Department for the Promotion of Aliya co-organized the event where thousands of people in New York City’s Times Square viewed an empty Shabbat table set for 224 people, symbolizing the 224 hostages held captive by the terrorist group Hamas.

Today, June 11, marks the beginning of the Shavuot festival, which will continue until sunset on June 12.

Tonight Israel will commemorate 23816 people who have fallen in its conflicts since 1860.