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Life here in Israel is full to the brim. Perhaps brimming
over.
over.
On Sunday night, Israelis gathered in city squares and town
centers across the country to remember the fallen. They stood at attention
Sunday night at 8 o’clock as the siren eerily blasted from north to south,
plunging us into deep contemplation and sorrow. This night, we remember those
who fell in the many wars that were fought in the last 66 years, as well as
those who were killed from terrorist attacks.
centers across the country to remember the fallen. They stood at attention
Sunday night at 8 o’clock as the siren eerily blasted from north to south,
plunging us into deep contemplation and sorrow. This night, we remember those
who fell in the many wars that were fought in the last 66 years, as well as
those who were killed from terrorist attacks.
Each year, the names of the fallen and their ages at death are
read aloud in each community. Tragedy has hit every place in this country, from
the smallest kibbutz to the larger cities. Ra’anana, which is a smallish town today,
was a tiny village some forty years ago. Yet during the wars of 1967 and 1972,
four, five and six boys were killed daily. The announcer read their ages slowly,
“Eighteen. Nineteen.”
read aloud in each community. Tragedy has hit every place in this country, from
the smallest kibbutz to the larger cities. Ra’anana, which is a smallish town today,
was a tiny village some forty years ago. Yet during the wars of 1967 and 1972,
four, five and six boys were killed daily. The announcer read their ages slowly,
“Eighteen. Nineteen.”
I stood there in silence and thought of the anguish, the
deep sobs, the multiple funerals that the community suffered daily; a loss that
tore, ripping deep holes in hearts and never went away.
deep sobs, the multiple funerals that the community suffered daily; a loss that
tore, ripping deep holes in hearts and never went away.
Each Yom HaZikaron, relatives of those who lost loved ones
are invited to place a wreath and to tell their stories. We heard from a widow,
a man who lost his brother and a mother who lost her son. These people are all
from Ra’anana; I may have seen them in the grocery line or in the library. They
may seem to lead a routine life, yet their existence is never the same after
such a tragic loss.
are invited to place a wreath and to tell their stories. We heard from a widow,
a man who lost his brother and a mother who lost her son. These people are all
from Ra’anana; I may have seen them in the grocery line or in the library. They
may seem to lead a routine life, yet their existence is never the same after
such a tragic loss.
For a full night and day, the entire country remembers and
weeps and dives headfirst into mourning. The stories of those who were killed
are broadcast on TV in countless films that illustrate beautiful, hopeful,
happy lives that are cut, gashed, blunted. The cameras took us into living rooms
and classrooms. We met the victims’ school teachers, their best friends, their
parents. They showed us chubby baby pictures, the bar mitzvah photos, videos of
happy family trips and glowing report cards. And then, the parents take us into
the soldiers’ bedrooms. Enshrined. Clothes in drawers, books on shelves, as if
the solider is expected to walk in the door at any minute. Yet never will.
weeps and dives headfirst into mourning. The stories of those who were killed
are broadcast on TV in countless films that illustrate beautiful, hopeful,
happy lives that are cut, gashed, blunted. The cameras took us into living rooms
and classrooms. We met the victims’ school teachers, their best friends, their
parents. They showed us chubby baby pictures, the bar mitzvah photos, videos of
happy family trips and glowing report cards. And then, the parents take us into
the soldiers’ bedrooms. Enshrined. Clothes in drawers, books on shelves, as if
the solider is expected to walk in the door at any minute. Yet never will.
And as the sun goes down, the country transitions from
despair to joy as we gear up for Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel Independence Day. It
may be hard to understand how weeping can turn to dancing, sobbing to laughter.
But it works because it represents the tension between tragedy and joy, between
suffering and redemption. Just last week, we mourned the loss of six million
Jews during Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day. And eight days later, we
mourn those who perished in wars and terror.
despair to joy as we gear up for Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel Independence Day. It
may be hard to understand how weeping can turn to dancing, sobbing to laughter.
But it works because it represents the tension between tragedy and joy, between
suffering and redemption. Just last week, we mourned the loss of six million
Jews during Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day. And eight days later, we
mourn those who perished in wars and terror.
Yet this must always turn to celebration because this
country mourns then looks brightly to the future. We feel deep sorrow and we
rebuild. Israel was built form the ashes of the Holocaust and we forge bright
futures despite our continued losses. This is our beauty and our energy and our
spark.
country mourns then looks brightly to the future. We feel deep sorrow and we
rebuild. Israel was built form the ashes of the Holocaust and we forge bright
futures despite our continued losses. This is our beauty and our energy and our
spark.
During Yom Ha’Atzmaut last night, as I strolled down
Ra’anana’s main street, I passed open-air concerts, people dancing in circles and
children atop soldiers’ shoulders grinning, waving flags.
Ra’anana’s main street, I passed open-air concerts, people dancing in circles and
children atop soldiers’ shoulders grinning, waving flags.
The joy and pride and love people have for this country is
palpable. And strong. I was mesmerized watching women dance the hora; as their
feet thumped the ground in one united, determined step, I felt as if they were
planting joy, optimism and a bright future that brims over.
palpable. And strong. I was mesmerized watching women dance the hora; as their
feet thumped the ground in one united, determined step, I felt as if they were
planting joy, optimism and a bright future that brims over.
Nefesh b’Nefesh created this birthday video to celebrate Israel’s 66th.
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