Monday, July 7, 2014

Memorial Day Reflections, DeliveredMay 24, 2014

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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