The “YOMS” are an acronym for a group of three modern holidays that fall within one week on the calendar and that connect us to the historical events that impacted Jewish life in the last century.

In addition, they refer to a series of modern Israeli national holidays and commemoration days held in the spring that ebb and flow from mourning to joy and celebration

“The YOMS” are: Yom HaShoa, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut (and, more recently Yom Yerushalayim)

Although they are not religious holidays, and are therefore not observed by all in the Jewish community, they each have significant meaning and reflect a variety of significant Jewish events in our Jewish history.

It is beyond ironic that this year, these three commemorations take place in the midst of an existential  war with Iran and Hezbollah.

The first yom on the calendar is Yom HaShoa, exemplifying Holocaust Remembrance – a dark period in our history where over 6 million Jews were slaughtered in cold blood at the ruthless hands of the Nazis.

 Yom HaShoa not only commemorates or memorializes the 6 million who perished during the Holocaust, but also signifies a very sad and sober day focused on survival and resilience. It is also compared today to the existential threat which Iran poses and to the manner in which acheinu celebrate survival while fighting a war.

The “never again” narrative is one which is very evident during this year’s Yom HaShoa.

Today, it also applies to our unswerving and unwavering commitment to do whatever is possible in order to prevent another genocide from ever happening again, namely through the obliteration of Iran’s nuclear capacity and its support of its terrorist proxies.

This year, “Operation Roaring Lions” serves as a stark reminder and example that the State of Israel will never ever let our Jewish people be exposed or subject to the atrocities of Yom HaShoah. 

The second YOM on our calendar is Yom HaZikaron – the day of national remembrance in Israel.

This day memorializes all of the chayalim and citizens of Israel who lost their lives during the struggle to defend the State of Israel. On this day, we sadly mourn and remember our fallen soldiers and all those who lost their lives as a result of acts of terror.

Its relevance to today’s conflict with Iran and Hezbollah is most striking and relevant.

Since the start of the war with Iran and now with Hezbollah, we have lost far too many IDF soldiers on the battlefield as well as innocent Israeli citizens whose only crime was seeking refuge and protection from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, as they ran in terror to a miklat or mamad.

Today’s Yom HaZikaron will always include remembering these precious souls who defended the State of Israel and those who lost their lives as victims of Iranian terror.

The observance of Yom Hatzmaut marks the celebration of Israel Independence Day.

This holiday is celebrated this year against a backdrop of high-intensity and kinetic conflict between Israel and Iran and with Hezbollah.

Although in past years Yom HaAtzmaut was traditionally marked by celebration and joy-filled fanfare, today Israel is at war which not only subdues, tempers and diminishes this celebration, but also gives us pause to reflect about the country’s Jewish sovereignty.

According to Rabbi Moshe Taragin, “the 2026 period demands a deeper appreciation of Jewish sovereignty as the (current) war highlights the existential, yet persistent nature of the State.”

As indicated, celebrating and observing the three yomim during wartime is a phenomenon which I and my colleagues never experienced in our lifetime.

During wartime, “The YOMS” take on a significantly more somber tone. They are a mix of emotions, thoughts and feelings.

When describing this confluence of emotions, my middle school students described the phenomenon as a roller-coaster or seesaw of emotions which continues unabated.

Depending upon how long the current ceasefire will hold, we are all holding our breath that the war will end soon and that our dear country Israel will be able to return to a state of normalcy.

There are those who posit that not unlike the aftermath of October 7th, life will never ever be the same following this war. And, there are those who feel that Israel as a nation will now become stronger and more resilient than ever.

Although the current ceasefire is being held together by a thin thread, we are mitpallel to HaShem that the Iranian regime will be completely demolished and that its nuclear program will be completely decimated. This also holds true for the complete destruction of its ballistic missiles and the Hezbollah threat in northern Israel.

Friends, it goes without saying that the YOMS we observe and commemorate today will never ever be the same.

This is a reality which Jewish history has taught us since time immemorial.

For centuries, our Jewish people have adjusted to the harsh realities of war, destruction, and displacement. It is in fact who we are and it is part of our legacy and destiny.

But, as we know well, through the hand of HaShem we have always survived and flourished.

This is in fact what has made b’nai yisrael a mamalechet kohanim, and ohr lagoyim as well as an am kadosh.

We hope and pray that as we move into the future, all of our “YOM”s will be imbued through shalom, bracha and b‘sorot tovot.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)