YOM HAZIKARON: Israel's Memorial Day

Today is the 5th day of Iyar, 5771/20 days of Omer (2 weeks, 6 days)

Israel Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. Today, YOM HAZIKARON, the day preceding this celebration, is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence.

The total number of soldiers and security personnel who fell since the War of Independence is 20,424.

The total, including those who fell in the struggle for the State before 1948 is 22,867.

This number includes disabled IDF veterans who later died from their wounds and non-IDF personnel who fell in the line of duty.

183 soldiers were killed since last Yom Hazikaron - 5771.

On This Day, We Honor The Memory of the Young Men & Women Who Gave Their Lives For The Creation And Security of The Jewish State.

Names and faces, of some of the young Israeli soldiers that fell in the last war in Lebanon, z"l http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2XkzTPhQvo&feature=related

SHIR LAMAALOT, images of operation cast lead in Gaza Strip (2008-2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aR_ux9Z90A&feature=related

DON'T MISS the celebrations of Yom haAtzmaut in our community. Tonight, Monday, May 9th, at 7:30 PM in YMJC (130 Steamboat Road).

See our program here: http://www.kanissanews.com/yomhaatzmaut63.pdf

A VERY SPECIAL HATIKVA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syUSmEbGLs4&feature=related

Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024

YOM HAZIKARON/YOM HAATZMAUT: the impossible (but reasonable!) transition.

Today is the 2nd day of Iyar, 5771/ 17 days of Omer (2 weeks, 3 days)

This coming Sunday night we will commemorate Yom haZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day. The day in which the citizens of Israel and the Jews all over the world remember the fallen soldiers, those who sacrificed their lives so we can have a Jewish State: Medinat Israel.

The day is dedicated to honor the memories of more than 22,000 young soldiers who died since the Independence war in 1948 until today. They were our heroes, and as Nathan Alterman called them: "The silver platter on which the State of Israel was given to us"

Read his beautiful poem here: http://zionism-israel.com/hdoc/Silver_Platter.htm

In Israel, thousands of people, attend cemeteries to mourn their children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents who fell on the wars. Har Hertzl, in Yerushalaim, the most important military cemetery, is where most of the official ceremonies take place.

Most Israelis would spend the rest of the day at home watching on Israeli TV the short movies prepared especially for the occasion in which they show the lives, the bravery and heroism of the fallen soldiers, especially those who perished this year. We present here one short movie about Roi Klein, z'l. http://www.aish.com/h/imd/Heroes_of_Israel_Roi_Klein.html

Yom haZikaron ends Monday evening, and that same night we start the celebrations of Yom haAtzmaut, Israel independence day. To me it has always been an emotionally impossible transition: from the deepest pain to the highest happiness. But I think that this transition captures the essence of our times: honoring our fallen soldiers with sadness and respect, but honoring them, mainly, celebrating the triumph of their ultimate cause.

Shabbat Shalom!!!!

Candle lighting in NYC: 7:37 PM

DON'T MISS the commemoration of Yom haZikaron in our community.

This Sunday night, May 8th, at 7:30 PM in YMJC (130 Steamboat Road).

We will have a VERY SPECIAL and famous guest Speaker:

Dr. Mordechai Kedar.

Watch Mordechai Kedar's famous remarks in Aljazeera TV, a very rare interview (the
only one I know so far!) Aljazeera had with a Pro-Israel Israeli scholar.

Watch what happens when someone with bravery and enough knowledge about Koran, Islam
and our rights to Israel, FINALLY says the truth!!!

Enjoy this amazing video!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHpMhAzj-Tk

Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024

YOM HAZIKARON / YOM HAATZMAUT

Today is the 5th of Yiar, 5770. (20 days of Omer) Yom haZikaron/ Yom haAtzmaut

It was 3400 years ago. Moshe addresses the new generation of Am Israel, as they happily and eagerly prepare themselves to inherit the Promised Land, the land of honey and milk. In the midst of their enthusiasm Moshe Rabbenu has some serious words of warning from God Almighty:

This land is a conditional divine gift that might be taken away from you. If you ever abandon Me and My covenant … then I will turn my face –My protection- away from you … then, your land will be captured by your enemies and you will be taken captives and exiled to the four corners of the planet… However, your fate will not be like the fate of other people, civilizations and empires: because of my covenant and my promise to Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakob, I will never allow the Jewish people to disappear. That is My main responsibility toward you. The people of Israel will exist forever…

Moreover, one day, if you return to Me (Devarim 30, 4): “even if you might be scattered to the end of heavens –the farthest countries on earth- your God Almighty will bring you back from there and He will rescue you form there And the Lord your God will bring you to the land that had belonged to your ancestors and make you even more successful and numerous than they were”.

62 years ago this amazing prophecy took place with the establishment of Medinat Israel. A prophecy that during centuries our ancestors had given up on. We have the incredible merit to be living it.

Ashrenu! ma tov chelkenu.

See this Yom haZikaron inspiring true stories http://www.aish.com/v/hoi/52829292.html http://www.aish.com/jw/id/91340104.html