The heartbreak before the joy
I recently visited Costa Rica – a very beautiful country in Central America. On a city tour on the first day of our trip, I was quite shocked to learn that Costa Rica has no army. Our guide explained in very simple terms that in 1948 there was a serious Civil War in their country with over 2000 casualties and that the war experience was extremely “unpleasant.”
Shortly afterwards, the President bashed a hole in a wall at the Nation’s military headquarters and with this symbolic act he renounced the military presence in his country. He preceded to hand the keys of the building to the Minister of Education, again a representative act to inform his citizens that the military budget would from then on be redirected to healthcare, education and environmental protection.
Of course, my immediate comparison was to our War of Independence in 1948. It would be wonderful if Israeli tour guides had to go back more than 60 years in history to recount a military encounter and that the bloody assault, when 5 Arab nations invaded our new country, was an isolated event that could be simplified as “unpleasant”. Ben Gurion did not have the luxury of handing over military headquarters to Misrad HaHinuch.( Ministry of Education).
Nor would it be very helpful to suggest to Bibi, who has tried many avenues to solve the Middle East Conflict , to try a new tack and disband the IDF. It works perfectly for Costa Rica – they have one of the most educated populations in the world, consistently rank number one on the Happy Planet Index and have a huge proportion of their beautiful landscape preserved as national parks.
In contrast, whatever your politics, Israel’s very sad reality is that within moments of demilitarising – Israel would exist no longer. This unfortunate truth means that all the wonderful achievements and triumphs and human stories of love and life that we celebrate on Yom Haatzmaut , will always be shadowed by the sadness of our military casualties and victims of terror. This is the essence of Yom Hazikaron / Yom Haatzmaut. Our solemn day of remembrance followed immediately by our joyous celebration of sovereignty. Unlike Costa Rica- Israel can’t have one without the other- and so it was enacted into law in 1963 that the National Day of Remembrance– immediately precedes our happiest day of pride and festivity.
The Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism commences at 8 pm on the 4th of Iyar,when a one minute siren is heard all over the country .The official ceremony takes place at the Kottel, and the Israeli flag is lowered to half mast. A two minute air raid siren is sounded at 11 am the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried.
The communal sense of grief when the entire country stops for the chilling drone of the siren is palpable. As people get out of their cars on highways, rise to attention on buses, stop all work in offices and stand tall in school auditoriums, everyone’s hearts tighten, and tears flow. It would be inappropriate and insensitive to reduce peoples’ fathers and sons to statistics, but a simple numbers games makes us understand this phenomenon.
In a small nation, the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers means that there isn’t a town, a suburb, a shule community, a school parent body, a workplace, a sports team or a book club where at least one person isn’t connected to a tragic story of loss. The sum of all the individual victims creates a very deep sense of collective grief. At election time we are certainly fragmented, but at 11 am on Yom Hazikaron we are a united nation remembering, honouring and crying together for our fallen soldiers.. Throughout the day, the radio channels program solemn songs and sombre poems .
For 24 hours, the TV channels screen the names of our heroes- rank, name, date deceased and an accompanying photo. In cemeteries, halls and lounge rooms ,letters are read, photo albums are poured over ,stories are recounted and memories are shared. Documentaries are screened about special heroes ,and testimonials are given about the lives of those who sacrificed their lives for their country. Then after a day of heavy emotions and respectful tributes, the formal switch between Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut is marked by an official transition ceremony at the national Military cemetery on Mt Herzl.
The flag is returned to full staff and there is a parade and torch lighting ceremony symbolically marking the country’s achievements. The actual date marks the anniversary of the creation of our modern homeland , the momentous day Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel. Israelis celebrate with parties, fireworks and Barbeques. Families hike and picnic, people sing and dance , there are concerts and shows , and beautiful blue and white flags are displayed proudly everywhere.
The Hallel prayer is added to the Morning service giving the day the religious status of a festive holiday ,and the prestigious Israel prize is awarded on this day . Yom Haatzmaut is a fun, dynamic day where we celebrate the first Jewish sovereign land in thousands of years , and the amazing accomplishments of our citizens.
All the advancements in technology, agriculture and medicine are recognized, and excellence in the arts and our rich culture are celebrated .People take the time to reflect on how Israelis literally made the deserts bloom and built a strong modern economy and a powerful democracy . We rejoice in having a Jewish home, and the members of the incredible multicultural society who lives there. We salute our Noble prize winners, our foreign aide workers , our accomplished businessmen, our successful sportsmen, our respected academics and our talented artists.
Yet for all that there is to exult, it is extremely challenging to shift emotions so dramatically at the time of the transition- from a day of commemoration to a day of rejoicing. In theory, everyone understands that without the bravery of the soldiers, and the sacrifices of the fallen, we would not have Independence to celebrate. Equally, without the greatness of the Modern State of Israel and everything that she affords us, there would be no justification for the heavy tolls of all the Wars. Yet in reality, it is difficult for such a seismic shift in mood. It takes the strength and resilience of Israelis to travel this emotional rollercoaster.
Other countries do not have the linking of their National Days . Of course one can not compare the strong significance of the annual “ Yoms” to Israelis, with the relevance of National days to other populations . But even if you could: Americans have no chronological linking between Memorial Day, a federal holiday remembering those who died while serving in their country’s armed forces, and Fourth of July, a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Australians have no follow on in the diary from Australia Day to ANZAC day . There is no direct correlation between what is being remembered on the different holidays. Each day is important, yet they are not intrinsically conjoined. There is no existential need for military success in order for them to continue to enjoy freedom.
The encounters of their armies, while important, are far from their homes and their childrens’ schools . Yet the Members of the 1963 Knesset when linking Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, understood that Israel’s two significant National days are linked by definition.
To live , experience ,enjoy and develop the wonderful Israel that we do – we must protect her people, and that comes at a very high price. So really , this moment in time at the Transitional Ceremony is a symbolic microcosm of life in Israel. The meaningful, exciting and special life – yet the life burdened with stress of attacks and wars , and the challenges of compulsory conscription. Back to sunny Costa Rica, and their characteristic phrase is “ Pura Vida” .
You see it written on colourful surf boards and on souvenirs decorated with pretty flowers. It literally translates to “pure life”, and is a happy exclamation of “full of life” or “happy living” . It is used as a greeting and a farewell, a way of giving thanks and an answer expressing that things are going well.
It seems our destiny that we use the word Shalom as our word with multiple meanings. Every time we say hello and goodbye, we are remembering our desires for peace- because for us ,it is a dream -and not something easily achievable like our friends in San Jose. My personal prayer is that the lists read out at future Yom Hazikaron memorials never lengthen by even one name , and that all our souvenirs in the future will be adorned with the word “ L’Chayim “ – representing that Israelis will have every opportunity to celebrate all that life offers , because peace/Shalom is something they will already be enjoying in their homeland as a constant.
Atida Lipshatz
Atida Lipshatz is special projects coordinator of the ZIonist Council of Victoria.
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