APRIL 21 • 2022 | 17

of Israel,” Leket says. “We’ve 
been very intentional with our 
programming. We’re trying to 
tell a story through the yoms.”

A STORY IN THREE 
OBSERVANCES
These three “yoms” tell the 
story of Israel’s tragedies and 
triumphs.
First observed in 1951 and 
enacted into law by the Knesset 
in 1959, Yom HaShoah recalls 
the 6 million Jews murdered 

by the Nazis. Flags are lowered 
to half-staff, and public places 
of entertainment are closed. 
In a solemn ceremony at Yad 
Vashem, the Holocaust memo-
rial center in Jerusalem, survi-
vors light six torches, one for 
each million lost Jews.
Anyone who has been to 
Israel on this day will remem-
ber its solemnity, especially 
when sirens sound throughout 
the country for two minutes at 
10 a.m. and all regular activity 

ceases. Cars and 
buses stop wherev-
er they are, and in 
many cases, drivers 
and passengers 
alight and stand in silence.
Yom HaZikaron, also 
established in 1951, fea-
tures the same ritual, with a 
one-minute siren at 8 p.m. 
as the day begins at sunset 
and a two-minute siren at 11 
a.m. Just about every Israeli 
knows someone who has died 

in defense of the 
country, and many 
mark the day with 
a visit to a ceme-
tery.
This holiday has special 
significance to Leket, who 
served as a pilot in the Israeli 
Air Force. “Two of my friends 
died,” said Leket, who will be 
thinking of those friends as the 
sirens wail in Israel.
On Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel 

Local observance begins April 24 
with the opening of the Lenore Marwil 
Detroit Jewish Film Festival at the 
Jewish Community Center’s Berman 
Center for the Performing Arts (see 
story in Arts on page XX). The first 
evening’s film, Image of Victory, 
directed by Avi Nesher, may be the 
largest film project ever undertaken in 
Israel, Leket said. 
The Zekelman Holocaust Center in 
Farmington Hills will hold its tradition-
al Yom HaShoah commemoration cer-
emony at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 
1, with stirring readings, music and a 
candle-lighting ceremony (see page 
XX). Admission and valet parking are 
free. 
Yom HaZikaron will be observed 
May 3 at the Berman Center with a 
ceremony and a one-man play, Knock 
Knock, featuring Israeli actor Niv 
Patel. He shows how it feels to be an 
Israeli parent whose child will have to 
serve in the Israel army and risk his or 

her life for the country.
“The following day, as we tran-
sition into Yom HaAtzmaut, we 
will close the film festival with a 
more optimistic movie, Breaking 
Bread, that shows how food and 
diversity connect Israelis in our 
modern era,” Yiftah Leket said. 
“For me it is about celebrating 
what is present and good and at 
the same time looking into the 
future, into our challenges, into 
our hopes and dreams,” he said. “The 
movie deals with the challenge of cre-
ating a shared society between Jews 
and Arabs in Israel through the lens 
of food.” 
Detroit’s main Yom HaAtzmaut 
celebration will start at 4 p.m. May 5 
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in 
Southfield with a concert by The Holy 
Band from Israel, arts and crafts, and 
a kosher Israeli dinner ($7 per plate).
Participants will create an art instal-
lation that will later be displayed in 

various places in the community. 
“Joining Hands” is the official slogan 
of Israel’s 74th anniversary. “Joining 
hands means we are emphasizing 
our togetherness — people, places, 
organizations and actions that pro-
mote collaboration and a partnership 
towards a better future,” Leket said.

The “yom” events are sponsored by the Jewish 

Community Center, JFamily, Partnership2Gether, 

NEXTGen Detroit, JNF and Bnei Akiva. 

Local Yom Observances

ABOVE: An aerial 
demonstration for 
Yom HaAtzmaut.

LEFT: Yiftah Leket.

IDF

IDF

The main community celebration takes place May 5.

Independence Day 
May 15, 1949, in Detroit.

LEONARD N. SIMONS 
JEWISH COMMUNITY 
ARCHIVES

The Holy Band

continued on page 18

