On April 29, the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership convened its annual community-wide Yom Hazikaron Ceremony at SAR High School. Community leaders joined SAR middle-school students honoring the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and the hostages killed in captivity.
SAR Principal Binyamin Krauss began, “Earlier today, President Herzog spoke at the Yom Hazikaron commemoration at the Kotel about the critical need to heal a fractured nation; a call to come together even when we disagree. I take great pride knowing that this community models exactly that. We don’t need to pray in the same synagogue, go to the same school or vote the same way to find our shared values and work together to support them.”
Krauss continued: “Tonight, we focus on specific stories of individuals connected to this community, this neighborhood. Through their lives and sacrifices, we get a glimpse of how vast the cost truly is. We remind ourselves that for every story we hear tonight, thousands more are untold.”
Rabbi Asher Abramovitz of Kinneret Day School, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, SAR High School Principal Rabbi Jonathan Kroll and NYC Councilman Eric Dinowitz read Tehillim. Rabbi Shmuel Hain of Young Israel Ohab Zedek of North Riverdale/Yonkers and rosh beit midrash at SAR High School, Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn of Congregation Tehillah, Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe of HIR and Rabbi Katie Greenberg of CSAIR recited Yizkor and the Mi Shebeirach for Chayalim. Rosh Kehila Dina Najman (Kehilah of Riverdale) and Rabbi Thomas Gardner (The Riverdale Temple) led the prayer for the hostages. Avigdor Gargy offered Kinat David. CSAIR Rabbi Barry Dov Katz and HIR Rav Steven Exler chanted K’El Ma’aleh Rachamim.
The tekes began: “Today is the 77th Yom Hazikaron for Tzahal soldiers and terror victims. The State of Israel, in its 77th year, has unfortunately experienced many losses. Today, we are united through memories of our heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the State of Israel. Their deaths give us the legacy of life.”
The students continued: “We are always keenly aware that the amazing gift of Medinat Yisrael has come at the price of fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters.” Last year, barely six months into the war, Yom Hazikaron was unfathomable. The sense of loss was immediate and raw. We struggled to organize our thoughts and feelings to pay tribute to all we had lost. This year is still hard. Medinat Yisrael is still at war. Since last Yom Hazikaron, we lost more precious chayalim. Fifty-nine hostages are waiting to come home; 24 are believed to still be alive. We celebrate Yom Ha’Aztmaut in 24 hours, but first, we need to honor those who sacrificed everything so that we have the privilege of celebrating.”
Rosh yeshiva and president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School Rabbi Dov Linzer recalled his nephew Maoz Morell, an elite paratrooper in Sayeret Tzanchanim, who died on Feb. 19, just before his 22nd birthday. “Maoz died a hero,” Rabbi Linzer said. “A Hamas terrorist threw a grenade into the building where his unit was stationed. Several soldiers died instantly; others seriously wounded. Although not a medic, Maoz had training to provide emergency medical care under fire.” Maoz saved his superior officer’s life.
Rabbi Linzer continued: “He then went to the roof to provide fire against the terrorists outside. In the ensuing battle, he received wounds ultimately leading to his death. His unit’s members described an ‘unstoppable machine,’ tending to the wounded, saving lives of fellow soldiers.
Rabba Yaffa Epstein’s nephew Yakir Yamin Hexter fell in battle on the 27th Tevet, Jan. 8, at age 26. “Everyone who spoke about Yakir described a person of action, who never wasted a minute and lived life to the absolute fullest,” she said. “Yakir was incredibly multifaceted with many talents and strengths. On one hand, a brilliant, diligent ben Torah with many chavrutot who learned constantly, died in battle with his best friend and Gush chavruta, David Schwartz.
“On the other hand, he was a bartender at Nokturno, a Jerusalem bar, where he invented his own signature drink, the Yakman, which included kosher Skittles! A gifted, talented artist, in his third year of Ariel College’s architecture school, running the Jerusalem Marathon each year and cycling with his father and brothers, pushed his physical limits to their utmost.”
Abby Eisenberg’s nephew, tank commander Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum, born in Detroit in 2002, made aliyah at age 5. He was killed June 28. Eisenberg expressed: “Yakir, like others lost over the year, was extraordinary, kind, thoughtful and often open-minded. Yakir leaves behind a legacy of not only a sharp intellect, a kind soul and devotion to his people and country, but also someone wise beyond his years.”
“Following this year’s tekes theme, ‘We Will Not Forget’ those who sacrificed their lives for Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.”
