Yad La-banim Hadruzim

Yad La-banim Hadruzim (Hebrew: יד לבנים הדרוזים, "Druze Yad Labanim") is an Israeli non-profit association dedicated to commemorating Druze soldiers who fell in Israel's wars and to supporting their bereaved families. It was founded in 1980 on the initiative of Amal Nasser al-Din, a bereaved father and Likud member of the Knesset, with its main branch established in Daliyat al-Karmel. Over the years additional branches were opened in other Druze villages. The association's work has two main dimensions. Internally, within the Druze community, it campaigned to create social recognition of the need for commemoration, overcoming religious objections rooted in the belief in reincarnation. Externally, it assists bereaved families in their dealings with state institutions and promotes commemoration through memorial rooms, sports fields, cemetery renovations, and the publication of books. It also works to secure a dignified status for bereaved families within the Druze community and among the Israeli public. The association operates at the Beit Yad La-banim Hadruzim in Daliyat al-Karmel, which houses a memorial center, site, and monument for Druze fallen soldiers. It has encouraged the establishment of local commemorations in addition to the general Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery in Isfiya, including military plots, book publications, memorial evenings, scholarships, sporting events, memorial walls, monuments, sports halls, lecture halls, and historical caves. Following the death of Amal Nasser al-Din in February 2025, Dr. Ramzi Halabi, former mayor of Daliyat al-Karmel, heads the association as of August 2025. The association maintains a website and a Facebook presence, and is affiliated with the general Yad Labanim organization.

Yad La-banim Hadruzim was founded in 1980 on the initiative of Amal Nasser al-Din, a bereaved father and Likud member of the Knesset. The main branch was established in Daliyat al-Karmel, and over the years additional branches were opened in other Druze villages. In its early years, the organization's main struggle was internal, within the Druze community. Due to the belief in reincarnation, religious figures opposed the concept of commemoration; the association fought to create recognition of the need for it. After achieving the desired social recognition, the association began personal assistance activities as welfare and commemoration measures, as well as assistance vis-à-vis state institutions. The association operates at Beit Yad La-banim Hadruzim in Daliyat al-Karmel, which includes a memorial center, site, and monument for Druze fallen soldiers. It has contributed to strengthening the status of bereaved families in Druze society. Today, community institutions, Druze authorities, and the public respect bereaved families, which was not the case in the past, except for the participation of the Druze public and security forces in the general Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery in Isfiya. Yad Labanim encouraged the establishment of local commemorations in addition to the Isfiya memorial ceremony, such as military plots, book publications, memorial evenings, scholarships in memory of the fallen, sporting events, memorial walls and monuments, sports halls, lecture halls, and historical caves. As of August 2025, following the death of Amal Nasser al-Din in February 2025, Dr. Ramzi Halabi, former mayor of Daliyat al-Karmel, heads the association. The association maintains a website and a Facebook presence, and is affiliated with the general Yad Labanim organization.

• 2025

  Amal Nasser al-Din dies in February; Dr. Ramzi Halabi becomes chairman by August.

• 1980

  Association founded on the initiative of Amal Nasser al-Din; main branch established in Daliyat al-Karmel.

Non-profit commemorative association serving the Druze community in Israel.

1. 1יד לבנים הדרוזים – Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org
2. 2Yad La-banim Hadruzim – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3ד"ר ידע – מאמרים מעניינים (official website)druzim.co.il