Earlier this week, members of the IDF General Staff Forum convened at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for a special seminar marking Holocaust Remembrance Day—this year observed under the theme of 80 years since the end of World War II.
The day began with opening remarks by Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, followed by a speech from Rabbi Tamir Granot, who spoke to the forum about the ability to rise from the depths of pain and loss, to choose life, growth, and renewal.
Visit of the General Staff Forum at Yad Vashem
‘Hope as a Pillar of Resilience’
In one of the most meaningful moments of the visit, the commanders met with Mrs. Lea Balint, a Holocaust survivor, and presented her with a certificate as part of the “A Flower for a Survivor” initiative, launched by the Foundation for the Welfare of Holocaust Victims.
Later, participants took part in a guided tour of the museum, with a special focus on the “Book of Names” exhibit. The visit also included a discussion led by Ms. Natalie Elgrabli on the role of hope as a value and source of resilience during the Holocaust and in its aftermath.
Chief of Staff: “Never Again a Nation Without Defense”
The day concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Names. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated: “From the ashes and destruction rose the State of Israel, and from it the IDF was born—a strong, moral, and powerful army. It is the ultimate response to the horrors of the Holocaust: never again a nation without defense.”
He added, “The Holocaust was a systematic attempt to annihilate the Jewish people, but it is also a story of endurance, spirit, courage, and tremendous inner strength—culminating in the rebirth that followed.”
The IDF noted that the seminar highlighted the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust while educating commanders about Jewish history, and creating both a personal and professional connection to the story of the Holocaust—as part of building a stronger and more secure future for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.
