Growing up in America, in house with
a pool in the back yard, Memorial Day weekend simply marked the start of summer
as it was this weekend that our pool officially opened. The weeks leading up to Memorial Day weekend
involved cleaning and filling the pool and getting the chemical balance ready
for swimming. If it was ready & the
weather cooperated, I could take a dip – a test swim, if you will - before
Memorial Day weekend, but it was on the weekend when our extended family
flocked to our house. We were the hosts
all summer long – for swimming, games, gathering, and food. The now long since demolished giant, cement
rectangular pool that extended from three to ten feet deep and my dad’s
manning of the Weber grill defined summer, and Memorial Day weekend served as
the official kick-off.
I didn’t have much of a clue as to
what Memorial Day was intended to be.
Sure, we put our flag out (as we did for Flag day and July 4th),
but having not been directly impacted by war, let alone by loss due to war, the
original intention of the holiday was lost on me. Memorial Day was all about looking forward to
another summer of seemingly endless days in the water.
I’m embarrassed by
the lack of awareness I had; but, I’m far more embarrassed as an American by
the fact that I was not alone. My childhood years witnessed the end of the
Vietnam War, and still Memorial Day was for bar-b-ques, family gatherings, the
first swim of the season, and of course, it marked the day when you could
start wearing white. Ze-hu, that was it.
Israel does it better. I doubt there is an Israeli that remains
unaware of the significance of their Memorial Day. Why the difference? Is it because our country is so much older
and larger than Israel? Granted, it is
hard for all Americans to be on the same page about much of anything. In
Israel, everyone serves in the military beginning at age 18; and, most – sadly
- have a personal connection to the war dead.
The losses associated with assuring their country’s independence and
value system is emblazed in the collective consciousness.
Where is our collective consciousness
regarding the sacrifices that so many have made so that so many more of us can live
without concern for our immediate safety and with a trust that our rights will
be respected. Perhaps our general lack of appropriate
American memory is due to the reality that most of us do not have a direct
experience of the tragedy, heartache, and loss imposed by war. It is difficult to remember something that
has not touched us directly, but it seems to me, all the more reason why we
must take note and remember those who have made personal sacrifice for the sake
of our collective American values.
Zecher. Zicharon. The Hebrew root
of the word for memory or memorial is identical to the Hebrew root of the word zachar. Literally, zachar means male (as
opposed to female), but linguistically zachar has connotations of
strength and power (yes, our stereotypes often grow out of language). Lizkor -- It is written that “death has no dominion
where memory rules.” Our Torah portion, B'midbar, spends a great deal of time listing names. Naming, recalling, remembering. A legacy survives only as long as we do just
that.
I’m glad that our American Memorial
Day is no longer the boundary for white in the fashion industry. Now, if we could only take a break from
hocking garden supplies and appliances in order to reflect upon, to remember,
to take note of the courage, heroism, and ultimately the sacrifices of those
who have died in service of our country.
Zichronam livracha – May the
memory of those who have died in an effort to ensure our freedom and to promote
American values inspire us to renew our commitment to the betterment of our
community, our country, and our world.
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