16 | APRIL 21 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

W

e’re about to cele-
brate the “yoms.”
Three annual 
observances in Israel, all start-
ing with Yom, meaning “day,” 
begin the 25th of the Hebrew 
month of Nisan and continue 
into the Hebrew month of 
Iyar.
The first day, Yom HaShoah 
— Holocaust Remembrance 
Day — takes place April 28. 
Six days later, May 4, comes 
another day of mourn-

ing and remembrance, 
Yom HaZikaron — Day of 
Remembrance. It memorializ-
es Israeli soldiers who died in 
defense of the country — they 
number nearly 24,000 — and 
victims of terrorism. The fol-
lowing day is a total shift in 
tone, as Israel celebrates the 
74th anniversary of its birth 
as a modern nation on Yom 
HaAtzmaut, Independence 
Day.
What do these Israeli 

holidays have to do with 
Americans?
A lot, according to Yiftah 
Leket, Israel’s shaliach (emis-
sary) to Detroit, who is coor-
dinating a community-wide 
observance of all three “yoms” 
that feature a variety of events 
to appeal to all sorts of people, 
no matter their denomination, 
level of observance or political 
leanings. 
“These are opportunities for 
all of us to connect to the state 

Detroit prepares 
a community-
wide observance 
of the Israeli 
“yoms.”

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Days of
Days of &

