ARIELA CARNO

Ariela Carno is a medical student, the immediate past two-time chair of SAUJS and works part-time for the SAZF

It was Mark Twain who said that “all things are mortal but the Jew” and it seems that the same can be said of the nation of Israel. While empires crumble around it and plan its destruction it remains – a bastion of peace and democracy in a world gone mad.

In my view Yom Ha’atzmaut is a celebration of Israel’s foundation whereas Yom Hazikaron is a commemoration of the cost we incur to ensure the continuance of Israel’s existence-the land of the “immortal” Jew.

Every year the South African Jewish community proudly unite in both celebration and commemoration for the state of Israel-a cause close to the heart of every South African Jew.

I don’t think we often appreciate the extent to which our community unites behind Israel but in light of the upcoming events let us take a moment and reflect.

Last year over 12 000 South Africans (the majority of them Jews) rallied behind the state of Israel during a period where Israeli’s strongly needed diaspora support. At that time the average Israeli on the street needed to know that there were people supporting them and that despite what many media voices would have them believe, they were not part a pariah state. The fact that the South African Jewish community-which is by no means the largest Jewish community in the world-were able to come out and show the world’s largest display of solidarity for Israel at that time is nothing short of inspiring.

Related on the website – Read them all

• YOM HASHOAH 2015
• ARIELA CARNO ON THE YOMs
• YOM HA’ATZMAUT 20I5
• YOM HAZIKARON 2015

Our community has stood by Israel through thick and thin; through the rise (and re-rise) of Prime ministers and through times of war and peace. We all choose to showcase our particular brand of Zionism in different ways, whether it be through ensuring that our children have a Jewish Zionist education, donating to the JNF, supporting an “I love Israel” facebook group or even eventually taking the big step and making a “red carpet aliyah”. However regardless of the forms our different manifestations of Zionism take ,they all come from the same core belief that Israel is a precious commodity that should be protected and that it is part of our responsibility as the South African Jewish community to do so.

All this being said next week is a perfect opportunity to honour that commitment. Come and join the community at Yeshiva college on the 21^st of April at 18.30 in what will surely be an tear wrenching Yom Hazikaron ceremony, with Professor Shmuel Eidelman as a guest speaker; and on the 22^nd of April, once again at Yeshiva college, for an evening that will remind you why we all love Israel so much in the first place.

The Yom Ha’atzmaut event at Yeshiva College begins at 18.00 on the 22^nd of April at the bargain price of R50 for adults and R20 for children under 12.Tickets will be sold at the door from 17.00. Not only will there be rides, food stalls and the Israeli singing sensation Gad Elbaz but you will also have the opportunity to win a ticket to the one and only holy land. This really isn’t as event to be missed.

I am sure that if Mark Twain were to attend the Yom ha’atzmeut celebrations happening next week at Yeshiva college he many discover that the secret to the immortality of the Jewish people is in fact the unity that we display.