Three days before Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day, the US announced a cease-fire with Iran. The missiles that had been raining down upon Israel since the first of March, stopped suddenly and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. Unfortunately, the Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon had no interest in laying down their weapons and their attacks against northern Israel continue. But for most of the country, the Memorial Day ceremonies and Independence Day celebrations that had been put on hold, were suddenly back on schedule. Communities, towns and cities scrambled to rehearse, set up stages, sound systems and carnival rides. And somehow, it all came together.
No one believed the cease-fire would last long, especially since Iran seemed committed, as always, to the destruction of Israel and to the continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile systems. But we were relieved by the break. We rejoiced in being able to sleep through the night and slowly but surely began to gain confidence that life could resume normalcy, at least for a while.
How Israelis Celebrate in the Midst of War
Israel is an enigma, to people around the world, but no less to ourselves. Our young men are still serving hundreds of days each year in the reserves, fighting the worst terrorists on multiple fronts. Hundreds of homes were destroyed during the recent Iranian missile attacks, with people seeking refuge with families and in hotels. Most of the north is still living under irregular missile barrages with many still not willing to return to their homes in the northern-most communities. And yet, we rejoiced on Israel Independence Day. The children love to walk around with spray foam, spraying everyone in sight. My husband barely dodged an attack! There was music and dancing, falafel and chips. We barbecued both on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday afternoon – enjoying meat and salads and all kinds of trimmings with friends and family.
Walking around the festivities, you would be hard-pressed to identify the fear and uncertainty that was so prevalent just days earlier. How can this be? How can we face an existential threat one day and laugh and celebrate the next?
Why Memorial Day Comes Before Independence Day
Since the early days of the State, our leadership decided to place Memorial Day for our Fallen Soldiers on the day before Independence Day. There have always been those who question the proximity of such diametrically opposed days – a day of profound mourning just before a day of equally profound celebration. But that is really what Israel is about.
The Miracle of Israel’s Restoration
Israel is a miracle. After nearly 2000 years of exile, discrimination and near destruction, we returned to our ancient Homeland and restored our nation as a political entity, a nation among nations. No longer hounded as a minority group dispersed all over the world, we were free to determine our own future, even as we drew upon our rich and shared past. But winning our independence and then sustaining it has never been easy. Ever since the earliest years of modern Zionism, our Arab enemies tried to murder us, expel us and prevent us from reaching our national and religious aspirations. We had no choice but to fight to secure our freedom and our very existence.
The IDF started with nothing – a few second-hand sten guns left over from World War II, four airplanes that had to be held together in the most primitive ways. The US and most of Europe declared an arms boycott against Israel, even as they anticipated the destruction of the fledgling Israel. But we defied all expectations. We drove our enemies out of most of Israel and we built a state. We built a powerful military, including the best air force and the best intelligence services in the world today. We worked hard, but none of this would have been possible without God’s help. And it also would not have been possible without the ongoing sacrifice of so many of our young men and women who fought bravely and fell in battle.
We have no right to celebrate Israel’s Independence without first remembering and mourning those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could celebrate.
Joy and Grief Held Together
Today, that dual experience hits home like never before. We were able to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day this year because we knew how hard our soldiers and fighter pilots worked to bring us to the cease-fire. And people paid a price – soldiers and civilians lost their lives, their homes and their security. But when we celebrate, we acknowledge that the price had value, it had enormous meaning.
The emotional switch that we all make each year between Memorial Day and Independence Day, was also good training for the roller-coaster we have been experiencing for the past 2 ½ years. From the depths of the horrific massacre of October 7th, 2023, from the mourning for our fallen soldiers – during the first year of the war, nearly every day we mourned another fallen soldier – we were able to identify moments of hope. We recognized the miracle when Iranian missiles first attacked Israel and the Iron Dome downed every one that was aimed at inhabited areas. We heard stories from our soldier sons, sons-in-law, husbands and relatives about near misses. And we celebrated like never before when our hostages came home. Through all of this and from the very beginning of our restoration in our precious land, we have found ways to hold joy in one hand, while wiping the tears from our eyes with the other. I can’t explain how we do it, but I can assure you we do. It is just how we are. And Israel continues to rank amongst the happiest nations on the planet. Explain that one!
Independence Day as a Spiritual Celebration
Independence Day in Israel is not only a wonderful national celebration. It is a spiritual one. Just as we stop to remember our fallen soldiers and the sacrifice they made before we can celebrate, we also remember God’s mercies before we start picnicking. In synagogues and public areas all over the land, Independence Day celebrations begin with a prayer service. It is a service of rejoicing – we sing Psalm 126 to the tune of Hatikvah. Like our ancient forebears, when we returned to Israel it was a dream come true – a dream so beautifully articulated by Naftali Herz Imber, the Jewish poet who wrote Hatikvah in 1877.
The Iranian Threat Has Not Disappeared
As I write this, we are waiting anxiously to learn if the US and Iran will reach an agreement. And there is great consensus in Israel that an agreement could be a very bad thing. If we were dealing with a normal country with a normal government that takes the interests of its people into account, Iran would certainly understand that nothing good can come from continued bombardment from the US and Israel. They would give up their nuclear program, their ballistic missiles program and invest in their people. But that is not Iran. So long as Iran is an Islamist Republic with a national suicidal / jihadist mentality, it will continue to come after Israel. It will lie, cheat and steal and then find a way to continue developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. If the sanctions are lifted and billions of dollars flow into Iran, they will use that money to rearm, both themselves and their proxies – Hamas and Hezbollah. Nothing good can come out of an agreement with Iran. They must be defeated. Totally. There is no other option.
Never Losing Hope
So for now, we do anticipate a return to hostilities, to additional missile attacks with its fear, sleepless nights and ongoing damage. But it will be worth it if we can finally defeat Iran and pave the way for a new Iran. If we stop too soon, Iran will be like a wounded lion – angry and powerful enough to do real damage.
But regardless of what happens, we will continue to hold joy in one hand, even as we dig in, fight on, and wipe our tears with the other. Because we will never lose hope and faith in the God of Israel that there will be a better time.
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