Hava Nedaber Ivrit: Celebrating Israel's Independence
Each month in this space,
L'Chayim will present a Hebrew
lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber
Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose
aim is to encourage further study of
Hebrew. The lesson will include a
brief story utilizing the Hebrew
words to be studied, a vocabulary
list with English translations and a
family activity which involves using
the new words. The lessons
are prepared by Nira Lev, associate
professor of Hebrew language and
literature at the Midrasha College of
Jewish Studies.
Following is this month's
lesson:
The sound of a tzfeera woke
Danny up on the first morning of his
bikkur in Yisrael. When he came to
the mitbach to find out what it was
tiehti,frll
THE JEWISH NEWS
20300 Civic Center Drive
Suite 240
Southfield, Michigan 48076
April 28, 1989
Associate Publisher Arthur M. Horwitz
News Editor Heidi Press
Jewish Experiences for Families
Adviser Harlene W. Appleman
Illustrator Neil Beckman
all about, he was surprised to see
the whole mishpacha standing up.
"Ma kara?" he asked, aval nobody
answered. Only when the tzfeera
was over his krovim explained to
him that it was Yom Hazikaron, the
Day of Remembrance, when kol
ham'deena remembers and honors
its fallen chayalim, the geeborim
who fell in action for our medinah.
Later, at II o'clock when another
tzfeera was sounded, Danny yada
what to do; he stood up for two
minutes of silence lezecher
ha'noflim. His chaverim explained
to him that in Yisrael, Yom
Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzma'ut
are closely tied together. Since
Hakamat Hamedinah in 1948, and
in fact, long before that, Yisrael had
to fight for its existence and harbe
anashim, gvarim and nashim lost
their lives in the ma'avak at
hakamat ha'medinah. Therefore,
the simcha of the chag is mingled
with tza'ar and etzev, ke'ev and
evel for the geeborim who lost their
lives in the milchamot that we have
been fighting since hakamat
hamedinah.
The chagigot and the simcha
of Yom Ha'atzma'ut start ba'erev
after the last tzfeera is sounded to
signify the end of Yom Hazikaron
and the beginning of chagigot Yom
Ha'atzma'ut. The central tekes
takes place in Yerushalayim, where
N'see-Hamedinah opens the
chagigot with his Ne'um La'uma,
which is followed by Tekes Hadlakat
Hamasu'ot where 12 torches
(masu'ot) are lit by 12 people
representing various groups of the
nation, symbolizing Israel's life and
achievements.
Soon, the chagigot will start
everywhere; the rechovot of all
arim, decorated with flags and
lights will be jammed with joyous
celebrating people. Special bamot
are set up where music is played
and different entertainers lead the
crowds in songs and rikudim.
Many mesibot are thrown in
private homes, where the minhag is
to have a sing-along into the wee
hours of the night.
Special programs on the radio
and on TV add to the unique ruach
of exhilaration and joy, and the
whole country becomes one in
celebrating the nes of Hakamat
Hamedinah.
Meelon (Vocabulary)
tzfeera
bikkur
mitbach
mishpacha
ma kara
a siren
a visit
a kitchen
a family
what happened
Israel Matching Quiz
Match the item in Column A with its description in Column B. To know more about the people, dates and
events listed below, visit a local public or synagogue library.
Column A
1. Neville Chamberlain
2. Hashomer
3. Nov. 29, 1947
4. May 14, 1948
5. Moshe Dayan
6. Anwar Sadat
7. Menorah
8. Canaan
9. Nov. 2, 1917
10. The Camp David Accords
11. Saturday, Oct. 6, 1973
12. Jerusalem
13. Sabra
14. Count Folke Bernadotte
15. Harry S. Truman
L-2
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1989
Column B
A. Actual date Israeli statehood declared
B. Egyptian leader who in 1977 said Egypt would give Israel peace in
return for the Sinai and eventual peace for the Palestinians.
C. Date of the Balfour Declaration which was the first instance in modern
history that the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine was validated.
D. Capital of Israel
E. British prime minister who decided in 1939 to restrict the development of a
Jewish national home by limiting the rights of Jews to immigrate to and
purchase land in Palestine.
F. Jewish self-defense movement which began with the early pioneers and
led to the development of the Haganah.
G. Ancient name for Israel in the time of Abraham 1950 BCE
H. Date the UN General Assembly voted 33 to 13 with 11 abstentions for the
establishment of Israel
I. First U.S. President to recognize Israel as a free and independent state
J. Menachem Begin's foreign minister who was minister of defense during the
Six-Day War in 1967.
K. Swedish diplomat who had helped negotiate with Germany at the end of
WWII and was sent to the U.N. in May 1948 to convince the Jews to give up
Jerusalem, Haifa and the Negev in exchange for peace
L. Desert cactus fruit hard and prickly on the outside but sweet on the inside;
nickname for a person born in Israel
M. Date the Yom Kippur War began with the attack by Egyptian and Syrian
armies
N. Beginning Peace Treaty signed by American President Jimmy Carter, Israeli
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
0. Official emblem of Israel adopted in 1949 that is surrounded by two olive
branches representing the ancient yearning for peace
Answers on Page L-7
aval
krovim
Yom Hazikaron
but
relatives
Day of
Remembrance
kol ham'deena . the whole country
chayalim
soldiers
geeborim
heroes
medinah
a country
yada
knew
lezecher
in memory of
ha'noflim
the fallen soldiers
chaverim
friends
Yom Ha'atzma'ut
Israel
Independence Day
Hakamat Hamedinah . establishment
of the state
harbe
many
anashim
people
gvarim
men
nashim
women
ma'avak
struggle
al
on, for
simcha
joy, happiness
chag
holiday
tza'ar
sorrow
etzev
sadness
ke'ev
pain
evel
mourning
milchamot
wars
chagigot
celebrations
ba'erev
in the evening
tekes
ceremony
N'see Hamedinah . president of the
state
Ne'um La'uma .. an address to the
nation
Hadlakat Hamasu'ot .. the lighting of
the torches
rechovot
streets
arim
cities
bamot
platforms, stages
rikudim
dances
mesibot
parties
minhag
a custom
spirit
ruach
miracle
nes
1" )t c)06
10‘
Sunday, April 30
The Jewish Experiences For Families
Committee at Congregation Beth Shalom will
have a pre-school program, Happy Birthday
Israel, at 10 a.m. April 30 at the synagogue.
Wednesday, May 3
The Jewish Experiences For Families
committee at Congregation Beth Shalom will
meet at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the synagogue.
Friday, May 12
The Birmingham Temple will have a
Shavuot and Educators Family Service at
7:30 p.m. May 12. Students from
kindergarten through 12th grade will
participate and kindergarten graduates will
be welcomed into the first grade. Awards will
be presented.
Sunday, May 21
Congregation Beth Shalom will host a
family Lag B'Omer picnic, field day and
spring planting, under the auspices of the
Couples Club, at noon May 21 at the
synagogue.