Rabbi’s Column
On Memorial Day, I was given the honor of speaking at the Town of Putnam Valley’s annual gathering. These are the words I shared:
At this moment in time, in the final weeks before we celebrate 250 years of independence, Americans are losing their hearing. “Happy Memorial Day – I’ve heard that said. Or “Have a great Memorial Day weekend.” We are saying words and phrases and not hearing what is coming out of our mouths. “Memorial” and “Happy” don’t belong together. Yes, we can and should use this pause in time to be with family, to enjoy America’s pastime and root for our team and live our freedoms…but not without digging into what this country stands for and how we must stand together and listen to one another. Only then can we march forward if not on the battlefield than at the town meeting and PTA and in the little league bleachers.
We stand together this morning and we are listening to one another speak. The words are filled with gratitude and humility as we honor the members of our armed forces who gave their lives for our country. They stood together whether conscripted or enlisted, wherever their farm, hometown or city, race or religion. They came together to defend the rest of us and now it is our turn to defend them.
In the Jewish tradition, we say of the deceased, Zichronam L’vracha “May their memory be a blessing” but in fact, there is no word in Hebrew for “may.” We really say, “Their memory is a blessing.” They did their part – more than most of us could do. Their memory is a blessing. So it is to ourselves we say, “May we do our part to keep the memories of our fallen heroes as blessings not only when the calendar summons us but every day.”
It turns out that I was given the honor of delivering the benediction. Mine were the final words after the veterans shared their stories and spoke their truth as they remembered their fallen friends. Their words were surrounded by the processional of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Veterans, First Responders and civic leaders; the Pledge of Allegiance, Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful and a wreath-laying ceremony. It was a powerful and important way to celebrate what – no, who – makes America all she can be. We too are called to enlist in America’s future.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Barbara Symons