Israeli Memorial Day
Today, April 14th, Israel is celebrating memorial day. There are a few things that make this day very special and unique and we thought it might be encouraging and edifying to share them with you.
In this strange season that we have been in, in which so many have lost so much, the Israeli way of celebrating memorial day has a calming and soothing effect. When the war of independence ended in 1949, over 28,000 Israelis lost their lives. The fighting actually started before the war with what Israelis call the "War of the Roads." On November 29th, 1947, the UN announced its partition plan. Beginning just a few days later, in December, the local Arab leaders decided to block the roads and starve out the isolated Jewish settlements. In Jerusalem, for example, they cut of the water pumps and blocked the roads so that the population there had no access to water or food. Convoys from Tel Aviv tried to break through the road blocks to bring flour and water. Some were successful and others were not. In April of 1948 three convoys taking food to isolated Jewish settlements were completely destroyed and few if any survived the ambushes. From that point on, the Jewish leadership decided that only defending was no longer an option and they began to try and retake the roads. On May 14th, 1948, Israel declared its independence, by this point the local Jewish population had already been fighting the locals for months, but shortly after the announcement the Arab League recruited seven countries and their national armies to invade Israel and wipe out the Jewish population. The expression often used by these armies was that they would cast the Zionist Imperialist into the sea. This was clearly understood as a threat to wipe out the entire Jewish population. Israel's main fighting force was best described as untrained security guards, most of whom had never held a weapon. They had no tanks, no airplanes and little artillary. However, when the British pullout out in May of 1948, a few British soldiers helped them acquire 3 British tanks. Compared to the Egyptians' 200 tanks, it was a drop in the bucket, but it was something. The miracle of the war of Indepence is that Israel survived. Although completely out numbered, out trained, out matched, and unprepared, God gave Israel the victory.
When Israelis think about the soldiers who gave their lives to protect the country in 1948, they remember that they were not really soldiers at all. Most were security guards who may have held a weapon for the first time during the war, but had never had a chance to fire a gun until the war started. The brave soldiers of Yad Mordechai, which was on of the first farming communities attacked in May 1947, were just 30 trained soldiers. The entire farming community of 110 adults (with their 75 rifles) stood their ground against Egyptian artillary, tanks and aircraft for five days. When they ran out of bullets on the fifth day, the evacuated under the cover of night. Israelis remember that these were just civlians willing to give their lives for their country. So when celebrating Memorial day, it isn't just about soldiers, it is also a day to honor those civilians who died whether on the battle field, in terror attacks, serving in police or those amazing pioneers who died in attacks defending their farms from mobs. Early on during the war of Independence they tried to bring the fallen soldiers to their homes for burial. This proved too difficult because of the blocked roads, lack of manpower or vehicles etc... So it was decided to bury the fallen somewhere near where they fell. Usually a settlement or farming community where the unit was stationed had a cemetary.
Memorial day here is unique because it is celebrated nationally and most Israelis participate at some level. There are live streamed ceremonies from the same locations every year. The ceremony begins on the night before, at 8pm local time. A siren sounds for a minute of silence. The entire country stops to honor the fallen and remember their families. Again the next day, another ceremony is broadcast live on every station and it starts at 11am with a second siren for two minutes - a national moment of silence. Cars will stop; buses and trains too. The entire country stops to honor the fallen and remember their sacrifice. The families of the fallen soldiers will typically visit the graves during the day. A fallen soldier has a grave designed by the government, they look different then a typical grave and they look the same as each other. Rank doesn't matter in burial. It's easy to spot a military grave. Families often have to travel some distance to get to the burial site, since, as I mentioned, most were buried where the fell and not where they came from. The family will light a candle on the grave. Some will place a picture of their loved one. Friends and fellow soldiers will also visit their grave.
It is not so uncommon to know a fallen soldier or his family. One young man, who had attended our youth meetings and young adults events fell in the last major conflict. His sister has led worship at our ministry center many times. Another dear brother in the Lord lost his best friend while they were together on a mission trying to arrest a terrorist, a couple of years ago. Few Israelis are untouched by Memorial day.
It is a solemn day. It is a sad day. It is a patriotic day.
When the day ends a new celebration begins: Independence Day. Somehow, as if to say, "we will not be defeated," the mood instantly changes at sunset. The mourning turns to rejoicing as the nation celebrates vibrantly the establishment of the State of Israel. Fireworks, concerts, dancing in the streets. It is as if to say, though we mourn your loss, we will rejoice in your victory and the freedom that you died to give us. Independence Day is a national celebration, every city and even small municipality will host an event outdoors with fireworks. Our larger city usually has several stages with concerts and fireworks at each.
These two holidays remind me of a Bible verse, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (Psalm 30:11).
When looking back on the last year, we can see that many bad things happened, but we who know the Lord Yeshua (Jesus), know that God has plans for our good.
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13
As we remember the fallen and their sacrifice, we also remember that God has given us Life and we must live it to honor those who died to protect it. The same can be true wherever you are. You are reading this because you survived. Not everyone did. We lost Janice's mom last year, not due to the pandemic or war, but the loss still hurts. But nevertheless we will honor her memory by living our lives joyfully because they enriched so much by her part in them.
Our prayer for you, dear onees, is that you may may be "clothed... with joy."
In this strange season that we have been in, in which so many have lost so much, the Israeli way of celebrating memorial day has a calming and soothing effect. When the war of independence ended in 1949, over 28,000 Israelis lost their lives. The fighting actually started before the war with what Israelis call the "War of the Roads." On November 29th, 1947, the UN announced its partition plan. Beginning just a few days later, in December, the local Arab leaders decided to block the roads and starve out the isolated Jewish settlements. In Jerusalem, for example, they cut of the water pumps and blocked the roads so that the population there had no access to water or food. Convoys from Tel Aviv tried to break through the road blocks to bring flour and water. Some were successful and others were not. In April of 1948 three convoys taking food to isolated Jewish settlements were completely destroyed and few if any survived the ambushes. From that point on, the Jewish leadership decided that only defending was no longer an option and they began to try and retake the roads. On May 14th, 1948, Israel declared its independence, by this point the local Jewish population had already been fighting the locals for months, but shortly after the announcement the Arab League recruited seven countries and their national armies to invade Israel and wipe out the Jewish population. The expression often used by these armies was that they would cast the Zionist Imperialist into the sea. This was clearly understood as a threat to wipe out the entire Jewish population. Israel's main fighting force was best described as untrained security guards, most of whom had never held a weapon. They had no tanks, no airplanes and little artillary. However, when the British pullout out in May of 1948, a few British soldiers helped them acquire 3 British tanks. Compared to the Egyptians' 200 tanks, it was a drop in the bucket, but it was something. The miracle of the war of Indepence is that Israel survived. Although completely out numbered, out trained, out matched, and unprepared, God gave Israel the victory.
When Israelis think about the soldiers who gave their lives to protect the country in 1948, they remember that they were not really soldiers at all. Most were security guards who may have held a weapon for the first time during the war, but had never had a chance to fire a gun until the war started. The brave soldiers of Yad Mordechai, which was on of the first farming communities attacked in May 1947, were just 30 trained soldiers. The entire farming community of 110 adults (with their 75 rifles) stood their ground against Egyptian artillary, tanks and aircraft for five days. When they ran out of bullets on the fifth day, the evacuated under the cover of night. Israelis remember that these were just civlians willing to give their lives for their country. So when celebrating Memorial day, it isn't just about soldiers, it is also a day to honor those civilians who died whether on the battle field, in terror attacks, serving in police or those amazing pioneers who died in attacks defending their farms from mobs. Early on during the war of Independence they tried to bring the fallen soldiers to their homes for burial. This proved too difficult because of the blocked roads, lack of manpower or vehicles etc... So it was decided to bury the fallen somewhere near where they fell. Usually a settlement or farming community where the unit was stationed had a cemetary.
Memorial day here is unique because it is celebrated nationally and most Israelis participate at some level. There are live streamed ceremonies from the same locations every year. The ceremony begins on the night before, at 8pm local time. A siren sounds for a minute of silence. The entire country stops to honor the fallen and remember their families. Again the next day, another ceremony is broadcast live on every station and it starts at 11am with a second siren for two minutes - a national moment of silence. Cars will stop; buses and trains too. The entire country stops to honor the fallen and remember their sacrifice. The families of the fallen soldiers will typically visit the graves during the day. A fallen soldier has a grave designed by the government, they look different then a typical grave and they look the same as each other. Rank doesn't matter in burial. It's easy to spot a military grave. Families often have to travel some distance to get to the burial site, since, as I mentioned, most were buried where the fell and not where they came from. The family will light a candle on the grave. Some will place a picture of their loved one. Friends and fellow soldiers will also visit their grave.
It is not so uncommon to know a fallen soldier or his family. One young man, who had attended our youth meetings and young adults events fell in the last major conflict. His sister has led worship at our ministry center many times. Another dear brother in the Lord lost his best friend while they were together on a mission trying to arrest a terrorist, a couple of years ago. Few Israelis are untouched by Memorial day.
It is a solemn day. It is a sad day. It is a patriotic day.
When the day ends a new celebration begins: Independence Day. Somehow, as if to say, "we will not be defeated," the mood instantly changes at sunset. The mourning turns to rejoicing as the nation celebrates vibrantly the establishment of the State of Israel. Fireworks, concerts, dancing in the streets. It is as if to say, though we mourn your loss, we will rejoice in your victory and the freedom that you died to give us. Independence Day is a national celebration, every city and even small municipality will host an event outdoors with fireworks. Our larger city usually has several stages with concerts and fireworks at each.
These two holidays remind me of a Bible verse, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (Psalm 30:11).
When looking back on the last year, we can see that many bad things happened, but we who know the Lord Yeshua (Jesus), know that God has plans for our good.
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13
As we remember the fallen and their sacrifice, we also remember that God has given us Life and we must live it to honor those who died to protect it. The same can be true wherever you are. You are reading this because you survived. Not everyone did. We lost Janice's mom last year, not due to the pandemic or war, but the loss still hurts. But nevertheless we will honor her memory by living our lives joyfully because they enriched so much by her part in them.
Our prayer for you, dear onees, is that you may may be "clothed... with joy."
