Israel Defense Forces, Jewish Community and Rosh Hashana
that is good in Israeli society. By
Joel Leyden Jerusalem----September
18, 2006......This Friday, there will be an empty seat at the Zarfati family's
Rosh Hashana dinner table. Aharon drowned off the shores of Haifa this morning during tryouts for the IDF navy's elite Shayetet 13 commando unit. This news came directly to me from the street. It was not through the radio, TV or Internet. Rather as I arrived home from work today and was parking my car, I could not avoid noticing hundreds of people gathering in front of my home. "What's going on," I asked a neighbor. "Gibush," she said. Gibush is Hebrew for a three or four day long IDF training and testing period. The blue, swirling lights of several police cars lined the streets with a dark brown IDF truck squeezed between them. Aharon Israel flag draped coffin lay inside as hundreds of mourners prayed for him. Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz called for a halt to all Israel military tryouts until further notice and IDF Naval Commander Admiral David Ben-Bashat has ordered an investigation into the events leading up to the tragedy. Slowly the procession headed for the Ra'anana, Israel military cemetery. The brown IDF truck rolled at a crawling pace, as hundreds walked behind the casket. Dozens of people were seen walking with arms linked. About a thousand people gathered at the cemetery. It was late at night with three tripod spotlights illuminating the both civilians and the white clad IDF Navy officers. Jewish funerals are usually brief, with the burial taking place within 24 hours. But with IDF commandos attending, it was thought best to hold the burial under cover of darkness. A few commandos, with camouflage paint, radios and an array of hardware took up positions around the cemetery to protect those attending. Rabbis prayed, the IDF Naval commander spoke and Ra'anana Mayor Nachum Hofree blessed the family and praised the young soldier's example of bravery and pride for community and the IDF. After a dignified 21 gun salute the funeral came to an end but as the soldiers slowly marched out of the neat, green, tree lined cemetery, the wailing cries of mourning broke the midnight silence. The Zarfati family will not be alone this Rosh Hashana. 117 IDF soldiers were killed in the Hezbollah Lebanon war. Whether one is training or actually involved in a real world combat situation, it is all the same. These men and women in IDF uniform gave their lives to protect our homes and families. On the Jewish New Year, we should all remember those who gave their lives in Israel's war against terrorism. We should remember Aharon Zarfati. We should remember each and every civilian and Israel Defense Forces soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and democracy for which we enjoy. "Will Aharon, who was an IDF cadet, be buried as a soldier in the unit that he was trying out for?" I asked a Naval officer at the funeral. With tears in his eyes he responded: "yes, he was one of us." On Rosh Hashana, we must remember a few critical things. To cease the destructive attacks on Israel's leadership - from the President and Prime Minister to the Defense Minister and Chief of Staff. To remember that a house divided will fall. That our enemies do not take vacations. That Syria and Iran missiles are pointed at every Israeli civilian with the stated intent to "wipe Israel off the map." We do not have the luxury to attack one another. Mistakes were made during the Hezbollah war, but it was a war that Israel won. Just take a quick look at the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure, or lack of. Speak or listen to the shopkeepers and businessmen in Beirut, Sidon or Tripoli. They are not pleased with Hezbollah destroying their ability to make a living. No tourists, little trade - just humanitarian support pouring into a devastated nation. And finally, even Hezbollah leader Nasrallah admitted defeat, apologized to all in Lebanon as he tries in vain to regain the popular support that the IDF took away from him. And
finally, that Zarfati and the 117 brave soldiers who died fighting Hezbollah in
Lebanon were all "one of us."
Internet
Marketing SEO Services
Sponsored by IsraelPr.com |
