Family Focus

Yom HaZikaron

Community unites to honor Israel's fallen soldiers.

Shelli Liebman Dormfan
Senior

A

fter hearing an Israeli soldier
speak during this week's Israel
Memorial Day observance pro-
gram, Valeri Sirlin said, "It suddenly hit
me really hard that my daughter Carley is
also an Israeli soldier?'
Sirlin, of West Bloomfield, whose
daughter joined the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) this past summer, participated in an
April 27 community-wide Yom HaZikaron
memorial ceremony at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. Those who
gathered to observe the day, which honors
Israelis who have fallen during Israel's
fight for independence, were a mingling of
Americans and Israelis.
Both Hebrew and English could be
heard spoken in the crowd. The group
included Americans, like Sirlin, with
family members in the IDF, along with
former Israeli soldiers who now live in the
States. A choir of Michigan-area students
sang the American and Israeli national
anthems with equal ease.
Interspersed throughout the American
program was a showing of videotaped
excerpts from the Israeli Yom HaZikaron
program that took place earlier that day.
Program chairs Clara Gaba and Susan
Krakoff guided participants in the light-
ing of memorial candles, representing
soldiers and civilians who died in Israel,
from before 1948 through the Operation
Cast Lead conflict in Gaza this past winter.
A candle was also lit for victims of terror
in Israel.
Lighting the Candle of Hope was
Avraham Berkman, currently serving in the
IDF, but home visiting family in Oak Park.
The candle represented thoughts for "the
safe return and well being of those who
have not returned home," Krakoff said, with
a specific mention of Israeli soldier, Gilad
Shalit, held hostage by Hamas since 2006.
Participants of the program were also
invited to light a candle in a display
marked "Every Person Has a Name."
Nine-year-old Roi Golan of Farmington
Hills said he knows, "The candles are to
remember the soldiers?'
Roi, born in Israel, attended the program
with his father, Shachar Golan, a former
IDF paratrooper. "My son asks a lot of
questions about what I did in the army," he
said. "I wanted him to be with me at the

program to learn more about it
the direction of Anat
and to see how Americans sup-
Nachshoni and Robin Lash.
port Israel. Without U.S. sup-
It was sung by a joint choir
port, Israel cannot exist. And
of students from Hillel Day
it's not just money. It warms
School of Metropolitan
my heart to be with Americans
Detroit in Farmington
who remember the sacrifices
Hills and Yeshivat Akiva
made for Israel and for my son
in Southfield, two of the
to see you don't need to be in
evening's sponsors.
Israel to see a community of
The program was also
Jews."
Ilan Buckman of West
sponsored by the B'nei
For Golan, it is also impor-
Bloomfield spoke of his
Akiva Youth Movement,
tant that Yom HaZikaron is
14 months in the IDF.
Michigan Friends of the
followed by Yom HaAtzmaut,
IDF, Federation, Michigan
Israeli Independence Day. "In Israel,
Board of Rabbis and Young Israel Council
Memorial Day leads to Independence Day," of Metropolitan Detroit.
he said. "They unite."
University of Michigan student Ilan
Buckman of West Bloomfield spoke of
Personal Account
his 14 months in the IDF and introduced
The evening's master of ceremonies,
IDF Second Lieutenant Ohad Girchish,
Jeffrey Schlussel, referred to the day as one who shared experiences of combat and
of "anguish and memory, awe and honor?'
explained injuries incurred during Cast
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Lead.
Detroit President Nancy Grosfeld com-
It was Girchish's presence that struck
mended the soldiers who defend Israel
Sirlin. Immensely proud of her daughter
and those "who served with enormous
Carley's devotion to Israel, she said, "She

Tal Siegmann of Oak Park lights a

memorial candle.

The guest speaker, IDF 2nd Lt. Ohad Girchish, talked about his combat experiences
and injuries in the Gaza campaign.

courage" and "gave their lives so one day
the people of Israel will live in peace."
Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff
spoke of the honor and memory of those
lost and offered a prayer for their souls.
His colleague, Cantor Meir Finkelstein,
sang "El Maleh Rachamim," a prayer for
the souls of the departed.
The song "Eili, Eili," based on a poem
by Hannah Senesh, was performed under

told me, `Mom, Israel is where my heart is'
She has a steadfast commitment to Israel?'
As Sirlin prepares to travel to Israel
this coming week to watch as Carley is
promoted to the rank of corporal in the
IDF, she said she now knows a little more
of what to expect. "Seeing and listening to
the Israeli soldier speak made me under-
stand more about the IDF and realize this
is also what Carley's life is like?' 11

The joint choir included liana Wolf, 12,
of West Bloomfield, Alexis Darmon, 13,

of Franklin and Mara Crains, 12, of West
Bloomfield.

April 30 2009

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