Israel’s Independence Day
Tonight, April 28th, 5 Iyar, marks the 61st anniversary of Israel’s independence. Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, albeit with less barbecues and more reflection, is the day before Israel’s Independence Day. In a country as small as Israel, nearly everyone shares in the feelings of collective loss; the memory of lost loved ones, soldiers, victims of terror, and those injured in seemingly never-ending war. The segue from memorial to celebration is tenuous and shocking, but at the same time, kind of natural and comforting. Transitioning from memorial ceremonies, communities across the world often celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut festivities minutes after Yom Ha’zikaron. Speeches and videos give testimony to those who have sacrificed their lives in service of the State of Israel before the the national anthem of Hatikva is sung and the prayer of Maariv begins. After Maariv, Hallel is sung, and the beginnings of Simcha, happiness, emerge, marking the arrival of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The two days are really one long day, highlighting the polarity of Jewish existence: Yom HaZikaron, bearing the past, one of tears, memories, pain, despair, but not giving up - until handing over the burning torch of the present, promise, hope, renewed faith, and vision, to be carried by future generations. An Israel worth this much, is one worth fighting for. The memories of those who’ve died, are reaffirmed only by celebrating what they died, and what we live, for. On Israel’s Independence Day we sing for those who have given us this music.
There are two videos, both inspirational. The one above is the prayer for the State of Israel, composed by the first Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog. An interesting article about the prayer’s composition can be found here, thanks to Menachem Butler, Shlita (tinyurl.com/3uzogd). I am not sure who composed the melody. But it’s truly gorgeous, as sung here by the choir of Rabbinate of the IDF.
The other video below, if you have time, is equally inspiring, it is a Bio of the first Chief Rabbi of Israel (before the State), Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook. It presents the State of Israel from the perspective of one of its greatest advocates and heartfelt leaders.
youtube.com/watch?v=s7iHIRwpU2o
May those who share in mourning Israel’s losses be given the opportunity to celebrate in its victories.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut Sameach.
- Lawrence Elchanan
Amazing and inciteful thoughts about the myriads of different emotions that course throught the Israeli people within a 48 hour period.
ADELE CLINGMAN - April 28th, 2009 at 6:21 pmThank you so much for this meaningful blog entry. I needed this and didn’t even know it. In Tiferet I listened quietly and deeply to the song.
I read the thoughts and finally understand the combination of the connected two days. Like a combination of Sephirot during the Omer Counting. How is life connected for balance, b’Tzelem Elokim?
I, too, now could “share in the feelings of collected loss.” I could not join in the community memorial and celebration the last two nights because a friend’s beloved father, of blessed memory, with 99 years of life experience, an “Elder of Zion”, had died on Monday. I helped support and comfort David’s devoted daughter make mortuary and funeral plans, airplane reservations to send the father back home (and with a tallit), create a memorial book of photos and reminiscences and poems, get all the legal papers together, and pack (with food of course) a suitcase for the daughter to make last night’s “red-eye” for the funeral she had to plan.
We do what we do in “pain” for the memory of those who have died, and to celebrate with love and joy their life for what they lived for. We hold hope, and for the present and future, have emunah and bitachon in the Divine One, and in the next generation.
BlesSings,
Joy - April 29th, 2009 at 11:47 amJoy
“May those who share in mourning Israel’s losses be given the opportunity to celebrate in its victories.”
This is so beautiful…thanks for your eloquent words.
Gaby - April 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pm