Israeli Consulate Holds Annual Remembrance Day Ceremony at NYC’s Temple Emanu-El

Event attended by over 1,000 people including Congressman Mike Lawler and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; musical performances by David Broza and Achinoam Nini

Edited by: TJVNews.com

On Monday, April 24, the Consulate General of Israel in New York marked Israel’s 75th Remembrance Day with an official ceremony at Temple Emanu-El honoring honoring those who lost their lives defending the State of Israel and in acts of terror. More than 1,000 people – including Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine – attended the event from New York’s Israeli and Jewish communities, and hundreds more participated virtually in a livestream on the Consulate’s various internet platforms.

Opening remarks were delivered by Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El: “Our congregation has been home to many moving ceremonies, but none more poignant than this. In the words of the Zionist poet, pioneer and soldier Hannah Szenes: ‘There are stars up above, so far away, we only see their light long, long after the star itself is gone. So is it with the people that we loved. Their memories keep shining ever brightly though their time with us is done … these are the ways we remember.’ May their memories be for a blessing.”

Acting Consul General of Israel in New York Israel Nitzan addressed the event. He said: “On Memorial Day, the Jewish people all over the world stand in solidarity with those for whom every day is a day of remembrance. We embrace them, we mourn with them, and we remember together with them. We try to understand, but nevertheless we know that we will never really fully understand the loss and the heavy price they paid. May the memory of the fallen be blessed.”

Bereaved family members lit memorial candles and shared words of tribute in memory of those lost. In February of this year, US-Israeli Elan Ganeles, a 26-year-old native of West Hartford, CT, joined the list of the fallen. While visiting Israel to attend the wedding of his friend Maayan Rockland, Elan’s car was ambushed by Palestinian terrorists. He was killed in a shooting attack near the Dead Sea, tragically never making it to the wedding.

Maayan’s brother Akiva Rockland, who was also Elan’s lifelong friend, eulogized Elan at the ceremony. He called Elan “the ultimate friend,” saying: “Elan, you booked a flight across the ocean to come celebrate my sister’s wedding with me and my family. We were supposed to sing and dance with you; instead we buried you. We were supposed to scuba dive together; instead, we eulogized you. And today, on Yom Hazikaron, you would have helped us appreciate the importance of the day; instead, we memorialize you. We need you here with us. Your absence is felt strongly every day; a piece of us is missing. We love you and we miss you. Your memory is a blessing.”

The ceremony featured musical performances by violinist Miri Ben Ari and singers David Broza and Achinoam Nini, who sang “The Little Prince” by the late Israeli artist Yehonatan Geffen.