Memorial Day in Israel

[Rafoe]

It's memorial day in Israel.
The Nation remembers all the men and women in uniform and civilians killed in wars and terrorist activities against Jews.
Since the beginning of 5774 five Israelis were murdered in acts of terrorism by Arabs.
The last one, Shelley Dadon, was murdered a few days ago and was buried yesterday.

May Hashem avenge their blood!

https://www.facebook.com/HayaminORG/photos/a.174468925938108.54041.164378053613862/722296657821996/?type=1 

[muman613]

Hashem, Hear the cries of the souls who were sacrificed to give the Jewish people some rest in the desert... Hear them and grant us peace, remove the wickedness which surrounds us on all sides. Obliterate the cruel opponents of Israel, crush them and decimate them from the world. Your servants will rejoice with glad song and glorify your mighty and awesome name.

On that day Hashem will be one and his name will be one.... (Zachariah 14:9)

[muman613]

My simple request was adapted from the Shema Koleinu in the Amidah prayer we say every time we pray...

From the weekly Amidah:

Let there be no hope for informers, and may all the heretics and all the wicked instantly perish; may all the enemies of Your people be speedily extirpated; and may You swiftly uproot, break, crush and subdue the reign of wickedness speedily in our days. Blessed are You L-rd, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.

May Your mercies be aroused, L-rd our G‑d, upon the righteous, upon the pious, upon the elders of Your people, the House of Israel, upon the remnant of their sages, upon the righteous proselytes and upon us. Grant ample reward to all who truly trust in Your Name, and place our lot among them; may we never be disgraced, for we have put our trust in You. Blessed are You L-rd, the support and security of the righteous.

Return in mercy to Jerusalem Your city and dwell therein as You have promised; speedily establish therein the throne of David Your servant, and rebuild it, soon in our days, as an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You L-rd, who rebuilds Jerusalem. Speedily cause the scion of David Your servant to flourish, and increase his power by Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You L-rd, who causes the power of salvation to flourish.

Hear our voice, L-rd our G‑d; merciful Father, have compassion upon us and accept our prayers in mercy and favor, for You are G‑d who hears prayers and supplications; do not turn us away empty-handed from You, our King, for You hear the prayer of everyone. Blessed are You L-rd, who hears prayer.

Look with favor, L-rd our G‑d, on Your people Israel and pay heed to their prayer; restore the service to Your Sanctuary and accept with love and favor Israel's fire-offerings and prayer; and may the service of Your people Israel always find favor.

[Binyamin Yisrael]

Bereaved Families Call to Boycott Memorial Day Event

By Yedidya Ben-Or

Bereaved fathers, Ron Kerman Yossi Zur and Yossi Mendelowitz have stepped up their campaign against the national Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, now calling for bereaved families to boycott the public event.

The fathers sent a scathing second letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday, in which they "call for bereaved families not to attend this year's Memorial Day ceremonies at 1:00PM on Har Herzl." 

First, however, they addressed the Prime Minister. 

"Last week, we sent you a letter asking you not to attend the ceremony on Mount Herzl and not to make a public address," they began. "We were not at all surprised at the lack of a response to our appeal." 

"Since sending our first letter, you were present at the laying of the cornerstone for the Memorial Hall for Israel's Fallen on Har Herzl," they said. "This shrine does not immortalize our children, nor one of the thousands of victims of terrorism and terrorist violence. This week, you met with a delegation of orphans of fallen IDF soldiers, but did not bother to book, prior to Memorial Day, a meeting with even one orphan or widow of terror and terrorist violence."

"We asked several times to meet with you prior to, and after, each batch of terrorist releases," they continue. "We thought that whoever has the courage to release murderers waiting in prison should have had the courage to face the families and hear them and tell them why you let the murderers of their loved ones free."

"Unfortunately, you chose to ignore this meeting, instead seeing the orphans of Fallen Soldiers," they continued. "This meeting is easy for you, kids do not ask tough questions. "

"You, as Yoni [Netanyahu] z"l's brother, belong to the establishment of bereaved families from fallen IDF soldiers, and are in full solidarity with the security establishment, and a full partner in the exclusion of terror victims as a national ethos - whether by releasing murderers for wholesale or by making [terror victims in Israel] disappear during public ceremonies," the father fired. 

The bereaved fathers then called on all bereaved families to boycott the ceremony.

"We call on all bereaved families whose relatives died of terror attacks or terrorist violence not to attend the ceremony on Har Herzl this year," the fathers said. "We choose [instead] to stand by the graves of our children at this time, to ask them forgiveness again for not having been able to keep them alive and not keeping their murderers in prison."

The fathers stated that their choice is a matter of national and personal dignity. 

"We fear that if we attend the ceremony at Har Herzl, we will not sit still, and your words will cause us to scream from the bottom of our hearts against the phrases you throw out into thin air," the letter continued. "We will also not be surprised if other families feel as we do and demonstrate in front of Har Herzl."

"Your mere presence and your speech at the ceremony provoke bereaved families' ire and cause them further pain, pain accompanying them anyway on Memorial Day [in the first place]."

[Dr. Dan]

It's better to be hated and have our Israel victorious and alive than to be loved by the world after every holocaust. Too many soldiers have died in vain.