SA community connected to Israel in sadness and strength

JORDAN MOSHE

It was the sound of Yom Hazikaron, a siren to remember the soldiers who have fallen in defence of the state of Israel. “This siren unites us in one purpose,” said Israeli Ambassador Lior Keinan at the embassy in Lynwood. “We remember the sacrifices and unbearable pain of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones.

“We owe all we have to our heroes, and are here on their merit and their families, who lost their whole world in an instant. We mark this day only once a year, but these families carry the pain with them every second since that dreaded phone call or knock on the door.”

The embassy programme included the lighting of a memorial torch, wreath laying by embassy staff and representatives of several community organisations, and prayers for the fallen.

Along with readings of poems and texts, songs appropriate for the occasion such as When the Heart Cries and Longing were performed by brothers Shlomo and Shmuli Brill.

Keinan emphasised that the pain of the bereaved had also made its way to South Africa. “The 88 bereaved [South African] families whose children volunteered for Israel symbolise the unbreakable connection between Israel and the Jewish community here. Anyone who thinks about putting distance between Israel and this remarkable Jewish community should think again,” he said.

“Their love for Israel is eternally engraved in our hearts, and will always mark the covenant between us. In their deaths, they commanded us to live.”

It is for this reason, said Keinan, that we celebrate Israel’s independence the day after Yom Hazikaron. “This evening we act according to their commandment, and celebrate our independence. Think for a moment how proud they would be at what we have accomplished. If they could join us for a moment, they would stand next to us, give us a big hug, and ask, ‘Could this be possible? Did we create all this in such a short amount of time?’

“In their deaths, they didn’t command us just to live, but how to live, and what path to follow. Israel is a miracle occurring right before our eyes, but it came at a terrible cost. It remains our duty to ensure that the last fallen will be the last fallen.”