There are three major Jewish events during this time of the year which we have observed this past month. They are not biblical or traditional holidays yet  they are extremely important, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day for the fallen Israeli soldiers and Israel Independence Day.  

For the nations of the world the memory of the Holocaust  with all of its unthinkable horrors has tended to fade over the decades. For most of these nations the Holocaust is now nothing more  than a  terrible historical event that happened a long time ago - pass the salt, please. 

The world is now too busy  with new villains and new nations fiercely competing for economical hegemony and military control over others. 

Not Us. At least not in Israel. This year as Holocaust Remembrance  Day was commemorated  April 8th, I watched some of the many memorial events  throughout Israel that day.  I was privileged to see the grandchildren and the great grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, either as proud soldiers, regular citizens or school children standing still for a moment of silence  in the streets everywhere, in the busy highways, in army camps. It became very clear to anyone who listened to the speeches and watched the reactions of Israelis throughout the country that  the eighty years that have passed since  the early 40’s  are but a day to the Israelis. 

While  the horrors of that time  are not talked  about or even mentioned on a regular basis they are nevertheless  embedded deep in the Israeli psyche. If we understand this,  we can see how these dark, forever fresh  memories  guide  their determination to survive and prosper,  giving them the courage and the fortitude to proudly create and maintain  the most amazing country in the world.

As I am writing these words a week later after Holocaust Remembrance and a day after Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day for the soldiers, Israel  is celebrating Yom Ha-atz-ma-ut, her 73rd year of independence.  A free Jewish country that was born  from the Jewish ashes of Europe. A country  which is fighting for its survival day in and day out. No other country in the world  faces the kind of danger that Israel is facing .These  existential  threats are the worst  Israel has ever experienced  since its War of Independence in 1948. 

With literally hundreds of thousands of missiles pointing at her from Lebanon in the north, Syria in the east, Gaza in the west, the mighty Egyptian army and navy in the South and a powerful Iranian army with a huge arsenal of long range missiles, we are being targeted with a deep hatred. 

While the  IDF remains strong and is vigorously working on ways  to protect itself, these  challenges seem insurmountable, an impossible task. Israeli generals are of the opinion that  it would still take years of technological improvements and breakthroughs  as well as significantly increasing the IDF manpower, equipment as well as adopting new training and war tactics to meet such dangerous threats. And all these  while dealing on a regular basis  with terrorist attacks from Lebanon and Gaza extensively supported  by Iran. 

Israel needs us to be aware of this new reality of the Middle East. We need to make sure that the US remains on Israel's side and supports it unequivocally.  Our beloved state  of Israel  will always overcome any existential threats  and will always thrive  and do amazing things for the betterment of the world.

So in this 73rd year of Israel’s independence as we continue to  celebrate Jewish pride and achievements each day,  I pray that G-D Almighty keeps Israel and the Jewish people everywhere safe and prosperous as has been promised. We have survived thousands of years. May it continue as G-D gives Israel  the wisdom, the strength to overcome its many challenges.         

Rabbi David

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