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From Disgrace to Praise

Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

om HaZikaron, the Memorial The establishment of these memorial days will be redeemed. “G-d will respond to you
Day for the Fallen Soldiers of on the 4th of Iyar attaches them to Yom in a day of need” (Tehillim 20:2)” (Midrash
the Wars of Israel and Victims HaAtzmaut, which is celebrated the next Shocher Tov 20).
Yof Actions of Terrorism, was day. This format, in which sadness and
established on the 4th of Iyar, the day Kfar mourning precedes joy, exists in many The proximity of the days of remembrance
for the Holocaust and the soldiers of Israel
Etzion fell (May 13, 1948). In this battle, situations, most notably the Pesach Seder to Yom HaAtzmaut emphasize the point
the last battle of Gush Etzion, the Arabs – the evening of redemption which is
massacred the Jewish soldiers, killing 127 founded on the principle of תּונ ְג ִּ ב לי ִח ְת ַמ that the establishment of the State of
Israel was not a simple matter and that,
of them (only four soldiers survived the ח ַב ֶ ׁש ְּ ב ם ֵּי ַס ְמּו, “Begin with disgrace and end
battle). In 1951, the Israeli government in praise.” to this day, its existence cannot be taken
for granted. The State of Israel was estab-
established this as a day of remembrance Why is it important to reflect on redemp- lished in the merit of those murdered in
for those who fell in war defending the
State of Israel. tion through a framework of disgrace that the Holocaust and in the merit of those
is followed by praise? When we begin who fell in battles and terror attacks.
But even before the fall of Kfar Etzion, with disgrace, we feel and understand In addition, remembering those who were
the 4th of Iyar served as a day of remem- the praise that follows far more deeply
brance. My father, Rav David Rimon z”l, than we would if we began with praise. murdered in the Holocaust and those who
died in battle teaches us how great the
was one of the central figures involved When we understand the price that we miracle of our existence, survival and
in Kofer HaYishuv, the fund responsible for have paid to reach this joy, we cherish the independence truly is – a miracle that
raising money to finance the Haganah joy immeasurably more and appreciate accompanies us every day and at every
before the establishment of the State. In the suffering required to bring us to this
1940, the leadership of the Kofer HaYishuv place. moment. We are not always sufficiently
aware of how the existence of the State
proclaimed the 4th of Iyar as a “Heroes The words of the midrash are well known: of Israel is a unique expression of G-d’s
Memorial Day” following the Arab attacks “A parable of a father and son who were on Divine providence over us: “Hashem has
of 1936 in which hundreds of Jews were a journey. The son became weary, and he done great things with these people”
murdered.
said to his father: How far do we have to (Tehillim 126:2). The reminder of Yom
go? He replied: Remember this sign: When HaZikaron before Yom HaAtzmaut empha-
you see a cemetery, you are almost there. sizes G-d’s providence and the dedication
And that is what the Holy One, Blessed be and sacrifice of those who fell. May their
He, said to Yisrael: When you see many memory be a blessing to all of Am Yisrael.
troubles piling up, that is the moment you

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon
is Head of Mizrachi’s Educational
Advisory Board and Rabbinic Council.
He serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush
Etzion, Rosh Yeshivah of the Jerusalem
College of Technology and is the Founder
and Chairman of Sulamot and La'Ofek.
Join me at the
World Orthodox Israel Congress Est. 1902
orthodoxisraelcongress.org 120 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS ZIONISM

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