By Dov Hartuv
KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel — This coming week will be one of emotional extremes. It was purposely decided that The Day of Remembrance and Independence Day would be celebrated “back to back”. In the early days of the State there wasn’t a family that was not somehow involved with the losses of lives in the struggle for Independence. Even today every citizen feels part of that national mourning and when the sirens sound for the minutes of communing, the entire country comes to a stand still. In the evening, as the day of mourning draws to a close, the Israeli flag is once again raised to the top of the mast and the celebrations begin. An impossible transition and yet one which is inherently correct.
Here on Kibbutz Nahal Oz our small community has built a tradition around these events. On the eve of the Day of Remembrance we gather round the monument built to commemorate our members and sons who were killed. The following afternoon we visit the cemetery and children place wreathes on the graves of the fallen. This is followed by a ceremony in our clubhouse. In the evening there is the crossover from sadness to joy . A fireworks display marks the opening of the celebrations and then we all meet for a festive meal with singing and dancing. On the following day we have a Lunar Park with all the fun of the fair followed by the “mangal” which is the festive meal every person in Israel enjoys, no matter what his background. Every country has its name for this, barbecue\fry-out\ braaivleis.
Sixty three is not very old but we tend to forget how much has been achieved in every field in a country which is sixty three years young. In 1948 there were only six hundred and fifty thousand Jews living in the newly founded State – today we number over seven million.. More important than numbers is the amazing contribution our citizens have made on all fronts – from science to arts – from agriculture to music . Of course our problems and conflicts remain critical to the future of the country but with such a long list of achievements how can we fail?
I always remember the line from the film The Third Man. “Look at Switzerland. What has she achieved in her hundreds of years of peace and neutrality? – The cuckoo clock”!!
The United States of America is only 234 years old and its citizens who gathered from the four corners of the earth, just like Israel today, have contributed so much to the world. With the American optimism and example what might Israel achieve in the generations to come?
Mazal Tov and Hag Sameah to Jewery all over the globe. The State of Israel is the Heritage of every Jew no matter what his citizenship or where he lives.
In June 1967 I was secretary of Nahal Oz and just after the Six Day War Baron Edmond De Rothchild visited the Kibbutz and wrote in our visitor’s book
“Because of you, the Jews of the world can hold their heads high”
At this time of rejoicing it is fitting that we, the Jews all over the world remember, that more than anything else this is what having our own State has given us. After two thousand years – we can walk tall and be proud of being part of the Jewish people.
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Hartuv is a freelance writer based in Nahal Oz, Israel. part of Jewish Federation of San Diego’s sister region of Sha’ar Hanegev. He may be contacted at dov.hartuv@sdjewishworld.com