New Sacred Moments on the Jewish Calendar
There are seven weeks between Passover and the next Jewish holiday, Shavuot. In the middle of this time there are three new sacred moments which reflect Jewish history of the 20th and 21st century, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, and Yom Ha-Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
For the most part, these days receive only passing notice in the Jewish community in America. Yes, there are planned services and programs but usually only those people participate who feel somehow specially connected to these moments.
How different it is here in Israel! The whole country takes note and the mood of these moments is reflected in the rhythm of daily life on these particular days. On the eve of Yom Hashoah, all places of entertainment close and remain closed for the next twenty-four hours; all Israeli television stations go silent; there are services and memorial tributes throughout the country. On the day itself, at precisely 11 AM, sirens sound throughout the country and everything and everybody comes to a stop and stands in silent tribute in memory of all the martyrs who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
A week later we observe Yom Hazikaron and Independence Day. One follows right after the other, a unique experience. On Yom Hazikaron we in Israel remember the more than 20,000 young men and women who have given their lives in defense of the country. Again television programs go dark or they present appropriate programming, one channel spends the time broadcasting the names of all the fallen and when they died; places of entertainment again curtail their activities; there is a somber mood in the country,
Pat and I observed Yom Hazikaron on Kibbutz Gazit where Pat's son Greg is buried. He was killed in the first Lebanon war, now 30 years ago. Early in the morning we left Haifa and drove to the kibbutz. At 11 Am the sirens sounded once more and the country came to a halt again, this time in memory of the fallen soldiers. At the kibbutz there was a moving ceremony in which representatives of the families of the seven soldiers from the kibbutz who were killed in Israel's wars spoke about each of them. Yes, Pat spoke as well. She also read a poem by Yehudah Amichai and brought tears to many people. The kibbutz has created a special memorial wall on which the names are inscribed and the soldiers are buried in a special part of the kibbutz cemetery which is maintained by the army. When Greg was killed there were only three graves!
After the ceremony we stayed and shared lunch with some of the people on the kibbutz whom we have known all these years. Late in the afternoon we drove north to Rosh Pinah, a wonderful Israeli town, founded more than 130 years ago where we had rented a "zimmer", a room together with two families, children of Pat's closest friend here in Israel who died a number of years ago. As night fell the mood changed and Israel Independence Day began. The tradition is to have a bar-b-q or cook-out. That is what we did as well. Then we made our way to the center of town for a festival program, fireworks, and dancing. We were there til almost midnight.
The next day we were out on a "tiyul", a hike. We went first to Tel Dan nature preserve where we saw water rushing down the mountain and had lunch. Then we drove to the Golan Heights and stopped at Har Bental where we could look at Syria and the border. We were only 60 miles from Damascus! A fabulous way to spend the day and hundreds of other Israelis were doing the same thing. Not at all the way we spend Memorial Day in America!
Wow! I have written a lot. As you see we are very much part of life here. What a blessing to be comfortable in two homes.
Frank
For the most part, these days receive only passing notice in the Jewish community in America. Yes, there are planned services and programs but usually only those people participate who feel somehow specially connected to these moments.
How different it is here in Israel! The whole country takes note and the mood of these moments is reflected in the rhythm of daily life on these particular days. On the eve of Yom Hashoah, all places of entertainment close and remain closed for the next twenty-four hours; all Israeli television stations go silent; there are services and memorial tributes throughout the country. On the day itself, at precisely 11 AM, sirens sound throughout the country and everything and everybody comes to a stop and stands in silent tribute in memory of all the martyrs who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
A week later we observe Yom Hazikaron and Independence Day. One follows right after the other, a unique experience. On Yom Hazikaron we in Israel remember the more than 20,000 young men and women who have given their lives in defense of the country. Again television programs go dark or they present appropriate programming, one channel spends the time broadcasting the names of all the fallen and when they died; places of entertainment again curtail their activities; there is a somber mood in the country,
Pat and I observed Yom Hazikaron on Kibbutz Gazit where Pat's son Greg is buried. He was killed in the first Lebanon war, now 30 years ago. Early in the morning we left Haifa and drove to the kibbutz. At 11 Am the sirens sounded once more and the country came to a halt again, this time in memory of the fallen soldiers. At the kibbutz there was a moving ceremony in which representatives of the families of the seven soldiers from the kibbutz who were killed in Israel's wars spoke about each of them. Yes, Pat spoke as well. She also read a poem by Yehudah Amichai and brought tears to many people. The kibbutz has created a special memorial wall on which the names are inscribed and the soldiers are buried in a special part of the kibbutz cemetery which is maintained by the army. When Greg was killed there were only three graves!
After the ceremony we stayed and shared lunch with some of the people on the kibbutz whom we have known all these years. Late in the afternoon we drove north to Rosh Pinah, a wonderful Israeli town, founded more than 130 years ago where we had rented a "zimmer", a room together with two families, children of Pat's closest friend here in Israel who died a number of years ago. As night fell the mood changed and Israel Independence Day began. The tradition is to have a bar-b-q or cook-out. That is what we did as well. Then we made our way to the center of town for a festival program, fireworks, and dancing. We were there til almost midnight.
The next day we were out on a "tiyul", a hike. We went first to Tel Dan nature preserve where we saw water rushing down the mountain and had lunch. Then we drove to the Golan Heights and stopped at Har Bental where we could look at Syria and the border. We were only 60 miles from Damascus! A fabulous way to spend the day and hundreds of other Israelis were doing the same thing. Not at all the way we spend Memorial Day in America!
Wow! I have written a lot. As you see we are very much part of life here. What a blessing to be comfortable in two homes.
Frank
posted by Frank and Pat Fischer at
7:17 AM
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