opinion
Yizkereim: Active Remembrance
BY RABBI RAPHAEL B. BUTLER
H 18
APRIL 28, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
IDF soldiers stand at attention in front of the graves of IDF soldiers buried at
Mt. Herzl, Israel’s national military cemetery.

Around the world, the
symbols and traditions
vary, but the core ideas
are quite consistent.

We want to remember.

We want to honor.

have said, “We don’t want tradition. We want to
live in the present, and the only history that is
worth a tinker’s damn is the history that we make
today.” This view of his comes as little surprise,
as he was a virulent antisemite: If you focus on
material achievements, you won’t think highly of
the past, of community, of identity — or of Jews.

The Jewish view is much closer to this quote
from Sigmund Freud: “Only a good-for-nothing is
not interested in his past.” Being connected to the
past, being connected to those who sacrifi ced for
us, to the heroes of Israel is not just he right thing
to do for their memories and spirits, as import-
ant as that is. It is the right thing to do for us. It
changes us. It makes us better people.

This year, the Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen
(honorisraelsfallen.com) program and website are
helping individuals and groups take remembrance
to a whole new level. Spearheaded by Olami, the
international Jewish education organization in
partnership with the Afi kim Foundation, Yizkereim
is a unique program to memorialize each of
Israel’s 23,786 fallen in that it helps us engage in
what I call “Active Remembrance.”
On the Yizkereim website, visitors can choose
one of the fallen, read a short “blurb” about who
the person was and sign up to do a good deed in
his or her memory. You choose what to do: give
charity, say a chapter of Psalms, read a poem or a
short piece of prose… whatever you are comfort-
able with. Impressive resources such as poems,
songs, readings, prayers and video links are eas-
ily available. Groups, schools and organizations
can easily sign up to make this into a meaningful
group project.

Since its launch in 2018, honorisraelsfallen.

com has had more than 42,000 positive actions
performed in memory of Israel’s Fallen. With an
impressive new website allowing individuals and
groups to participate, and in partnership with
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Aff airs, Yad Lebanim
and the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization,
2022 is expected to be the largest year yet.

Let’s remember those who gave so much. On
the days leading up to Yom Hazikaron on May 4,
let’s actively remember them. JE
Raphael B. Butler is president of Olami, a commu-
nity of campus and young professional centers
worldwide. Israel Defense Forces / Wikimedia Commons
ow do you remember events from the past?
Repeat the information back to yourself? Take
notes? Put a reminder in your calendar and hope for
the best?
How do you remember people who have
passed? People you loved, or perhaps even
strangers to whom you owe a tremendous debt.

How do you make sure to remember them?
It isn’t always easy to do, which is why most soci-
eties have developed traditions of remembrance
for those who died defending their country. In
Canada, people wear poppies in anticipation of
Remembrance Day. In many countries in the com-
monwealth, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the
11th month — the time of the Armistice of World
War I — there is a moment of silence in respect for
those who lost their lives in battle. On Memorial
Day in the U.S., fl owers and fl ags are placed on
veterans’ graves. In France, the blue cornfl ower
(the bleuet) is used. In many countries, memorial
day is marked by military parades and/or solemn
ceremonies. Judaism has always emphasized remembering
those who have passed, and so it is no wonder that
modern Israel’s customs are unique and touching.

Yom HaZikaron opens with a siren on the eve-
ning preceding the day. It is a sight to be seen
— but not heard: everything stops. People stop
their cars (even on highways), stand in complete
silence and show respect to the “Hallalim,” the
fallen. During the evening, entertainment places
such as restaurants and theaters are closed.

Special programming appears on television. The
next day, throughout the country, memorial ser-
vices are held at all 43 military cemeteries across
the country, usually including the special “Yizkor”
prayer, wreath-laying and a military gun salute.

Memorial candles are lit in homes, schools, syna-
gogues and public places, and fl ags are lowered
to half-staff . On this day, many relatives visit the
graves of loved ones who fell in battle.

Around the world, the symbols and traditions
vary but the core ideas are quite consistent. We
want to remember. We want to honor.

All of this feels “right” in a very deep way. It is
the right thing to do for the memory and respect
of the fallen, and the right thing for us, the living.

It teaches us that we are part of something bigger
than ourselves. It reminds us that others “gave”
so much to us, motivating us to give to others. It
inspires us to be better, to give more — and to be
more. Connecting to the past — on an individual
and national level — is important. Henry Ford —
famous automobile industrialist — is known to