Neshama, the Hillel

metro

Day School choir,

performs with Cantor

Samuel Greenbaum.

Yom HaZikaron event pays tribute
to Israel's fallen fighters.

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

A

crowd of nearly 500 filled
the auditorium at Hillel Day
School in Farmington Hills
on May 8 to pay respects to the 22, 867
Israelis who have died in defense of the
State of Israel during Metro Detroit's
annual Yom HaZikaron commemora-
tion.
Mourned, too, were the nearly 2,500
victims of terror in Israel's short 63
years of existence.
"Yom HaZikaron is a day of anguish
and memory, awe and honor," said mas-
ter of ceremonies Rabbi Eric Grossman,
head of Frankel Jewish Academy in West
Bloomfield. "It is a day we remember
those that we have lost, pay tribute to
their dedication to the State of Israel,
and reaffirm our own."
Marcie Orley, chair of Federation's
Women's Divison, said, "On this day, we
honor the sons and daughters of Israel.
They are the heroes who have fought
for Israel's very survival, and have given
their lives so that the people of Israel
might one day survive in peace."
Following her speech, the audience

24

May 12 - 2011

rose and silently observed the one-min-
ute sounding of a siren, as is traditional
in Israel on Yom HaZikaron.
Memorial candles were lit on stage by
American and Israeli community lead-
ers, followed by Yizkor read in Hebrew
and English by Dany Saar and Andre
Douville. Edith Covensky and Harry
Onickel recited a prayer for Israel in
Hebrew and English as well.
Highlights of the event were a speech
by Lt. Com. Michael Cohen of the
Israeli Navy and a personal story by
Don Cohen of the tragic deaths of two
military sons in one Israeli family that
struggles each day to cope with the
unimaginable loss.
Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny of Temple
Israel offered closing remarks on such a
solemn day.
"We are all Israelis ... as we try to
feel the pain of loss;' she told the group.
"We are a family"
The evening ended with the singing
of the American and Israeli national
anthems led by Cantor Samuel
Greenbaum of Congregation Beth
Shalom in Oak Park and the children
of "Neshama," the Hillel Day School
choir.

Above: Israeli Moshe Greenberg and Don

Cohen, both of West Bloomfield, light

memorial candles with other Israeli and

American community leaders in honor

of those who gave their lives in defense
of Israel.

Left: Renana Hayun of Southfield, an

Israeli and teacher at Akiva Hebrew Day

School, lights a memorial candle.

Israeli Itzy Saar lights a memorial

candle.

Lt. Corn. Michael Cohen of the Israeli
Navy speaks.