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Apr 7, 2013
Should there be a buffer day between Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut?
This week contains Yom Ha'Shaoh, tonight and tomorrow, while next week contains the duo of Yom Ha'Zikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut on Monday-Tuesday (pushed off one day so as to avoid chilul shabbos). Yom Ha'Zikaron leading into Yom Ha'Atzmaut is a juxtaposition of extremes, in a way that some people feel is absolutely typically symbolic of Israeli society and the Israeli lifestyle. Going from a day of intense mourning and remembering the fallen, something every native Israeli suffers through on Memorial Day, right into a day of great celebration on Independence Day.
There is a movement to make a change in the days- to separate Yom Ha'Zikaron from Yom Ha'Atzmaut; to leave at least a one day buffer between the days. Tamir Shureki, the man behind the movement, says that Yom HaZikaron is the most difficult day of the year for tens of thousands of Israelis and he day is spent going to memorial ceremonies, and just when the day is coming to an end and people want to go home and clear their heads, they find roads closed and preparations for Yom HaAtzmaut in full swing.
Even worse is that during the ceremonies of Yom HaZikaron, people are already thinking about where they should celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut. Shureki says they, the bereaved families, deserve the ability to commemorate their loved ones quietly, and then to calm down and have a buffer before the intense celebrations. As it is now, Shureki says, many bereaved families do not find themselves capable of celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut.
(source: INN)
This movement seems to have found opposition from the government. I don't expect the calendar will be changed. I see too much "pride" in the juxtaposition of the days. Doing a little bit of research I discovered that this is not a new movement, but has been trying to gain some traction for a number of years already. They do not seem to be picking up much support from year to year, but they keep trying. If they do succeed in arousing interest in such a consideration, I would recommend a buffer of a week rather than a day. One week Yom HaShoah, the 2nd week Yom HaZikaron and the 3rd week Yom HaAtzmaut.
There is a movement to make a change in the days- to separate Yom Ha'Zikaron from Yom Ha'Atzmaut; to leave at least a one day buffer between the days. Tamir Shureki, the man behind the movement, says that Yom HaZikaron is the most difficult day of the year for tens of thousands of Israelis and he day is spent going to memorial ceremonies, and just when the day is coming to an end and people want to go home and clear their heads, they find roads closed and preparations for Yom HaAtzmaut in full swing.
Even worse is that during the ceremonies of Yom HaZikaron, people are already thinking about where they should celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut. Shureki says they, the bereaved families, deserve the ability to commemorate their loved ones quietly, and then to calm down and have a buffer before the intense celebrations. As it is now, Shureki says, many bereaved families do not find themselves capable of celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut.
(source: INN)
This movement seems to have found opposition from the government. I don't expect the calendar will be changed. I see too much "pride" in the juxtaposition of the days. Doing a little bit of research I discovered that this is not a new movement, but has been trying to gain some traction for a number of years already. They do not seem to be picking up much support from year to year, but they keep trying. If they do succeed in arousing interest in such a consideration, I would recommend a buffer of a week rather than a day. One week Yom HaShoah, the 2nd week Yom HaZikaron and the 3rd week Yom HaAtzmaut.
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Rafi - there's actually a reason why Yom Hazikaron was set for the day that it was. It is on the anniversary of the day the 35 (lamed-hey) fell while trying to relieve Gush Etzion. The State of Israel was established on the next day, thus the date for Yom Ha'atzma'ut.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would make it easier that they not be one after the other, but there is a real reason - related to what each one commemorates - for them being on the days that they are.
I agree. The buffer should be more than a day, a week would be about right.
ReplyDeleteAnon, the Lamed-Heh were killed in January. The Gush Etzion bloc fell, and many were killed, the day before the Declaration of Independence. (Which, technically, was the day before 5 Iyar.)
ReplyDelete