National Memorial Hall

Recognition and remembrance of the fallen have a unique role in Israeli society, creating a nationwide sense of solidarity and community. Our fallen heroes enabled the establishment of the State of Israel, and their memory lives on in our shared destiny and our collective recognition of their sacrifice.

Israel's National Memorial Hall for Fallen Soldiers at Mount Herzl was built to express Israel's respect, appreciation, and commitment to honoring its fallen soldiers. The Department of Families and Commemoration at the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) established this central memorial for all of Israel's fallen soldiers, in addition to the hundreds of monuments scattered across the country.

The Memorial Hall serves as a place of pilgrimage for Israel's bereaved families, heads of state, and the general public to commemorate the lives of those lost. Construction began in March 2015, and the hall was inaugurated on the eve of Israel's Memorial Day in April 2017.

The hall was designed to provide visitors with both a personal and collective commemoration experience and serves as an expression of Israel's heartfelt promise: "We shall remember all of them." The hall's walls wrap around a tall, torch-like structure covered by the names of the fallen, bringing together their personal stories and tying them to the history of the State of Israel.

Every morning, a memorial service is held to honor those who fell on that specific date. Their individual stones, engraved with their names and the date of passing, are illuminated within the hall's walls. At the center of the hall rests the "eternal flame," a structure symbolizing our collective duty of commemoration.