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Ultra-Orthodox join Israelis in national mourning on memorial days

Over the past three years, the ultra-Orthodox community has changed its attitude toward Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers, with its leaders calling to honor the day and participate in the national mourning events.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews visit the military cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem April 28, 2009. Israel on Tuesday marks Memorial Day to commemorates its fallen soldiers. The Dome of the Rock on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, and to Jews as Temple Mount, is seen in the background. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (JERUSALEM ANNIVERSARY POLITICS MILITARY RELIGION) - GM1E54S1GYT01
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The results of a poll published April 11 by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 83% of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community does not consider Independence Day (observed on April 19 this year) to be a holiday, while 64% do not consider Holocaust Memorial Day, marked last week on April 12, to be a day of mourning.

On the other hand, almost all the ultra-Orthodox representatives in the Knesset and government addressed official memorial ceremonies throughout the country April 18 to mark Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Traditionally, Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers participate in memorial ceremonies at military cemeteries across the county on that day. So, for example, Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, a member of Yahadut HaTorah, laid a wreath on behalf of the government for the third consecutive year and delivered a speech at an official memorial event. In his speech at the memorial service in Kiryat Gat, Litzman emphasized unity, saying, “The entire Jewish people come together, remember and express their sense of identification with those who paid for this land with their lives. … We are all one bereaved family … regardless of age, religion or community.’’

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