Amal Community Honors its Fallen soldiers in a Unique Ceremony

This year, Amal Educational Network commemorated Memorial Day with a deeply moving ceremony held at its national headquarters, attended by school principals, staff, and members of the management team. Six bereaved families joined the gathering to honor their loved ones—graduates of Amal schools who fell in the line of duty since the war began on October 7.

The ceremony included musical tributes by students from Amal Lady Davis High School in Tel Aviv, as well as six short films that brought to life the stories of the fallen: young men remembered for their joy, generosity, and the hope they brought to those around them. Family members shared their deep pain and their ongoing struggle to choose life in the face of unimaginable loss—often drawing strength from their remaining loved ones and from the belief that their sacrifice must not be in vain.

Since October 7, Amal has lost 46 of its graduates. Among them: two soldiers who fell defending the Nahal Oz base, one who died while arming the Iron Dome system as rockets rained down on Israel, and two senior Druze officers from the village of Yanuh-Jat, whose widows reminded the audience of the long-standing loyalty and sacrifice of the Druze community in Israel’s defense.

Alongside the ceremony, Amal joined the national “Ot Chaim” (“A Sign of Life”) initiative, which invites Israelis to preserve the handwriting of fallen soldiers as a symbolic way to honor their memory. Amal led the way by uploading the handwriting samples of its fallen alumni and inviting all network staff to participate in this act of remembrance.

Amal’s Director General, Karen Tal, spoke at the ceremony, reflecting on the particularly painful transition this year between Memorial Day and Independence Day. With 59 hostages still held by Hamas, IDF soldiers still fighting in Gaza, and Israeli society divided over the events of October 7 and the prolonged war, this year’s national mood is marked by sorrow, reflection, and uncertainty.

Since the beginning of the Zionist movement, 25,417 soldiers and civilians have fallen in Israel’s wars and terror attacks. This past year alone, 313 names were added—leaving more than 58,000 bereaved family members living among us. At 8:00 p.m., a siren will sound across the country, marking the beginning of Memorial Day. Another siren will follow at 11:00 a.m., as Israelis will stand in silence at ceremonies and gravesites nationwide. Later that evening, the nation will mark its 77th Independence Day—but for many, this year again raises the question of how, or whether, to celebrate while the war continues and hostages remain in captivity.

Amal bows its head in memory of the fallen, stand with the bereaved, and continue to hope for the safe return of the hostages, for an end to war, and for a future worthy of their sacrifice.