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Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

Happy Birthday, Israel

F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us

| Editorial

A

s an Israeli, Yom
Among my fallen brothers, who
HaAtzmaut, Israeli
are all remembered and dearly
Independence Day on
missed, I would like to share the
May 12, fascinates me.
story of Lt. Omri Shahar. This Yom
Not because it is the one day
HaZikaron/Atzmaut marks the
that Israelis celebrate freedom,
fourth year of his passing. I served
independence and bask in the
as a ship commander when he was
sweet taste of self-determina-
a young deputy and later, squadron
tion. But rather because Yom
commander when he was one of
Shimon Levy
HaAtzmaut mirrors the story of
the younger ship commanders.
the State of Israel since its estab-
Omri was, simply put, the sweet-
lishment, 68 years ago.
est kid around. He was a true altruist who
Yom HaAtzmaut begins 24 hours
every officer wanted to have under his
prior to the national celebrations with
command and everyone wanted to affiliate
the solemnity of Yom HaZikaron, Israeli
themselves with.
Memorial Day; they are embedded and
Always punctual, always smiling and
linked to each other, one needs the other
always respectful to his commanders,
to exist.
peers and soldiers, he was one of the
The Jews that experienced that day
young officers you could be proud to be
when David Ben Gurion proclaimed the
affiliated with. He was never arrogant and
establishment of the State of Israel also
always ideological and value-driven, both
experienced seven wars, four major opera- in his words and actions. Truly a kind soul
tions, two intifadas and numerous terror-
of love, whose smile and passion to the
ist attacks. They knew, and still know, that open seas were nothing short of infectious.
independence and freedom cannot come
Son of Irit and Asher, who was a retired
without sacrifice and loss.
lieutenant colonel in the Navy, Omri was
The shift from remembering our fallen
the pride and joy of their lives, the eldest
brothers and sisters at exactly 11 a.m.
of three siblings. He died on the night of
when the two-minute long siren stops life
June 26, 2012, at the age of 25, in a non-
as we know it, to the lighting of the meno- combat accident. I loved that kid.
rah that same night, locks the mourning
In this harsh Israeli reality, this painful
of Yom HaZikaron and starts the celebra-
prematurely cut young life, I know and
tions of Yom HaAtzmaut. This sudden
deeply believe that Omri’s sacrifice was
pivot never made sense to me until I
not in vain. In his sacrifice, he assured us
joined the military myself.
the freedom, liberty, security and future
Today, after serving more than eight
of the State of Israel and its citizens. In his
years in active military service, I can
life, he gave us the power and responsibili-
attest firsthand that when speaking of
ty to continue and for that we are eternally
Yom HaAtzmaut to the average Israeli, it
grateful to him and the many thousands
has a deeply convoluted meaning. Yom
of men and women who fall protecting the
HaAtzmaut stands hand-in-hand with
State of Israel.
Yom HaZikaron; a time where pride,
If thriving in the Middle East for the
courage and camaraderie are mixed with
past 68 years has taught us anything, it
anger, sadness and painful memories. A
has taught us that life continues. That we
day filled with an amalgam of emotions
can and must go on. That after we delve
when we dress in our national colors
into 24 hours of pain, sadness and remem-
throughout the day, blue and white, go
brance, we force ourselves out of the
to our community ceremonies where we
despair and look to the future.
name those who have fallen, hold a Yizkor
We look at the wonderful country that
(remembrance) service, listen to the Eil
our grandparents built with their own
Malei Rachamim (Merciful God) prayer
two hands, our parents developed and
and end the day with the lighting of the
it is now our responsibility to advance.
national menorah, singing “Hatikvah” and Where everyone is an immigrant — from
celebrating independence.
Iran, Iraq, Europe, Asia, Russia, North
In Israel, loss is never more than an
and South America and Africa, to name
arm’s length away. It is inevitable that
a few. Coming to build a Jewish life and,
someone who you went to high school
more importantly, a future for themselves
with, grew up next to, knew through
and their children, far from persecution
friends and family or served side-by-side
and free to practice their beliefs. Where
with has perished while in military ser-
the streets we walk on are named after
vice. It is never a distant connection but
ordinary men and women who found
always one experienced through personal
themselves in the most extraordinary
pain.
circumstances and rose to the occasion.

6 May 12 • 2016

Where we see the young soldier in uni-
form on public transportation and have
an extreme sense of accomplishment and,
more importantly, pride in ourselves, our
country and our values.
This Yom HaAtzmaut, let us celebrate
life. Let us celebrate independence and
freedom. Where in the land of our Jewish
forefathers, we can today assure to every
man, woman and child a life safe from
persecution and the ability to practice
their religion without fear. Where they
can be proud of their history and excited
about the future — protected and made
possible by those brave men and women
who secure our borders, all hours of the
day, 365 days a year.
Happy 68th birthday, Israel. You are
looking better from year to year.

*

Shimon Levy, a former Israeli Defense Forces
naval captain, serves as the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit’s senior strategic adviser and
as a principal at Secret Sauce Capital.

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ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY

On Yom HaAtzmaut we observe year 68
Of di Yiddishe medineh,* a yontef so
great.
It was shver** to receive di
Yiddishe state
So hob*** a l’chaim un kum
celebrate.
Un zog**** She’he’cheyanu,***** kum
aher,****** don’t you wait.

* di Yiddishe medineh — the Jewish
state
** shver — hard
*** hob — have
**** Un zog — and say
***** She’he’cheyanu — an expres
sion of gratitude
****** kum aher — come here

— Rachel Kapen

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