Israel is 62!
These days are special days in Israel. Sunday night was the beginning of Yom Hazikaron, Memorial day for Israel's fallen (not to be confused with Yom Hashoah, the Memorial day held last week for the martyrs and fighters of the Holocaust). Immediately following Yom Hazikaron this evening ushers in Yom Ha'atzmaut, Independence Day, celebrated according to the Hebrew Calendar.
On Yom Hazikaron we participated once again in the official commemoration ceremony at Yad Labanim, the Memorial Center that is found in every city that contains the records of its citizens who were killed either in the wars while serving in the IDF or by terrorism. To date there have been 22,684 men and women killed in the service of the country or as a result of terrorist attacks. If anyone asks how do we know exactly the number, it is because we regard each life as precious and everyone killed is recorded and listed. Of course, other countries do this too, such as the names of ca. 50,000 American soldiers killed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC. The ceremony in Netanya started with the sounding of a siren at 8 pm and then there was the lighting of the torches by bereaved families and speeches, music and poems. Then there was the wreath laying ceremony, where we (undeservedly) laid the wreath on behalf of Americans and Canadians in Israel living in Netanya.
During the following Day there was another siren at 11 am and then a national ceremony held in Jerusalem. Finally at 8 pm on Monday the mood changed from sombre to celebration, and crowds gathered in each city for the event. We walked downtown at 9 pm, and saw huge crowds, almost at a standstill. There were stages in several places and bands were pumping out loud music at ear-splitting levels. There were kids running all over the place squirting each other with liquids and parents pushing toddlers in carriages. We decided that was enough for us so we turned around and came home. When the fireworks started at 10.15 pm we went up on our roof and saw some of it. Not like July 4 on the Mall in Washington, but very nice nonetheless.
We take pride in the existence and accomplishments of our little, beleaguered state after 62 years. This is Herzl's 150th birthday and Herzl stated "if you will it, it is no dream." He also said that the State will not be handed to us on a silver platter and the cost is the price we pay in blood. But, nothing can deter us, not the continued intransigence of the Arab people, not the do-good liberals who think that the poor Palestinians are more deserving than we are, not the antagonistic Jews who feel that a Jewish State undermines their security in the Galut, not the anti-Semites who use Israel as an excuse for their venomous bias, and not the American politicians, including Pres. Obama, who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Let me state categorically, our capital city Jerusalem will not be divided! If you want to divide a city go and divide your own, we will not let it happen here. Yom ha'atzmaut samech!
On Yom Hazikaron we participated once again in the official commemoration ceremony at Yad Labanim, the Memorial Center that is found in every city that contains the records of its citizens who were killed either in the wars while serving in the IDF or by terrorism. To date there have been 22,684 men and women killed in the service of the country or as a result of terrorist attacks. If anyone asks how do we know exactly the number, it is because we regard each life as precious and everyone killed is recorded and listed. Of course, other countries do this too, such as the names of ca. 50,000 American soldiers killed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC. The ceremony in Netanya started with the sounding of a siren at 8 pm and then there was the lighting of the torches by bereaved families and speeches, music and poems. Then there was the wreath laying ceremony, where we (undeservedly) laid the wreath on behalf of Americans and Canadians in Israel living in Netanya.
During the following Day there was another siren at 11 am and then a national ceremony held in Jerusalem. Finally at 8 pm on Monday the mood changed from sombre to celebration, and crowds gathered in each city for the event. We walked downtown at 9 pm, and saw huge crowds, almost at a standstill. There were stages in several places and bands were pumping out loud music at ear-splitting levels. There were kids running all over the place squirting each other with liquids and parents pushing toddlers in carriages. We decided that was enough for us so we turned around and came home. When the fireworks started at 10.15 pm we went up on our roof and saw some of it. Not like July 4 on the Mall in Washington, but very nice nonetheless.
We take pride in the existence and accomplishments of our little, beleaguered state after 62 years. This is Herzl's 150th birthday and Herzl stated "if you will it, it is no dream." He also said that the State will not be handed to us on a silver platter and the cost is the price we pay in blood. But, nothing can deter us, not the continued intransigence of the Arab people, not the do-good liberals who think that the poor Palestinians are more deserving than we are, not the antagonistic Jews who feel that a Jewish State undermines their security in the Galut, not the anti-Semites who use Israel as an excuse for their venomous bias, and not the American politicians, including Pres. Obama, who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Let me state categorically, our capital city Jerusalem will not be divided! If you want to divide a city go and divide your own, we will not let it happen here. Yom ha'atzmaut samech!
posted by Jack Cohen at 7:29 AM
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