Remembering

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 28, 2009

JERUSALEM- On this day, April 28, 2009, the nation of Israel is pausing to remember all those who have fallen in defense of this land. Whether they were killed in 1948 or 2006, whether in uniform on the front lines, or while riding a bus to school in Tel Aviv, throughout this country the memory of those who have been lost is being honored. I find it particularly interesting, and moving, that the victims of terror attacks are also remembered on this day. For most Americans, whose lives are untouched by war or terror attack, Memorial Day is a day off from work, a day to have a barbecue and relax. In Israel, Yom Hazikaron is a very different day. The security fence may have made things safer, but everyone in this country is still, sadly, vulnerable to attack at any time, which means that the police and army must constantly be on alert, ready to respond to the actions of Hezbollah and Hamas.

One striking thing about this day, though, is that when the sun sets tonight we will move from a day of mourning and sadness to one of celebration, as Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence day, begins.  I like the fact that a day composed of not only celebration, but of appreciation, follows after the day of remembrance. It demonstrates to the world that the Jewish people are a living people, that we do not focus only on the past, but on the future as well. We mourn those we have lost with a quiet, somber day of reflection, and we continue to honor their memory by rejoicing in the fact that we are able to be, once again, in our own homeland.

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2009.