Two events commemorating Israeli holidays are coming up this month. Yom Hazikaron — Israel’s Memorial Day– will be observed on Sunday, May 12. The Yom Haatzmaut –Israel Independence Day — celebration will be held Tuesday, May 14.

Yom Hazikaron begins at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex Arts & Education Building. Doors open at 6:30. The solemn event will take on a special meaning this year, following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. As attendees arrive, they will have an opportunity to view a replica of Bibas House at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where hostages Yarden and Shiri Bibas and their children were captured by Hamas.

| PHOTOS: 2022 Yom Hazikaron at the JCC remembers Israel’s fallen soldiers

A special Honor Hall will also be on display with a special tribute to fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers and victims of terror attacks in the St. Louis Israeli and Jewish community. The main ceremony will be led by community members and rabbis from various congregations in the St. Louis Israeli and Jewish community. The ceremony is being directed by Tali Stadler, an Israeli American and longtime volunteer in the St. Louis community.

The Yom Haatzmaut event will be held at Chesterfield Amphitheater and will include music, games, and food available for purchase from Kohn’s Kosher Meat & Deli. A booth staffed by the Israeli scouts coming from St. Louis’ sister city Yokne’am, along with shinshinim will provide activities for kids. The Israeli singer Yuval Halaf will perform songs in Hebrew and English.

Both events are being coordinated by J and the Israeli American Council. Yom Haatzmaut’s additional sponsors include Jewish Federation of St. Louis, the Lubin-Green Foundation, Yamin Hashoah Hazkaron Haartzmaut and the Staenberg Group. Security will be provided. There is no charge to attend either event. Registration is required for Yom Haatzmaut and can be found here.