Royi (roh-EE) Nahari, 29, a major in the Israel Defense Forces, is fortunate that none of the approximately 100 soldiers under his command have been killed in action.
He does, however, know soldiers who have been killed, and he personally rescued six wounded soldiers during the second Lebanon War in 2006. He was cited by the IDF for his heroism.
“This is a part of our lives,” said Nahari of the casualties. “I don’t think that there’s anybody [in Israel] that doesn’t know somebody who has died [in hostile action],” he said.
Nahari, who spoke with The Chronicle by telephone from Israel, will be in Milwaukee May 7-10 to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, and Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
The two holidays, which fall on consecutive days for symbolic reasons, will be marked by a number of activities and events at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. Nahari will speak about the values of the IDF, which is the theme for this year’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony.
Memorial Day is particularly poignant because military service is mandatory and central to Israeli life.
“The pain is everyone’s,” he said. On this day, “everything is closed…. You get your head down, listen and remember that one of the symbols of this day is you share the pain with the families that lost the loved ones.”
‘We all are soldiers’
Rakefet Ginsberg, community shlichah (emissary) and director of the Israel Center of The Milwaukee Jewish Federation, echoed Nahari’s sentiments about the collective memorial that Israel observes.
“It’s one of the hardest days in the year. I don’t think there is a day that people agree on and unite together like Yom HaZikaron,” she said. “The reason is very simple: soldiers are all of us. We all were soldiers, are soldiers, will be soldiers.”
Both Ginsberg and Nahari described the solemnity of the day, which begins with a siren on the previous evening as memorial ceremonies are held across the country.
The next morning, another siren sounds. Pedestrians stop walking, drivers stop their cars in the road, classrooms and workplaces fall immediately silent, and most of the Israeli population observes a moment of silence.
During the day of Yom HaZikaron, one TV station broadcasts a scrolling list of names of the soldiers who have died in Israel’s conflicts, said Ginsberg. All businesses remain closed that day in accordance with Israeli law.
“Then the next day everyone is united for independence,” said Nahari. “We say in Israel that Yom HaZikaron is the sadness and the pain that we live on that liberated us…. We have to remember the pain that cost us to have this country.”
This year marks 60 years since the state’s founding, which is no small feat, Ginsberg said.
“After so many wars, and terror attacks, and daily threats, this is a real celebration for us to get to 60. It’s not an obvious thing. It’s still a big deal because we know it’s not [a given] that we have Israel.
“All year, we work to improve and protect our country. One day in a year, we can stop, look back and say, ‘Look what we’ve done. Look what we’ve accomplished.’ The truth is, we started this country 60 years ago from nothing,” she said.
For Moshe Katz, honorary chair of Milwaukee’s Israel@60 celebration, this year’s events are a chance to focus on the positive.
“While it is always important to celebrate Israel’s accomplishments and milestones, this year marks another decade of success. Now is a time to put aside our differences on politics and religious divisions and celebrate 60 years of pride in our Israel.”
Milwaukee events
Nahari will speak on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:15 p.m. at the JCC. The following day, he will participate in the Yom HaAtzmaut festivities by speaking in a talkback session after a film screening about the geography and history of Israel.
Aside from the film, which is geared toward adults, the day’s activities are family friendly. The day will include: Israeli dancing; a drum circle for children; an “Are You Smarter than Young Shlichim” game show with four 18-19-year-old Israel emissaries; a bounce house; an Israeli food court; and a shuk (marketplace), where art, jewelry, t-shirts, Judaica products, books and other various items will be sold.
The shuk will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Activities begin at 4 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. that evening, Israeli singer Dganit Daddo (who performs with Habima, the Israeli National Theater) will perform traditional and contemporary Israeli music with Yuval Keidar, an Israeli composer, producer and pianist.
All the day’s activities are free except for the food and items for sale in the shuk.
The following morning, on Friday, May 9, there will be a limited shuk from 9 a.m.-noon.
For more information about the events, contact Ginsberg at 414-390-5705 or Dorene Paley at 414-967-8217 or visit Planit Jewish, www.jewishmilwaukee.com.
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