terror organizations, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and others.
Israel’s political and military leadership draws a direct line between the helplessness experienced by Jews in the Shoah and the determination to ensure such vulnerability never returns. The formative Israeli commitment—rooted in the lessons of 1948 and reinforced over decades—holds that the defense of the nation and the safety of its people are non-negotiable. General Zamir’s order articulates this mission, reminding soldiers and civilians alike that Israeli sovereignty is itself an answer to the Holocaust: a living memorial and a safeguard.
The IDF’s ethos, shaped by this legacy, places the highest value on not only military preparedness but also on the ethical conduct of war. Israeli soldiers are trained to operate within the strictest legal and moral frameworks, even as they face adversaries who systematically violate such standards by targeting civilians and using human shields. In every conflict, from counterterrorism operations in Gaza to defensive measures along the northern borders, the IDF invokes the memory of defenselessness during the Holocaust as a mandate for strength but also for restraint and humane conduct.
At the same time, contemporary Israel faces renewed efforts to erase or distort the history of the Holocaust, including Holocaust denial, antisemitic propaganda, and the demonization of Israel in international forums. For Israeli leaders, these trends are not merely rhetorical battles—they have direct consequences for the legitimacy and security of the Jewish state, especially as hostile actors seek to rationalize terror or delegitimize Israel on the world stage.
Education remains a vital pillar of Israeli resilience. Programs initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and the IDF cultivate a deep national consciousness rooted in Holocaust memory. Places like Yad Vashem—the World Holocaust Remembrance Center—are integral in transmitting survivor testimonies, historical research, and public policy recommendations to bridge generations and prepare Israeli youth for the dual challenges of remembrance and defense.
International cooperation also features prominently in Holocaust remembrance. Israel coordinates with allied nations, most notably the United States, on security, intelligence, and educational initiatives. Official statements from world leaders on Yom HaShoah, particularly from Washington, reinforce the mutual understanding that the lessons of the Holocaust inform a shared commitment to prevent new atrocities and uphold the right of self-defense.
While Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day of mourning, it also reflects the vitality of Israeli society—the resilience of survivors, the achievements of their descendants, and the contributions of Israel to global welfare, humanitarian aid, and scientific innovation. Israeli rescue teams, medical outreach, and technological advances are all seen as living proof of national renewal, ensuring that the memory of those lost in the Holocaust is honored not only with words, but with constructive action and global engagement.
As regional threats persist and Israel faces determined enemies orchestrated by Iran’s axis of terror, the connection between memory and defense grows only more relevant. In the words of General Zamir’s order and reflected by the day’s ceremonies, Holocaust remembrance in Israel is not a passive exercise, but a living responsibility—one that underpins the Israeli right, and obligation, to defend its people and its future.
