Thoughts On Yom HaZikkaron

[debka_notion]

I admire Yom HaZikaron, and the way that Israelis observe it- seriously, that is.  Of course, I think that it is tragic that there are so many losses that there is no choice but to observe it seriously and intentionally, because everyone is seriously, personally hurting.  That goes without saying (I hope).  Nevertheless, every year, I see the observances and think about how problematic it is that just because fewer people in the US of A have such personal losses (which isn't really as true as we want to believe), that we ignore our own holiday, or make it just a day off, for parades and sales.  I think that it's hugely disrespectful- and I'm as guilty of it as the next person, most years. 

And then I come back to Yom HaZikaron, and I think about how Jews in America observe this day and not Memorial Day, and it feels like disloyalty to our own country.  At the same time, כל ישראל ערבין זה בזה- the loss of each of those lives is in some way connected to me.  (Yes, I'm being gentle with my use of the principle, but there is a flow of logic behind it.  Anyone to whom you have a responsibility is connected to you...)  So it isn't the observance that troubles me- it's the lack of parallel observance, and the symbolic lack of loyalty to the country where I am actually a citizen.

My other trouble is more theological.  This morning, the shatz said an El Malei Rahamim for fallen Israeli soldiers.  The text proclaimed that they were מסרו נפש על קידוש ה , and that's something that I just can't buy into.  Might some of them have indeed died as martyrs?  Possible.  However, I think martyrdom is both too specific and too dangerous a concept to go applying to any death that happens to be fighting for the State of Israel.  But then, I've never been comfortable with viewing modern Israel as an inherent step towards the coming of Moshiach, or as some miraculous re-establishment of the biblical kingdom.  I suppose one discomfort goes with the other.  Still, it made for a mildly shocking morning.

Comments

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

The Koren siddur says something like על קידוש השם העם והארץ. Much better, I think.

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a nice Memorial day thing this year, co-sponsored by KOE.

Considering a KOE board member lost a brother last year in Iraq, I don't feel as bad.

Plus, I think Israel's method of observance beats ours. I wouldn't mind hearing the siren here, for our lost soldiers.

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

Sorry- can't edit:

I don't feel as bad about celebrating Yom Hazikaron, when I also *do* think about it on Memorial day.

That might be partially a factor of growing up in a Navy town, but I don't think so. Even Norfolk doesn't celebrate it as hard as you might think.

[margavriel.livejournal.com]

However, I think martyrdom is both too specific and too dangerous a concept to go applying to any death that happens to be fighting for the State of Israel. But then, I've never been comfortable with viewing modern Israel as an inherent step towards the coming of Moshiach, or as some miraculous re-establishment of the biblical kingdom. I suppose one discomfort goes with the other.

Not necessarily connected. We can assign no eschatological significance to the democratic State of Israel, and still proclaim that any individual who has lost his or her life to defend the right of Jews to live in ארץ קדשנו has sanctified God's name.