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Yom Hazikaron is the day on which Israel honors its fallen servicemen and women. National memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and military personnel. The day opens with a siren the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system, the day begins at sunset. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything (including driving, which stops highways) and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time. The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at the Western Wall, and the flag of Israel is lowered to half staff.
A two-minute siren is heard at 11:00 the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close between 19:00 and 20:00 (7–8 p.m.) in the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full staff.
Scheduling Yom Hazikaron right before Yom Ha-Atzma'ut is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice. This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service.
Yom Hazikaron is observed on the 4th day of the month of Iyar of the Hebrew calendar, always one day before Israel Independence Day on the 5th day of Iyar, the anniversary of the Proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948. Both holidays are observed one or two days earlier (the 3rd and 4th, or the 2nd and 3rd, of Iyar) when the 5th occurs on a Friday or Saturday, the Shabbat. Similarly, both days are moved one day later when Yom Hazikaron falls on Sunday. During the first year of Israel's existence, politicians were unable to agree on a date for a memorial day. As the year came to a close without a decision, the memorial day was celebrated on Israel's first independence day (1949), and the same arrangement was made the following year (1950). Celebrating the holidays together proved difficult both logistically and emotionally, so in 1951, following the recommendation of a public commission, the memorial day was moved one day back. This arrangement was enacted into law in 1963.
