Hanan Cidor is the Shaliach to NFTY. Hanan grew up in Noar Telem, the Reform youth movement in Israel, and at Kol Haneshama, a Reform congregation in Jerusalem. Hanan moved to New York City in September 2008 following 5 years of IDF service. This piece originally published in iTorah.
Being an Israeli, one of the hardest things to deal with, and as far as I know it is unique to Israel, is the seemingly unbelievable and immediate passage between sorrow and celebration, as portrayed in the pairing of Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day). The idea behind this is that the day before celebrating our independence, we are reminded of the price and sacrifice made by so many in order to keep us free.
If you’ve never been in Israel during those two days, nothing can possibly explain the experience and the kind of emotions that it evokes. After a full day of grief and remembrance, something that is very much relevant from a personal standpoint to literally every Israeli, we go rather abruptly to a truly joyous celebration of our freedom and achievements during Israel’s Independence Day.
Those achievements are indeed very impressive. In just 62 years, Israel
has managed to become a regional power, a modern, flourishing democracy
in a region that has very little. In almost every possible measurement
of world countries and societies, the Jewish state, especially when
taking into consideration its small size, is at the top of the ladder
alongside countries that have been around for centuries. When you think
about the fact that all of this was done while facing constant security
threats, some of them even starting literally from day one, the
amazement and sense of awe is even greater.
But Israel’s achievements are not and should not be measured
only in comparison to how other states perform. After all, part of the
whole idea behind the creation of the State of Israel is to see if Jews
can, over 2,000 years after the last time we “took a crack at it,”
actually handle themselves independently, be masters of their own fate,
and create a society based on a combination of human values and Jewish
culture and heritage. When looking at Israel through this “Jewish”
prism, the list of achievements is also quite impressive. As one
example of having done something that was seemingly impossible, I point
to the revival of Hebrew as our people’s language. To think that
millions of Jews are being raised today in Israel having not English,
German, Russian, or Yiddish as their main tongue but Hebrew – a
language previously restricted to scripture alone, is nothing short of
amazing.
Nevertheless, sixty two years is also very young, especially
to have suffered so much loss and dire threats. Of course, this sort of
experience is not without consequences. No different than most other
Israelis, I too have lost friends who died while serving their country
in the Israeli army. Regardless of past and future achievements of the
State of Israel, their lives are forever lost and those who knew and
loved them are left with a hole that can never be filled.
One of the “little traditions” we have in my family during Yom
Hazikaron is to keep the TV on throughout the day on a special channel
that for 24 hours shows nothing but the names of all of the soldiers
and victims of terrorist attacks who have died since the day of
Israel’s birth. I know that many families in Israel do the same, and I
think there’s something very Jewish about that act. In a sense, it’s
our way of reminding ourselves that every person matters, that everyone
had a name and an entire life to go with it – a whole universe that was
lost in a tragic way.
So no, Israel is not perfect. In addition to the tremendous
loss of human life, like every other Israeli, I can name off the top of
my head a whole list of things that I don’t like about my country. The
thing is, none of these things will ever make me doubt my love and
sense of pride for Israel, primarily because it belongs to me, and any
other Jew who chooses to care or identify with it. Israel is our
creation, the grand project of the Jewish people, and like every artist
that has worked hard on a new creation, no one can be more critical
than us towards what we have made; but at the same time no one can love
the creation more than the artist who has put his heart and soul into
his work.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut has always been my favorite holiday of the
year. Not because I don’t like any of the other holidays, but because
in my view it is probably the only holiday where we celebrate a project
that is still ongoing; where all of us can make a difference and shape
the way this wonderful country, filled with our people, will look in
the next year and the one after that. In my eyes, taking an active
involvement in the shaping of our country and our people is the best
way to commemorate the memory of those who have died defending it.
Nothing is worth celebrating more than that.
Related Questions
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How do most Israelis celebrate Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut?
Yom Hazikaron is observed as a national day of public mourning with
ceremonies in schools, offices and other public places. The military
cemeteries are filled with family members and friends of fallen
soldiers who come to mourn the loss of their loved ones, whether the
death occurred decades or even a few days prior. Twice during the day
the entire country literally comes into a stop as a siren is heard all
throughout Israel and everyone stands at attention for two minutes.On the eve of Yom Ha’Atzmaut people go out to the streets and celebrate
together at outdoor concerts and parties all across the country.
Fireworks are flown into the sky and barbecues can be seen (and
smelled) wherever you go. The following day is celebrated as a national
holiday where friends and families gather together, usually outside
under the sun, to eat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company. Nature
reserves, museums and other attractions are open to the public – mostly
for free. During the day, Israel holds the world Torah championship for
teenagers and also gives out the prestigious “Israel prize” to
individuals who excel in a variety of fields. - How can I celebrate Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut?
For
Yom Hazikaron, consider having a ceremony at your temple youth group or school
commemorating the day, where you can read out names of fallen soldiers
that can be found in the official Israeli database (you can ask a rabbi
or a teacher to help with the translation). You can also wear the
special “Yizkor” sticker worn by Israelis during the day. Another
option is to stand at attention for two minutes along side Israelis at
8pm Israel time on Sunday, April 18th.For Yom Ha’Atzmaut, consider having a party or a special meal to
celebrate the occasion. You can run an Israel program at your temple youth group or
school from NFTY’s Israel program bank. Consider changing your Facebook
profile picture to that of the Israeli flag for that day (April 20th)
or wishing Israel a happy birthday on your status. - How can I find more information about these holidays?
You can go to the NFTY holiday pages dedicated to Yom Hazikaron and Yom
Ha’Atzmaut or to the official website of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where you can learn about the entire history of Israel.
As a Jew residing in North America, do
you feel like Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut are important to your
Jewish identity? Why or why not?