The Meaning of Remembrance

Today marks Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day. On this day the people of Israel pause, reflect, mourn and remember the thousands of individuals; men, women and children who have lost their lives in defense of the State of Israel. Many died in the formative wars of the early days of the State. Many died in the wars with the Iranian proxy group of Hezbollah in Lebanon or with the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Many died sitting on a bus or having dinner at home or celebrating a Passover Seder at a hotel or reading the newspaper in a coffee shop. All of them died al-Kiddush Hashem, as martyrs and are kodesh kodeshim, the modern day human embodiment of the holy of holies.

What does it mean to remember? Every year the yahrtzeit candles are lit, memorial ceremonies are held and prayers uttered. All of these acts are rituals meant to evoke memory. The memory though can not sit idle. To remember is to be transformed. To remember is to act. During holidays we recite memorial prayers called Yizkor, literally translated as "may God remember." The Divine does not possess a human memory nor does the Divine forget. The essence of what we ask of God in that moment is that God should act on the memories of our beloved. The lives they led; their passions, convictions, hopes and faith should become the impetus for Divine action.

The same is true today on Yom HaZikaron for us. When we remember those who have perished, we should seek to turn the emotional content of those memories into concrete action. The rituals we perform to evoke the memory should be a springboard for action that authentically and genuinely reflects their memory. In that vein, I suggest that we view this day of remembrance as a moment to strengthen and rededicate ourselves to the work of peace. Ultimately, it is the dream and yearning of Israeli society at large to see the day when peace will finally be achieved. It too was the inspiration and motivation for many soldiers who gave their lives in defense of their country. May we, in their memory, continue their work.