“This is the home Holocaust survivors dreamed of,” Zamir said. “A home built from the ashes and from a promise never to be defenseless again.”
By The IDF Club
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir led a day of study Tuesday marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, bringing together senior commanders to reflect on the legacy of the Holocaust and its meaning for Israel today.
Ahead of the session, Zamir introduced U.S. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper to Holocaust survivor Bella Haim, and the two heard her personal testimony. Haim, born in Poland, survived the Holocaust after fleeing with her family to Russia and later immigrated to Israel. Her grandson, Yotam Haim, was abducted on October 7 and later killed by mistake by IDF forces in Gaza.
Senior officers later took part in a discussion with Haim, alongside Brig. Gen. Amir Farhi, who participated in the “Witnesses in Uniform” delegation.
Closing the session, Zamir emphasized both memory and transformation.
“We gathered here to remember and honor the six million of our people who were murdered,” he said, noting that their stories “carry not only the memory of destruction, but also the strength of the Jewish spirit.”
Addressing Haim directly, he called her life story “the embodiment of the Israeli story.”
“You decided to stand upright and not let anyone bring you down,” Zamir said. “Despite everything, you remain an inspiration.”
He drew a stark contrast between past vulnerability and present strength.
“From a persecuted, helpless nation — to a people with a state, fighting on seven fronts and striking down those who seek to harm it,” he said.
Zamir said Israel’s enemies had misjudged the country’s resolve.
“Two years ago, they imagined a submissive and defeated Jewish people,” he said. “They were wrong.”
Instead, he described an ongoing “complex, prolonged, multi-front war” that requires resilience and a willingness to bear heavy costs.
“In recent weeks, we made it clear to our enemies, near and far, that the State of Israel will act with determination, strength, and responsibility,” he said.
Calling the campaign “a war for our home,” Zamir underscored its deeper meaning.
“This is the home Holocaust survivors dreamed of,” he said. “A home built from the ashes… and from a promise never to be defenseless again.”
He concluded by reaffirming the military’s mission.
“It is our highest duty to stand guard over the people and the state,” Zamir said. “We will be worthy of the dreams of those who came before us.”
“May the memory of the six million be blessed. The people of Israel live.”
