OPINION

Yom Hazikaron: It's A Solemn Day
To Salute Israel's Fallen Soldiers

B

Everyone serves in the Israel Defense
eginning at sunset on April
Forces and everyone has lost a family
29th, the 4th of Iyar, we in
member or friend. On this sad day,
the Detroit community will
the country pauses to turn inward, to
unite with the Jews of the
remember. The names and faces of
world to begin the celebration of a
each and every one of the fallen sol-
truly remarkable event — 50
diers is broadcast on Israeli
years of Israel's independence
television. Memorial services
— Yom Ha'atzma'ut. Here
are
held at cemeteries
and in Jewish communities
throughout
the country. At
around the world, that
precisely
11
a.m., the
evening will mark the start of
nation's
air
raid
sirens sound
a season of festive concerts,
in unison for one minute.
parades and an unimaginable
From Eilat in the far south
array of happenings marking
to Metulla in the far north,
this truly astounding mile-
all
the political, religious
stone.
and
racial differences that
MARK
But before the sun sets,
divide
the people of Israel
LI
CHTERMAN
before the concerts, before
on
any
given day melt away.
Special
to
the parades and before the
At
this
precise moment,
The
Jewish
News
speeches, there is Yom
each and every person in the
Hazikaron, the 3rd of Iyar,
nation stops what they hap-
the Day of Remembrance for the Fall-
pen
to
be
doing
to stand at attention
en Soldiers of Israel. On this day each
to
remember
the
beautiful fresh faces
year, we remember that the Jewish
that
once
walked
among them. Most
people in Israel have paid a dear price
astoundingly
to
someone
who has
for our independence and freedom.
never
before
witnessed
this
event, traf-
From the pre-state period, to the War
fic
stops
and
drivers
and
passengers
of Independence, through the current
alike stand in the middle of the road
struggle to protect Israel's northern
to remember. Business meetings pause
border region from terrorist infiltra-
and classrooms fall silent.
tion, more than 18,000 brave young
Here in Detroit, we will mark this
men and women — Jewish children,
solemn
day — Wednesday, April 29th,
our fathers, brothers, sisters and
Iyar
3,
with
two major events — both
cousins — have given their lives in
open
to
the
entire community at no
defense of the state.
charge.
In Israel, the pain is personal.
First, as in Israel, at precisely 11
\ Mark Lichterman is executive director
a.m., a siren will sound on the cam-
' of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces-
pus of the Kahn Jewish Community
Michigan Chapter.
Center in West Bloomfield for one

minute. All those within hearing dis-
tance of its sad sound will be asked
to pause to remember the fallen sol-
diers. Following the minute of
remembrance, a short ceremony at
the JCC's
memorial to
the fallen
soldiers will
be conduct-
ed. Yizkor
and El Male
Rachamim
will be
chanted.
Students
from Akiva,
Hillel and
the Yeshiva
Beth Yehuda
will partici-
pate in this event. To dramatically
personalize the real meaning of Yom
Hazikaron, the names of fallen sol-
diers will continuously be read aloud
by a succession of students from
noon to 5 p.m.
The main community-wide Yom
Hazikaron commemoration, co-
sponsored by the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and the
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces,
will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Con-
gregation Shaarey Zedek. This mov-
ing event will include a presentation
by Major Yair Barkat, the assistant
military attache in Israel's Embassy
in Washington, and the commander
of a large number of the soldiers who
lost their lives last year in a tragic

extended to us, it may
well be.
Sanford R. Kopnick
•
Rabbi, Congregation
Achduth Vesholom, Fort
Wayne, Ind.

written article you composed on us in
the Mazel Tov section of the April 3
Detroit Jewish News ("Love Boat, Part
II").
Not only were we passionately
touched by your style, but also we
have had countless friends who have
expressed how poignantly the article
affected them with its warmth and
sincerity. We would not be surprised
if your circulation rose dramatically
during that week from the demands
of the "Fabulous Fisher Fifteen"
alone.
Again, our heartfelt gratitude and
appreciation for adding a little more
to the icing on our wedding anniver-
sary cake and surprise renewing of our
wedding vows.
Faye and Norm Fisher
Boynton Beach, Fla.

Institute
Very Active

members who have
not yet reached three
score and 10. Our
holiday assemblies
attract every age
group, from toddlers
on up.
A warm welcome
is extended to all of
our guests and they
are always invited to
join this small but
vital organization in
our many activities.
Sheila Bass
Bloomfield Hills

It gave me much plea-
sure to see your feature
on the Sholem Ale-
Karel Bass and
ichem Institute ("Push-
Dr. Peter Shifrin
ing On" April 17). The
photograph of my husband, Karel Bass,
listening to Dr. Peter Shifrin truly
Mazel Toy
shows the respect and friendship that
Well Received
exists between our members.
It is with the utmost pleasure that we
Yes, advancing years are catching
congratulate you on the wonderfully
up with us, but we do have very active

helicopter accident in southern
Lebanon. Although he is not yet 30
years old, Major Barkat can convey
the meaning and importance of Yom
Hazikaron like few others.
AP byKhaled Zighari
Through
the chanting
of the Yizkor
and El Maleh
Rachamim, a
video remem-
brance of the
soldiers, the
reading of
poetry and
the singing of
“Hatikvah,"
our commu-
nity will
remember
each and
every one of the individuals who died
so that Israel might live. I hope that
you will join us for one, or both, of
these important and meaningful
events.
Just as in Israel, following the set-
ting of the sun at the conclusion of
the Yom Hazikaron commemoration,
we, too, will set aside our sadness to
begin celebrating Yom Hiatzma'ut —
Israel Independence Day — with the
cutting and serving of a large birthday
cake in the social halls.
For more information regarding the
Yom Hazikaron commemoration, call
the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces,
(248) 489-1150, or Lauren Dworkin
at the Federation, (248) 642-4260,
Ext. 269. El

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4/24
1998

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