Israel Establishes an Annual Commemoration of October 7

Stand for Israel  |  April 4, 2024

But the annual commemoration won’t be on October 7. Instead, Israel’s government will use the Hebrew calendar to mark the anniversary, reports The Jerusalem Post:  

It isn’t unusual for Israel to establish a day of mourning on the Hebrew calendar. All of the country’s holidays are marked on Hebrew dates, including its back-to-back Memorial and Independence days, which are marked between April and mid-May, depending on the year.

The October 7 attack presented another complication because it occurred on a Jewish holiday, Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah, which falls on 22 Tishrei, and which meant the annual commemoration had to be held on a different date. The following day, 23 Tishrei, presumably didn’t work because it is still a Jewish holiday outside of Israel. The chosen date, 24 Tishrei, is the day after that.