Israel To Use More Secular Version of Memorial Prayer At Military Ceremonies

Haaretz today reports on the latest volley in the battle between religious and secular Jews in Israel over the text used at the official military ceremonies remembering fallen soldiers, including the state ceremony each year at the end of Memorial Day and the beginning of Israel Independence Day. In 1920, a prayer written by Berl Katznelson after the battle of Tel Hai, became the memorial prayer used. It began "May the people of Israel remember" (Yizkor Am Yisrael).  In 1963, the Israel Defense Forces officially changed the prayer to begin "May God Remember" (Yizkor Elohim), which is the text of the traditional memorial prayer in Jewish religious ceremonies. However, that change was not enforced until two year ago when military rabbis pushed for the modified version. Two months ago, the IDF told a journalist that Yizkor Elohim is the official version. That in turn generated protests from many secular parents of deceased soldiers, and the IDF appointed a special committee to study the matter.  Now the Ministerial Committee on Ceremonies and Symbols says the prayer will return to its original version (Yizkor Am Yisrael) at ceremonies.