Remembrances and Prayers on 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War

On Friday, September 22nd, at 11 a.m. on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the public is invited to visit The Museum of American Armor, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage which will host a remembrance program with Israeli survivors of the devastating surprise attack beside the only surviving Israeli tank from that conflict now on American soil.

Joined by clergy, Jewish community leaders, Jewish day school students, and public officials including New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the tribute program will honor the men and women who fought to prevent the destruction of Israel in 1973 as Arab armies from three nations advanced on Israel.

The event will also welcome an Israel Defense Force veteran who served in the tank battalion that included within its ranks the Israeli “Magach” tank now part of the Armor Museum’s collection of operational vehicles.

Fifty years ago, then-21-year-old Yuval Neria suffered serious injuries as the Egyptians opened fire along the northern section of the Suez Canal. As one of few survivors from his unit, Neria was honored with the Israeli Medal of Valor for bravery in combat. The armor museum’s tank was part of his battalion.

Today Dr. Neria is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University and Director of Trauma and P.T.S.D. at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He was on faculty of Tel Aviv University until his recruitment to Columbia University after the 9/11 attacks. His research is focused on the mental health impacts from traumatic events, with a particular focus on war veterans and survivors of disasters and terrorism.