Hundreds of people gathered Sunday, April 30^th to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day.  A total of 23,544 men and women have been killed defending the land of Israel since 1860, the year the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem to build new Jewish neighborhoods. 3,117 civilians were killed due to hostile acts since Israel's founding in 1948. This number includes foreign citizens killed in terror attacks in Israel as well as Israelis killed in terror attacks abroad.

It was a somber evening filled with stories, songs and the traditional lighting of yahrzeit candles for those no longer with us from San Diego.  This is a time not only to remember them, but to learn from their experiences as well. 

May their memories be a blessing to their families, to the San Diego Jewish community, and to the Jewish people all over the world.