Annual commemoration and celebration days are a crucial part of our Jewish calendar. Two days specifically, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, embody a spectrum of emotions that is particularly difficult to sort out.
Yom Hazikaron is a day amongst the 365 days of our calendar that is dedicated to connect and feel each and every loss that has befallen our nation since the beginning of its statehood, along with the rest of the Jewish nation. It can be difficult to truly identify with those who lost loved ones in defense of our land, and can be even more difficult to contemplate the short time span that has passed in Israel’s existence in contrast to the huge amount of Jewish human lives that have been taken for the land. Each individual person that dies leaves behind a heartbroken, pained family to struggle living on without them. This pain reverberates from within the impacted individuals onto the hearts of our entire nation.
Without agony, stress and the bitterness that life has to offer, it can be difficult to know what appreciation, pleasure and joy is. This combination is represented in the fact that the bitter and heavy Yom HaZikaron immediately precedes Yom Ha’aztmaut, the day filled with grateful joy.
Anyone who have ever experienced these two highly emotional and contrasting days in Israel can say that the entire country pulsates with a united sense of mourning which transforms amongst the masses, on the streets and within every single flag that waves, into an intense celebration on every patch of Israeli land. Being here in the U.S., far away from the emotionally energized nation in Israel can often create a sensation of feeling disconnected, leaving people struggling to feel the emotions meant to be felt so clearly and strongly on these two days
Tzivia Beck, a student at Stern studying Political Science, described that her Judaic Studies teacher, Dr. Levine, created a personalized commemoration for the class because she felt that students don’t necessarily feel the gravity behind Yom Hazikaron. “First, we all stood together to hear the piercing siren. Then, Dr. Levine played a recording of her son’s experience at the Gush [Yeshivat Har Etzion] followed by the playing of Ani Ma’amin and Hatikva. Some of us hummed along, but it wasn’t even necessary because the emotions where tangible anyway,” Beck said.
She relayed Dr. Levine’s sentiment that there was significance in emphasizing the importance of this particular day and creating a meaningful experience in the classroom.
Other students expressed their appreciation and gratitude that Stern sacrifices an entire day of academia and focuses its resources on energized events for the student body on Yom Ha’atzmaut. “My friends in community college have a little street fair that they go to a short while, where as we have a full day off with an extravagant itinerary for the student body,” expressed an anonymous Stern student.
Rebecca Garber, another student at Stern shared that “it’s very special that we are part of a Jewish institution that organizes detailed, planned events [for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut]. I feel that my university cares.”
Merav Gold, junior at Stern, expressed her distress at the often detached and unfazed mindset of many students after their return from their highly enriched Israel experience. “One can return from Israel and state their support, but take absolutely no action in regards to their claim of feeling.” She also noted the highly intense uprising of advocacy and support across American campuses for apartheid week. “People devote and rally and support in masses for these days, and we don’t have this force to combat on our own campus, yet often we do not see the presence of active feeling and fervency in support of Israel on our own campus.”
Merav then elaborated on her personal experience and thoughts that she felt on this year’s commemoration and celebration. “People were dancing in the YU gym until 1 a.m., returned to midtown and did not want to sleep until 2 a.m. because of the intense feelings of joy, and then woke up at 6 a.m. to make the busses for the early morning shiurim uptown.”
She further expounded on the larger overtone surrounding her experience. “We are making a statement at Yeshiva University. There are no classes and we cannot go about our regular day, as it is a special chag. It made me so happy to see people halt in their routine and [feel joyous] for this celebratory day.”
Another anonymous student described the moment that made her feel most connected. “We all rose and a sudden screeching sound penetrated the room. At first I thought it was the microphone adjusting itself, but the sound continued and amplified and it suddenly dawned on me the enormity of this very day, as we all stood silently with our heads down, allowing for the chill and impact to wash over us.” She spoke of the seconds during which the siren blared within the packed auditorium as it does in Israel, freezing all cars, traffic, and people walking for one minute. She felt that this moment set the tone for the upcoming remembrance.
But what becomes of these emotions—first of pain, then of joy—that emerge within us during these two special days? Kayla Gottlieb, double majoring in Psychology and Judaic Studies, expressed her insight. “Humans want to feel and take what they feel to drive them to the next thing. It lies in the human need to be productive, which is usually fueled by an inspiring source to create lasting significance. In this regard, we can use the meaningfulness of the commemoration to facilitate and empower action.”
Kayla then told of her own actions of rising early to go to the shiurim in the morning and watching many Nefesh B’Nefesh videos in her room. “It’s important to recognize [that] the [emotion] that is necessary in the commemoration may not drive you the next day, but it is now subconsciously a part of you and can help drive decisions in the future.”