Dear Family,
It might have been because of the COVID-19 crisis, but this year was one of the most powerful Memorial and Independence Day ceremonies that I can remember. For the first time, BFL had the Yom HaZikaron Ceremony in English and streamed live. We stood in silence together with BFL partners all over the world as the Siren called for us to remember our beloved family and friends who died protecting Israel. BFL is about Choosing life, but we cannot and will not forget those who died next to us. There is no day like Yom HaZikaron for an IDF injured soldier. It’s the day when what we carry buried in our hearts come up and we recognize that truly the best of the Jewish People sacrificed their lives that we live.
There are many emotions that come up for our achim on this day. One of the best ways to express this is by writing or music. Below is a poem written by a 19 year old IDF soldier , Reuven Polity, to his parents during the Yom Kippur War. He was killed just days later.
Many years later Reuven’s poem was made into a song by one of Israel’s best musicians and is known all over the country
May the memories of each precious IDF soldier who fell that we may stand today, be remembered always for a Blessing.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Yaniv