Many countries around the world have some form of a national holiday that celebrates the birth of that country, in some way shape or form. It was always something to look forward to, growing up in the United States, when July 4th approached. Many countries also have some form of official remembrance day for all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their country. Very few, if any, countries have those two days so intertwined except Israel.
This week, one follows immediately, one day to the next in Israel. On Wednesday was Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance, and Thursday is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence day. After spending several years living in Israel, I was struck with how much of a communal, national holiday it was. On Remembrance Day, sirens blare and people literally stop what they are doing, wherever they are, and pause for a minute to remember the over 23,000 soldiers and civilians who have been killed. Lists are read of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The day is especially poignant as practically every household in Israel has lost someone in service to the State. In each city, town, village, and kibbutz, entire communities come together to recall those who are no longer with us. And most sobering, that list continues to be added to every year. It therefore becomes much more than a national holiday, but a family one. Indeed, we learn in our tradition, Kol Israel Averim ze be ze, all of is Israel is responsible for one another. This is exemplified by both the mourning on Yom Hazikaron, and then the celebrations the very next day. Never are we to forget the sacrifices of those that made the creation of and the continuing safety of Israel possible.
May we speedily see the day when the number of those who fell no longer increases and peace reigns in the entire region.
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