Other items in today’s column include:
*San Diegans in Israel
*Jewish community coronavirus news
*San Diego County Judaica
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — The name of slain Lori Gilbert Kaye, who died a year ago during a gunman’s attack on Chabad of Poway, was linked Monday in Latrun, Israel, to the names of Israel’s fallen soldiers during an annual Yom Hizakron (Day of Memory) ceremony. To view the entire ceremony on Facebook, click here.
In the pre-recorded memorial sponsored by Masa Israel Journey, the group supported by the Jewish Agency for Israel to encourage extended study visits to Israel, President Reuven Rivlin commented, “Many of you have been in Israel for a long time, and you have likely discovered that here happiness is sometimes mixed with sadness, and tears and laughter come hand in hand.”
Isaac Herzog, the chairman of the Jewish Agency, commented “The Jewish nation lives in light of the values of those who have fallen, among other values, the value of our mutual bond. This value strengthens the connection between Israel and the global Jewish community and exists among Masa participants, who contribute to Israel’s society and strengthen the connection between the Jewish nation and the Jewish State.”
Israeli pop singer Maya Johanna Menachem emceed the ceremony, which was conducted at Yad La-Shiryon, the museum in Latrun, Israel, dedicated to honoring the memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers.
“Almost a year ago to the day a young man opened fire at the Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California, killing 60 year-old Lori Gilbert [Kaye), z”l,” Menachem recalled “The moments of celebration for the last day of Passover turned into moments of horror for the congregation members who were at the synagogue that day. This horrific shooting is only one of many anti-Semitic attacks that we have witnessed in the past years and it is our duty as a society to continue to fight against their reoccurence. On Yom Hazikaron for the fallen soldiers, we also remember the victims of terrorism.”
During that ceremony, Stewart Steinberg of Los Angeles recited the Kaddish. His son, Max Steinberg who served in the tank corps was killed in Gaza in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge.
Later in the afternoon, San Diego time, the mother of Max Steinberg, Evie Steinberg, told of her first visit to Israel with her husband. It was to attend the funeral of their son. She wondered if anyone would be there — perhaps a small delegation from the Israel Defense Forces. Instead, more than 30,000 people from all over Israel attended the ceremony at Mt. Herzl. “It was overwhelming,” she commented.
It took her some time to get used to the sudden transition between Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzma’ut. One day, everyone is mourning; the next day they are celebrating. However after a few years, she said, she understood. There is no better way to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers than to celebrate the independence that their sacrifices made possible.
Lori Gilbert Kaye’s, husband, Dr. Howard Kaye, also was included in the ceremony, reading a Yizkor prayer in English: “May God remember His sons and daughters who exposed themselves to mortal danger in those of days of struggle prior to the establishment of the State of Israel and (may He remember) the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who fell in the wars of Israel. May the people of Israel keep them in their memory– and be blessed with their seed; let them mourn the splendor of youth, the charm of valor, the holiness of will, and the devotion of sacrifice which came to an end in the heavy battles. May the loyal and valiant heroes of freedom and victory be sealed forever within the hearts of Israel.”
Another San Diegan remembered prior to the ceremony, as photos of fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks flashed on the screen, was Marla Bennett, daughter of Michael & Linda Bennett. She was killed in 2002 when a terrorist’s bomb exploded in the cafeteria of Hebrew University.
The emotional ceremony sponsored by the Israeli-American Council intermixed in Hebrew and English the memories of family members about those who had sacrificed their lives for Israel, along with such prayers as the Kaddish and El Moleh Rachamim, and performances of fitting Hebrew songs by popular musicians. All watching were asked to rise as Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, by a family in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, said it was through the sacrifices of the soldiers “who will never grow old” that the Jewish people were transformed from a down-trodden, stateless people to a proud independent people. For 20 centuries the Jewish people had to beg other people to defend them; “today, Israel defends itself.”
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San Diegans in Israel
Helping us with our salute to Israel Independence Day (which begins Tuesday night). readers kindly continue to respond to our request for photos of them visiting Israel. Above in a 1992 photograph, Bea Goldberg took in the view of Haifa Bay from Mt. Carmel.
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Jewish community coronavirus news
*San Diego artist Becky Guttin has been making face masks and donating them to the Padre Chava Shelter in Tijuana. San Diego Jewish World contributor Mimi Pollack informs, “This shelter is similar to Father Joe’s Village. They do good work.”
*Author and humanities lecturer Laurel Corona and Dan Hoffman were at San Diego Bay yesterday. She wrote, “Dan and I went for a walk on Harbor Island in San Diego yesterday. Anybody else still smile when taking selfies wearing a mask? I do, and I smile at people we pass (only if they are wearing a mask) because I don’t remember they can’t see it. Force of habit, and because there is still so much to smile about.”
*Ventriloquist Joe Gandelman of San Diego made a short video to entertain the kids (and their parents) at home during the coronavirus pandemic. His conversation with a “shark” he found in the back seat of his car may be viewed at the top of this page.
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San Diego County Judaica
*Eric George Tauber, one of San Diego Jewish World‘s theater reviewers, contributed to our ongoing photo collection of San Diego County residents’ favorite Judaica with a picture of the traditional kittel and Ethiopian Jewish tallit that he wore for his wedding January 7, 2007 to his wife Jackie Tauber, z”l.
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Recommended reading
*Sara Jacobs, a candidate for Congress in the 53rd Congressional District, wrote an essay for Medium on her reactions one year later to the shooting at Chabad of Poway that took the life of Lori Gilbert Kaye.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com