Teaneck—Yom Ha’Atzmaut kicked off Monday night at Keter Torah in a community-wide commemoration of Israel’s Independence with many Teaneck shuls represented. The day was marked with prayers, tributes, music and dance. Rabbi Yosef Adler, Rosh Yeshiva of TABC, treated the standing room only crowd to moving heartfelt prayers sung with deep devotion and inspiring passion. Carmi Abramowitz, the organizer of the evening’s festivities has been leading the celebration for the past 15 years. “It seemed there was a need for a community such as Teaneck to form an organized effort to recognize and celebrate the miracle of Israel’s statehood and success as a thriving nation and still sole democratic state in the Middle East.” says Abramowitz about how the commemoration came into existence.
In a move to focus on the personal sacrifices made by U.S. born Jews, specifically the Teaneck youth serving in the IDF, Abramowitz proudly spoke of the decision to read the names of those Teaneck young people serving and invite some of their mothers and fathers serving to address the community and share their personal thoughts. Abramowitz opened by offering a tribute to his fallen cousin Avi Fischer zt”l, who died a hero’s death while his unit was attempting to defuse a land mind filled with grenades. So committed was young Avi, even though he was on leave and on his way to the wedding of his best friend, when he learned of the discovery of this land mine he turned around and returned to his unit and perished protecting the people of Israel.
Ofra Wind of Congregation Rinat Yisrael addressed the attending members of the community, requesting a favor. “My son Nati, called this morning unexpectedly as they were given 30 minutes to call home and I told him that I was going to speak tonight. I asked him if there was anything he wanted me to say to you and his answer was the very favor I was going to ask you. That is when you daven the tefillah for Medinat Israel, that you say it with deep kavanah.”
Chaim Fromowitz, also of Rinat, took a turn at the lectern with an inspiring assessment of Klal Yisrael. “We have become our destiny—as a people, not just as a collection of people.” A living testament to this ideal, is the story of 19-year-old Yoni Weisinger. As a young boy he dreamed of being an IDF soldier. He dressed up in military fatigues, saluting and practicing maneuvers. At 14 he made aliyah without his parents and siblings. He has been living in Eretz Yisrael ever since, couch surfing over the years at the home of various friends who have become like family. He gained the nickname of Yoni “Ha’homeless” as a result of this deeply rooted desire to live in Israel and protect the G-d given land. Weisinger just completed his basic training and this week he is being officially sworn in. And his mom, L’via is with him.
Yavneh Academy’s 7th grade girls presented an invigorating flag twirling show set to upbeat patriotic music that got the multi-generational crowd excited and inspired. Rabbi Larry Rothwachs of Congregation Beth Aaron remarked positively on the evening’s festivities and said it was incredible and fulfilling especially the diverse community representation and personal stories, yet he expressed the wish for an increased number of attendees and added, “Such an event as this, celebrating Israel’s miraculous 66 years should have attracted so many more people. While the sanctuary was filled to capacity, with standing room only, the sheer size of the Teaneck community was very much underrepresented tonight.”
A final thought was shared by Abramowitz, “As important as it is to daven we need to remember God’s words to Moshe, as he stood davening while the Egyptians got closer, God said “Ma titzak Eylay? Daber el bnei yisrael v’yisaoo” – Why do you cry out to me – speak to Children of Israel, and tell them to march!” We cannot let tonight just be a wonderful party,” Abramowitz continued his plea. “We need to translate this into action. America’s support for Israel doesn’t happen by itself. It is something that we should never, ever take for granted. It happens by people like you and me writing letters to newspapers, going to rallies, and meetings with our elected officials in NJ and in Washington. Please pick one organization like NORPAC, AIPAC, CAMERA, StandWithUs—go to their website this week, and take one specific action. Do not wait for the person sitting next to you, it’s all completely up to you.”
By Elyse Hansford
