B"H
Thursday, Iyar 3, 5781 (18th day of the Omer)/ April 15, 2021
Today Israel remembers its fallen heroes - the men and women who gave their lives to protect and defend the millions of Jews living in Israel, as well as the Land of Israel itself.
At the same time Israel celebrates 73 years since the War of Independence from the British in 1948.
A total of 23,928 men and women, have been killed, defending the Land and the people of Israel. Tens of thousands have been wounded and many thousands were killed and wounded in terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Israel’s security.
Chief of Staff, General Kochavi, said today at the memorial ceremony at the Kotel, “The very existence of the Land of Israel is a daily miracle. Some we recognize as miracles but so many of them we do not, as they are taken for granted. However, every day Israeli soldiers are faced and deal with situations which can only be described as constant miracles.”
Someone came to the Lubavitcher Rabbe, many years ago, and said, “Rebbe, I live in Israel in the city of Eilat. We do not have any Tzadikim (sages and very righteous people) buried in Eilat. They are buried in Jerusalem, in Tzefat, Tveriyah and Miron, but not in Eilat. It is a Jewish custom that when one needs special prayers they go to the gravesite of Tzadikim to pray. What should I do when I need to pray at the grave of a sage and very righteous person?”
The Rebbe answered him, “You should go to the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) cemetery in Eilat and pray at the graves of the solders buried there. They gave their lives to protect Israel and the people of Israel. They are all true Tzadikim!”
May the memory of the fallen soldiers, the Tzadikim who gave their lives for the defence of Israel, rest in peace in Gan Eden. May their merit and deeds bring blessing to their families and to all of Israel. May their great sacrifices bring everlasting peace to Israel.
May we merit the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. and the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of Hashem’s house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it.
“And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, ‘Come, let us go up to G-d’s mount, to the house of the G-d of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths,’ for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem.
“And he shall judge between the nations and reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” May it be speedily in our days.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY