The Likud’s haredi faction will be holding a special memorial ceremony this Monday on Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, commemorating the haredi members of the IDF who were killed in Israel’s wars.
Haredis, or ultra-orthodox Jews, generally abstain from IDF service and those who enlist often face incitement and violence from extremists within their communities.
This is the second year that members of the haredi faction of the Likud are organizing the ceremony at the Ponevezh Cemetery in Bnei Brak, where a number of fallen haredi soldiers are buried. Last year, the ceremony was interrupted by Haredi extremists who attempted to prevent the ceremony from taking place and proceeded to chase away the majority of the participants.
The ceremony will be attended by Likud Minister Ayoob Kara, Chairman of the Likud’s haredi faction Yaakov Vider, representatives of the IDF’s Military Rabbinate, IDF soldiers and wounded veterans, and bereaved families.
The Zionist organization Im Tirtzu also announced its plans to attend the ceremony, which according to the organization represents a true bridge between different factions of Israeli society.
Chairman of the Likud’s haredi faction and organizer of the ceremony, Yaakov Vider, noted the relevance and importance of the event: “Specifically now when there is a wave of anti-IDF incitement and violence from extremists within the haredi sector, there is growing importance to remember the haredi soldiers who gave their lives fighting for Israel.”
“I am thankful to the Israeli government and to Im Tirtzu for the help,” continued Vider, “and call on the Israeli public to attend the ceremony and honor the memory of our holy brothers who fell fighting for Israel.”
Matan Peleg, CEO of the Im Tirtzu movement that has been a leading advocate for the integration of all factions of Israeli society in the IDF, said: “We salute the brave haredi soldiers of the IDF and together will remember those who gave their lives fighting for the country. These soldiers represent the very essence of unity and serve as a prime example of what it means to be a scholar and a warrior.”
The ceremony will take place at 3:30 pm on Monday, May 1st, at the Ponevezh Cemetery in Bnei Brak.