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Since the Arab intifada, many Jews have extended Yom Hazikaron to remember not only soldiers who died defending Israel but also security personnel who gave their lives to protecting Israelis from terrorist attacks.
Tzahal - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
The following prayer is recited in many synagogues each Shabbat, asking that God protect the soldiers of the State of Israel:
"May He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who keep guard over our country and cities of our Lord. From the border with Lebanon to the Egyptian desert, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the approach to the Arava, be they on land, air or sea.
May the Almighty deliver us our enemies who arise against us, may the Holy One, blessed be He, preserve them and save them from all sorrow and peril, from danger and ill. May He send blessing and success in all their endeavors, may He deliver to them those who hate us and crown them with salvation and victory, so that the saying may be fulfilled through them, "For the Lord, your God, who walks with you and to fight your enemies for you and to save you", and let us say, Amen."
The Date for Yom HaZikaron
It should be noted that the date for Yom HaZikaron can vary from year to year. For instance, it may be moved earlier if the observance of Independence Day (which always follows it) falls on a Sabbath. In addition, if Yom HaZikaron falls on a Sunday, it is always postponed to the following Monday (in order to set the day apart for schools and businesses). As always, if in doubt, check a reputable Jewish calendar...
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