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Heschel Commemorates Yom HaZikaron

Heschel High School marked Yom HaZikaron with a ceremony honoring Israel's fallen soldiers and terror victims.  Students entered the room as a student played cello music in the background, while the Hebrew faculty handed out Yizkor memorial stickers.  The ceremony opened with a two-minute siren, followed by music and poetry readings that students performed.  Limudei Qodesh Department Co-Chair Ruth Fagen then interviewed Heschel alumnus Aaron Finklestein ('09) about his service as a combat medic during Operation Protective Edge in 2104.  Aaron spoke movingly about his friend David Gordon, a fellow American Jew who served with him in 2014 and subsequently died by suicide after struggling with PTSD.  Aaron emphasized the importance of honoring the sacrifices of those who physically survive Israel's wars but suffer deep emotional and spiritual trauma.  The ceremony closed with the El Malei Rachamim memorial prayer and Israel's national anthem, Hatikva