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On Yom Haatzmaut By: Brandon Chiat, Digital Media Manager

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On Yom Haatzmaut By: Brandon Chiat, Digital Media Manager THE JEWISH SOUL SINGS On Yom HaAtzmaut By: Brandon Chiat, Digital Media Manager Shortly after Passover, the Jewish people observe a run of In that light, Yom HaShoah is not merely an opportunity modern holidays, created by the State of Israel, and placed to mourn the incomprehensible loss of Jewish life, but a at the core of Jewish identity: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust reaffirmation of the urgent and perpetual need for a defensible Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) and Jewish homeland. Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel's Independence Day). "History teaches us that no one is coming to the defense of These three days of observance are not only temporally linked, the Jewish people," said Mr. Randy Lutz, Chairperson of Beth occurring within the same calendar week, but also thematically El Congregation's Israeli Affairs Committee. "We can only rely connected. If Passover, as a holiday, crystallizes Jewish identity, on ourselves, which is why the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is the transition to Yom HaShoah, then Yom HaZikaron, and Yom essential for the continued existence of the State of Israel." HaAtzmaut marks how that identity has been threatened, Yom HaShoah is followed by Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial defended, and championed. Day, which directly precedes Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's "Every Jewish person, no matter where in the world they were Independence Day. The message of linking these three days is born, shares the same roots," explained Dr. Eyal Bor, Director of clear: the preservation of Jewish life is contingent on a Jewish Education at Beth El Congregation. homeland, and Israel owes its independence to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of that idea. "Every Israeli knows someone who died while serving in the military," said Ms. Esti Showell, Beth El Congregation's Graphic Designer, and Marketing Specialist. As a native Israeli who served in the IDF, Ms. Showell explained that Yom HaZikaron is less about honoring the sacrifice of Israel's fallen soldiers, and more about mourning their loss, as well as the loss of civilian life in acts of terror. In that sense, Israel's Memorial Day is a reminder of Israel's indisputable need to protect herself. Dr. Bor, a native-Israeli, based his assertion on several lines of "It's commonly said that if the armies of the Arab nations scientific evidence that suggest that genes of Diaspora Jews surrounding Israel laid down their weapons, there would be from Europe, Northwest Africa, and the Near East resemble peace in the Middle East, but if the IDF were to lay down their each other more closely than they resemble their non-Jewish arms, Israel would cease to exist," Mr. Lutz said. "I don't think neighbors. Israel, then, is not just the symbol of Jewish unity, of those young people serving in the IDF as soldiers, as much but provides genetic proof for a Jewish homeland, and thus, a as I do the daughters and sons of our Israeli brethren who shared Jewish identity. unfortunately need to protect Israel in the rough neighborhood of the Middle East." "The Land of Israel is where the Torah was written, and thus the land where our identity was born," Dr. Bor continued. "Despite Importantly, the existential dangers facing Israel transcend our differences in Jewish affiliation or political beliefs, every geographic boundaries. Jew, when reciting the Shema, turns to face Jerusalem. That sends a powerful message that we are all from the same tribe." April 2020 | Nisan-Iyyar 5780 3 "Global antisemitism is a genuine threat," said Mr. Harry Rifkin. In the age of "Fake News," when factual information is routinely "As Jews, we're taught to say 'never again,' and we believe [the manipulated and weaponized, the messages of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust] couldn't happen here in America, but European Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut can have life-or-death Jews said the same thing before the Nazis came to power." consequences. "If American Jews become divided over Israel, it will be easier for Israel's enemies to destroy us," Ms. Showell said. It is that somber charge that serves as the foundation for Yom HaAtzmaut. "We celebrate Israeli independence with a deep sense of responsibility," Dr. Bor asserted. "We had to fight to earn independence, and we must continue to fight to keep it." Taken together, Passover, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut are an assertion and celebration of Jewish For Mr. Rifkin and his family, Jewish identity is akin to support identity, but also a yearly reminder of the price Jews have paid for Israel. Mr. Rifkin and his wife, a native Israeli, belong to the to express their identity freely. These days of observance place Chabad Israeli Center of Pikesville and are known throughout Israel at the very core of Jewish identity by challenging world the Baltimore Jewish community for their passionate support Jewry to be worthy heirs to their people's legacy. of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), an organization "American Jews must understand that the future of the Jewish dedicated to the men and women serving in the Israel Defense people - a people that have existed for 3,000 years - lies with Forces, wounded veterans, and the families of fallen soldiers. Israel," Mr. Rifkin said. "Support for Israel transcends religious Two of Mr. Rifkin's three American-born children - daughter, affiliations. We must recognize that where we come from, as a Channa, 26, and son, Gil, 23 - made aliyah and served, or are people, determines where we will go in the future." currently serving, in the IDF. His youngest daughter Emma, 19, As the lyrics of Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah, remind the is currently enrolled in a gap year program at Israel's Bar Ilan Jewish people: "hope is not yet lost." University, after which she hopes to make aliyah and serve in the IDF like her siblings. Mr. Rifkin attributes his children's "The Jewish soul sings because we are a free people in our strong Jewish identities and unshakable support for Israel to an land," Ms. Showell recited. "When we sing Hatikvah on Yom upbringing in Jewish communal life. HaAtzmaut, all Jewish people are reminded of the responsibility we have to build Israel into a great country. Israel gives In Dr. Bor's estimation, those American Jews who unaffiliate meaning to our Jewish identity." with institutional Jewish life, do not feel an emotional attachment to Israel, nor an obligation to protect the Jewish homeland. "Israel receives less and less support from young American Jews, who have very little connection to our homeland, let alone their Jewish identities," Dr. Bor said. "American Jews can not abandon Israel." "Israel's enemies spread so much false information about the Jewish homeland," Mr. Rifkin said. "The only way a Jew can refute these overwhelming falsehoods in the public arena is with a thorough Jewish education and a strong Jewish identity." 4 The Voice of Beth El Congregation.
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