Blog

Is there a best way to remember someone? Are there best practices that have proven most effective? I ponder that every time we hold Yizkor, the memorial service for our departed. Then I attended our community’s annual Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. I would not expect every Jewish community to hold such a commemoration, but the sizable Israeli community in Pittsburgh, our close ties to the land, and our partnership with Karmiel-Misgav made such an evening an imperative. It is also important to know that approximately two dozen residents of Karmiel-Misgav, members of the IDF, have lost their lives in the past seven months.

It began as Yom HaZikaron does in Israel with a two-minute siren and everyone standing at attention. It is a profoundly powerful moment that an entire nation stops what it is doing to remember those who sacrificed their lives in defense of Israel as well as victims of terrorist attacks. Imagine for one moment if we in America stood at attention throughout our nation to honor all those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live in freedom?

The weight of the evening filled the air as we honored those who perished on October 7 through video and song. While I know that these videos were a tribute to vibrant lives lost, it was impossible to do anything but mourn as the faces of beautiful children were shown playing with their siblings. Entire families were erased. You could hear the sniffling in the room as tears filled the air. The unmistakable presence of trauma runs deep.  While I experienced the trauma of 9.11, this one is different in ways that I’m not certain of yet. Perhaps Israel’s attempts to eliminate Hamas defers some of it, but ultimately the entire nation must cope with the breakdown of the intelligence community and the defensive systems. And then find space to properly mourn, as the barbaric deaths of over 1,200 left no one in Israel untouched. And I felt it in Pittsburgh.

Even more remarkable is the Israeli calendar, as the day after Yom Hazikaron is followed by Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day.  What a powerful statement that before you celebrate the rebirth of your nation, you must first remember those who perished in that process, and those that continue to defend Israel and pay the ultimate price. I could not call it a celebration this year, as there still remain over 100 hostages in Gaza as we close in on 225 days in captivity. This war would be over if Hamas would just release them.  While none of us want to think it, without saying it, I fear the worst. Then what? What would any country do upon receiving such news? I continue to pray for their safe return, that all of them can truly experience a personal Yom Haatzmaut. It’s time already.  Dayenu!