viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com commentary 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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