“Each soldier gave their whole life for a universe, each of them a hero, each of them a guiding star that lights our way,” said former Mossad director Yossi Cohen. “We see their faces, we remember their names, and we hold them dearly.”

Cohen told the stories of two of his cousins who fell in battle during this war, one in Kibbutz Be’eri and one in Gaza. He said those like them are the ones “who make the darkness a little more bright.”

The night began with the traditional siren blast that brings Israelis to a silent standstill, following by a ceremonial torch lighting by the widow of Cpt. (Res.) David Meir, a soldier from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit who fell in battle on October 7 fighting Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri. After this, the son of a fallen police officer read the Kadish memorial prayer, after which the Yizkor prayer for fallen soldiers was read by IDF Widows and Orphans Organization CEO Shlomi Nahumson and then Al HaRachamim by Museum co-chair Rabbi Marvin Hier.

Joining Jerusalem Post Editor in Chief Zvika Klein for a panel was Iris Chaim, the mother of Yotam Haim, a hostage who was accidentally killed by Israeli forces in December. Haim, always a strong presence, said about the night “I have a lot of pride in my son, in the army, and in the country.”

Calling Yotam a fighter, she said “He chose to free, and he succeeded.”

Afterwards, a video was shown of the heroic actions of Saar Margolis, a member of the Kissufim security team who was killed on October 7. Saar jumped to action, leaving behind his wife and two daughters in their safe room while he fought off the terrorists.

According to survivors, Saar fought valiantly, killing many terrorists and saving countless lives.

His wife Yasmin Margolis told the crowd about her hero husband: “I will be proud of Saar until my last day. My daughters will grow up knowing their father was a hero.”

Prior to the closing of the night with a rendition of Hatikva by the IDF Rabbinical Choir, a panel was hosted consisting of three female lone soldiers who shared their stories of valor as they left their lives behind to join the IDF and have served on the frontlines in Gaza and the north.