Sanctifying and thanksgiving days with a hint of joy
Parshah and its realization - Parshat Kedoshim - Memorial Day and Independence Day - and the War of the 'Iron Swords' 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated to the IDF soldiers' success, to safeguard them lest any harm come to them, to the healing of all the wounded and the return of the abducted.
Memorial Day and the 76th Independence Day for the State of Israel is upon us. We are preparing for them. Independence Day is a day to give thanks to G-d and rejoice for the great miracle of the establishment of the state: The Gathering of Israel, the fulfillment of the visions of the prophets, the restoration of state sovereignty, and the establishment of protective forces that allow us to protect ourselves so that we are not dependent on others. Thank and rejoice that we were privileged to establish 'with the help of Heaven' a prosperous, progressive and leading country in many fields, which enables us to have a high quality life, spiritually and physically where the largest Jewish Torah center in the entire history of the Jewish people was established.
The National Memorial Day adjacent to it, is a day of sanctification in which we unite with the memory of the fallen, the holy heroes, like the glow of the sky illuminating and warning,
שאין כל בריה יכולה לעמוד במחיצתם
"Those … enjoy such an exalted status that no one can stand in their enclosure" (Psachim 50a), who gave their lives to protect and enable the existence of the state, and paid with the highest price of all, their lives. On this day, we, as a nation, stand by their silent graves, salute them for their bravery and nobility of soul, and express our supreme gratitude. We embrace their bereaved families who paid a heavy price, and draw strength from their endurance. Along with all these, each one should also ask himself whether he has done enough to be worthy of their holy and noble sacrifice.
The past 75th year of independence for the State of Israel was a difficult, challenging and chaotic year. We knew a difficult period of disunity followed by a harsh war that began with an unprecedented security failure and a terrible and horrible disaster. Israeli society has undergone a severe disruption. Thousands have become bereaved families and more than a hundred abductees' families are eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones. Images of those murdered in strange, monstrous and cruel deaths come back before our eyes, the evidence of the brutal satanic rape echoes in our ears. The war is not over. A multi-arena war that threatens the existence of our country. Some time ago, violent demonstrations began again, during the war, and threatened our unity. All these affect the national feeling. There are those who, for this reason, call to cancel all the traditional festive events of Independence Day. And there are even those who want to wipe out the traditional state symbols from the Memorial Day events, and prevent the state representatives from speaking at the State Memorial ceremonies (probably also for political reasons).
It would be a big mistake to turn the day of thanksgiving and joy into an ordinary day, and certainly not into a sad day. Even if it would be right to reduce mass and loud entertainment events on the streets of a city, it would also be right to hold events that have proportionate expressions of joy, and thanksgiving to G-d. Even though a terrible tragedy occurred, and our hearts are with our abducted brothers and sisters, a much greater disaster was avoided thanks to the existence of the State, and thanks to the heroism of thousands of fighters and civilians who came out to fight with ferocity. Nothing else could have prevented our satanic enemies who want to destroy us from carrying out their plan - to destroy and kill and sow destruction as far as Tel Aviv. Within a short time, we turned the bowl upside down, we began destroying the infrastructure above and below ground surface, and harmed thousands of terrorists in an unprecedented manner. Shouldn't we be thankful and happy that we were blessed with the miracle of having a Jewish State that makes this possible, and we don't depend only on the good will of others?! Isn't it appropriate to celebrate the miracles, these revelations of heroism and martyrdom of our people and non-Jewish citizens, we never knew like them in the past?! Is it not appropriate to mention the wonderful manifestations of unity among the warriors on the battlefield, in the home front? And the support for the warriors, the wounded and the bereaved families from the home front and World Jewry? During the war, even in the difficult situations, in all the divisions I was in, there were moments of fraternity and spiritual uplifting, a feeling of nobility and holiness, I felt the need to thank G-d for I merited to be part of this wonderful nation, and this wonderful army!
Moreover, enjoyment in its essence, private and national, is empowering and strengthening and it allows for coping in times of national and personal crisis, and through that, to win.
There is also another aspect - the strategic goal of our terrorist enemies is to conquer our country and harm our body and soul, break our spirit and harm the righteousness of our way, discourage and oppress us. We must not cooperate with them. Certainly when there is no reason for it.
Although we are not ignoring the situation, the nation of Israel celebrated its 3336th anniversary of existence this month. It faced difficult crises many times, and survived. That is why it is the most optimistic people in the world! From its experience, it learned to hurt and rejoice at the same time, it's not either or, but both, 'One eye cries and one eye laughs', or as we say on Rosh Hashanah:
עַיִן בְּמַר בּוֹכָה וְלֵב שָׂמֵחַ
"Eye bitterly crying but heart rejoicing" (the poem 'Oked veHane'ekad'). It knows how to rejoice with restrained joy,
וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה “rejoice with trembling.” (Psalms 2:11).
On Shabbat we will read
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י ה' אֱלֹקיכֶֽם׃
"Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, Hashem your G-d, am holy." (Vayikra 19:2).
Our teacher Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Zt'l taught us: "Be holy" - you are commanded to be holy, and no less than that there is a promise, a statement, etc… you are holy and you will be holy." (From Orot Israel 3-6) as it is said:
וְאַתֶּ֧ם תִּהְיוּ לִ֛י מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְג֣וֹי קָד֑וֹשׁ
"but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Shmot 19:6)
We are blessed to have merited to be part of this wonderful nation, and this wonderful country!
On its 76th birthday, we shall all pledge to be united and protect it at all costs.