It is not such a large number.
Judaism has bigger numbers to talk about.
This number however, has profound significance.
Every single unit of this number has a story.
This number affects far more people than meets the eye.
This number represents the people that have been killed protecting the State of Israel or through terrorist attacks since 1948.
Michael Levin was born in Philadelphia in 1984. In 2002, Michael made Aliyah. He fought in the Second Lebanon War and fell in combat in 2006. Michael was buried by his parents on Mount Herzl. May his memory be a blessing.
Hadar Cohen was born in Or Yehuda in 1997. In 2016, Hadar was shot whilst guarding Damascus Gate in the Old City. She left behind her parents, a brother and a sister. May her memory be a blessing.
Zidan Sayif was 30 years old when he was called to a Synagouge in Har Nof. The Synagouge was being attacked by a terrorist. The Druze police officer stood in front of the ultra-orthodox Jews and took bullets for them. Zidan left behind his wife and 4 – month old daughter. May his memory be a blessing.
Amiad Yisrael was four days old. His mother, Shira, was 7 months pregnant when she was shot in Ofra by terrorists. Amiad means ‘my eternal people’. At Amiads' funeral, his grandfather said, “few people have managed to unite the nation of Israel like you have”. May his memory be a blessing.
Yoni Jesner was born in Glasgow in 1983. Yonis’ life was taken in 2002 suicide bombing on a bus in Tel Aviv. Yoni was 19 years old. Yonis' legacy lives on today through the Yoni Jesner Foundation which inspires people to do more and care more. May his memory be a blessing.
Numbers can be thrown around. Often when we hear statistics from a war, we do not think about the lives that have been destroyed. The parents that have to agonisingly bury their children. The children who will never know their fathers or mothers. The spouses who embraced with their partner for the last time without knowing so.
Today is Yom Hazikaron. The day of remembrance. I had the privilege and honour of walking through Mount Herzl, where the 21,741 are buried. I heard dozens of stories. The power of the experience is impossible to describe. When we are remembering, we should try and remeber more than a number. When we reflect on the person, we are able to understand the significance of this special day. Behind the number, there are people. These people died for a purpose, that is the continuation and prosperity of Am Yisrael.
It is customary to light a candle on Yom Hazikaron. I pledge that when we light the candle, we don’t light it solely for the day. Rather, we light it for a person, a life, a story and a soul.
לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ, אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם
To be a free people in our Land, the land of Zion, Jerusalem.
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