FIRST READER: (Montreal-Gayle Levine)
We, the Canadian participants of the March of the Living, have come together to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. Last night and today, fifty three years later, during Yom Hazikaron, we remembered those who exposed themselves to mortal danger in the days of struggle prior to the establishment of the state of Israel, and the soldiers of Tzahal, the Israel Defense Force, who fell in the wars of Israel.
SECOND READER: (Toronto- Karen Shahar)
This morning, siren reverberated throughout the entire country. Traffic came to a half. All public life stopped as everyone stood for two minutes of silence. We begin the celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut with the knowledge that our Israeli brothers and sisters have paid a dear price for their independence, a price that we solemnly and respectfully observed today.
THIRD READER: (Australia-Natalie Axel)
Here we stand at the Kastel, whose capture in April, 1948, was crucial
in Israel's struggle for independence and to the establishment of
Jerusalem as its capital. The victorious battle here created the
momentum for the Hagana's forces capture that opened the way for
convoys full of food, fuel, arms and other supplies to the besieged
city.
FOURTH READER: (Montreal- Stuart Guttman)
"You must counter-attack immediately and retake the Kastel," ordered Yigal Yadin, the Hagana's acting chief of staff, over the radiophone in his Tel Aviv headquarters. "But, Yigal, I have only one platoon available. The rest are scattered. How can thirty men who haven't slept in 48 hours attack all those Arabs in daylight? We counted 1,600 and there may be more. We've got to wait," replied Yosef Tabenkin, commander of the battalion assigned to Operation Nachshon.
FIFTH READER: (Toronto-Sari Mandel)
And so, that night, 53 years ago, the small attack force marched toward the Kastel, and started to climb this very hill, to recapture the strategic stronghold. Many of them fell in that battle. Their names are recorded here. We will now lay a wreath in their memory.
(Laying of the Wreath)
5a) May the loyal and valiant heroes of freedom and victory be sealed forever within the hearts of Israel. (Australia-Dubi Odette Richwall)
5b) In hebrew (Montreal) Jill Pottel
THE PARADE OF THE FALLEN (Flute Play in the Background)
Code: A-Montreal; B-Toronto; C-Australia; D-Montreal; E- -Toronto; F- Australia
They come from the mountains, from the valley, from the desert (A) Robyn Schreter
They come ? names, faces, eyes, and stand for the parade (A)
They come with a masculine step, strong and tan (B) Dana Sipos Randor
They emerge from the shattered planes and from the burnt tanks (B)
They rise from behind the rocks, from across the dunes, from connecting ditches (B)
Brave as lions, tough as tigers, swift as eagles (C) Lisa Bass
And they pass, one by one, between two rows of angels (C)
Who feed them candy and place flowers around their necks (C)
And I look at them, and all of them are happy (C)
These are my brothers, my brothers (A,B,C)
And they meet one another, black eyes and blue and brown (D) Bram Paperman
And they remind one another of names, and weapons, and places (D)
And pour each other cups of coffee and tea (D)
And they shout out suddenly, calling, "How you doin', man?" (D)
And they meet friends and comrades in the crowd (E) Jesse Berger
And the officers slap the privates' shoulders and the privates
shake the officers' hands (E)
And they burst into song and clap their hands (E)
And the meeting lasts a day and a night, a day and a night (F) Jeremy Heymann)
Because there has never been a group like this in heaven (F)
And then, suddenly, they hear familiar voices crying (F)
And they look homeward at fathers and mothers, at wives, children, brothers and sisters (F)
And their faces are silent, and they stand, confused (A)
And then someone quickly whispers: Forgive us, we had to (A)
We won the battles and now we are resting (A)
These are my brother, my brothers (D,E,F,A) Dana & Jesse, Bram, Robin
And so they stand, light on their faces (B) Dana
And only God, alone, passes among them (B)
With eyes filled with tears, kissing their wounds (B)
And God says in a trembling voice to the white angels (B):
These are My children These are My children (All)
SIXTH READER: (Montreal) Kyam Shell-Schnitzer
Fifty three years ago today, a month after the recapture of the Kastel, David Ben Gurion, Israel's first minister, stood in Tel Aviv and read from the Scroll of Independence
SEVENTH READER: (Toronto- Jacqueline Lefebvre)
"The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here
their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they
achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal
significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world."
"Exiled from the land of Israel, the Jewish people remained faithful to
it in all the countries of their dispersion, never ceasing to pray and
hope for their return and the restoration of their national freedom."
Two Songs: Gesher Tzar M1od & Et Hamangina
"Despite the many setbacks and the suffering we have endured through
the generations, we have come this far because we never gave up. We
now continue to persevere in our struggle for peace in our land. As
the song says "the melody cannot cease. We must continue to play it!"
Introduction by Eli Rubenstein, national director, March of the Living Canada
MESSAGE FROM SURVIVORS:
Inge Spitz, refugee from Germany, travelling with with Toronto/Australia delegation
Liselotte, Ivry, Survivor of Terezin , Auschwitz Birkenau and Bergen Belsen, travelling with Montreal delegation
KEYNOTE MESSAGE: Rabbi Reuben Poupko, chaperone with Montreal delegation, chair of Canada Israel Experience, and past chair of two Montreal March of the Living programs
EIGHTH READER: (Australia-Sarah Regos)
During the past number of years, Israel has taken significant steps on the long and precarious path to peace. Yet, the dream of peace still seems to elude our grasp. But we must never give up that dream.
The vision of the great prophet Isaiah serves as an inspiration for our aspiration for peace:
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their
spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
Song: Lay Down Your Arms
For years we have yearned and prayed for peace. In poems and in song, we dreamed our peaceful dreams.
A Box of Colours -In Hebrew (Montreal- Jill Pottel), followed by English (Toronto-Dara Orbach)
I had a box of coloured pencils
Shining pleasant and beautiful
I had a box of coloured pencils
Some warm colours, some cold colours.
I did not have blood red for the wounded
I did not have mourners black for the orphans
I did not have white for the dead faces
I did not have yellow for the burning sand.
I had orange for the joy of living
I had green for the blossom and growth
I had blue for the bright sky
I had pink for peaceful dreams.
I sat and drew peace.
by Tali Sorek, a thirteen year old girl from Beersheva
Song: Shir Lashalom
A PRAYER (Australia-Cherie Levy)
What shall I ask of you, God?
I have all I need
There is nothing that I lack
Only one thing will I ask
And not for me alone
But for many mothers, children and fathers
And not only in this land
But also in foreign and enemy lands
I wish to ask you for peace
Yes, it1s peace I want
And I know you will not refuse the single request of a young girl
You created the land of peace
And in it the city of peace
In which stood a Temple of peace
But peace has not yet come
What shall I ask of You, God, since I have all I need?
I will ask only for peace
Only peace
THE MOTHER'S SONG by Miriam Schneid-Ofseyer
I am the mother, From me he springs, (Montreal- Laura Rovinescu)
The source of joy and sufferings
I, the mother, guard his way From his birth till my last day.
I am the mother.
With blood and heart (Toronto-Ryan Banach)
I make him a man that loves and builds,
Creates and fashions and sees beyond,
I am the mother. He is my child.
How can I hold my peace always (Australia-Karen Johnson)
While cries of horror tear my heart
When he is torn from me to war
And homeward he will come no more?
An end to silence and to tears! (Montreal- Laura Rovinescu)
I"ll save him while my life endures;
I"ll cry aloud to every nation, To every mother of every man:
Lift up your hands! , (Toronto-Ryan Banach)
Man1s blood is one,
Do not despair ?
We"ll save him yet!
A living wall of all man1s mothers, (Australia- Sophie Braham)
Brown and white and black;
A towering wall which does not lack
the yellow and the red.
Over every clash ascends (Montreal- Laura Rovinescu)
What is in common and transcends.
Millions, differing in all, yet share (Toronto-Ryan Banach)
The same great happiness ? to bear
A child, to be a mother,
And call a living son by name.
And millions will rise, (Australia-Carly Seskin)
Millions of hands,
And these will be raised
Unto the skies, Uplifted in oath:
Our sons to slaughter (Montreal- Laura Rovinescu)
We will not give!! Earth be our witness....
And heavens above
Song: Oseh Shalom
LIGHTING OF THE TORCHES
Introduction: (Toronto - Alexandra Gordin)
It is a national tradition that torches are lit to commemorate the achievements and challenges for the State of Israel and the Jewish people for the coming year.
1. Defense and Security: (Australia- Shira Herson)
"I light this first torch in dedication to the Israel Defense Forces ? Tsahal. In the face of ongoing hostility and constant threat from our enemies, its task of maintaining Israel1s security with a strong and persevering defense is of vital importance. We hold the hands of the brave soldiers, old and young, who fulfilled and continue to fulfill this task courageously."
2. Solidarity of Jewish youth and the Israel-Diaspora connection: (Montreal-Gillian Eliahoo)
" I light this second torch to express our sense of solidarity as Jewish youth with our Israeli brothers and sisters. As members of the Jewish people, we share a covenant of fate. Our visit to Israel is a proud and active expression of our feelings of unity and peoplehood. Am Yisrael Hai!"
3 Ingathering of the exiles and aliya: (Toronto- Hilary Crangle)
"I light this third torch in honor of Israel1s ongoing role as the homeland of the Jewish people. May Israel continue to have the strength and will to absorb Jews from around the world and with worldwide support, to overcome the obstacles to the successful klita of each and every Jew who comes to live here."
4. Jewish continuity and creativity: (Australia- David Janovic)
"I light this fourth torch in honor of Israel as Jewish state. In this, the Jewish homeland, where Judaism has been and will always be a developing and creative culture, we can all find inspiration for our own continuity, and our search for expression of a meaningful Jewish existence."
5. The hope for peace: (Montreal ?Elana Steinert -Ludman)
"I light this fifth torch in the hope that peace, Shalom, will indeed become a reality. As Yitzchak Rabin, Zichrono L'Vracha, said on the White House lawn, quoting from Ecclesiastes: "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time for war, and a time for peace."
HATIKVA is sung as the fireworks over Jerusalem appear in the sky.
