Reflection and Remembrance on Yom HaZikaron

The SAR community gathered to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, honoring the courageous chayalim who gave their lives defending Medinat Yisrael, as well as the innocent lives lost to acts of terror. At a ceremony hosted by the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership, we remembered the loved ones of community members who made the ultimate sacrifice for Israel. We are grateful to our local rabbinic and lay leaders who stood with us in solidarity with Am Yisrael: Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, Rabbi Dovid Zirkind (RJC), Rav Steven Exler (HIR), Rabbi Asher Abramovitz (Kinneret Day School), Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn (Congregation Tehillah), Rabbi Katie Greenberg (CSAIR), Rabbi Shmuel Hain (YIOZ), Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe (HIR), Rabbi Barry Dov Katz (CSAIR), RK Dina Najman (Kehillah of Riverdale), and Rabbi Thomas Gardner (The Riverdale Temple) for joining us and to Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi Dov Linzer (Yeshivat Chovevei Torah), and Abby Eisenberg, who shared their loved ones’ stories with us.

The next day at SAR Academy, Yom HaZikaron continued with deeply personal encounters. Students heard firsthand stories of bravery and resilience from alum Maayan Sarna (AC ’18, HS ’22), author Elkana Cohen (October 7), parent Udi Haber, and SAR faculty members David Engel, Michael Turjeman, Uri Gurovich, and Assaf Diamant (speaking virtually from active reserve duty in Israel) who shared their personal experiences with our students.