EREV/LEIL YOM HAATZMAUT CEREMONY AT LATRUN
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2004
CANADIAN MARCH OF THE LIVING DELEGATION
(as of Apr 20/04)

INTRODUCTION: (Irving Gottesman) My name is Irving Gottesman, Chair of the Toronto MOL delegation. On behalf of myself, Alice Raby, the chair of the Montreal delegation, and Morris Henoch, the chair of the Coast to Coast delegation, I would like to welcome all of Canada and all of Australia to our Yom Hazikaron/Haatzmaut ceremony at Latrun.

We have all just spent a very challenging week in Poland. We have seen the worst level of behavior that humanity can express, that resulted in the death of so many of our ancestors, and in the near destruction of Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

But this evening, as I look out at this sea of young faces, here in our homeland, the land of Israel, and see your commitment and dedication to Am Yisrael, I know that the future of the Jewish People is in good hands.

I would now like to ask these same young people to lead this evening's ceremony.

FIRST READER: (Montreal)

We, the Canadian and Australian participants on the March of the Living, have come together to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. Last night and today, 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, in 1948, fifty-six years ago.

SECOND READER: (CTC)

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: (Toronto)

Here we stand at Latrun, 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: (Australia)

"You must counterattack immediately and retake Latrun, "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: (Montreal)

And so, that night, 53 years ago, the small attack force marched toward Latrun, 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. (CTC)
5b) In hebrew (Toronto)

THE PARADE OF THE FALLEN (Flute Play in the Background)
Code: A-Montreal; B-CTC; C-Toronto; D-Australia; E- -Montreal; F- CTC

They come from the mountains, from the valley, from the desert (A)
They come ‹ names, faces, eyes, and stand for the parade (A)
They come with a masculine step, strong and tanned (B)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
And so they stand, light on their faces (B)
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)

Fifty six years ago today, a month after the recapture of Latrun, David Ben Gurion, Israel's first minister, stood in Tel Aviv and read from the Scroll of Independence

SEVENTH READER: (CTC)

"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 M'od & 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""

Narrator: We would now like to recognize the true heroes of this trip, our survivors. A survivor from each delegation will now join us on the stage…

MESSAGE FROM SURVIVOR (S): At this point, two survivor from two of the delegations will introduce themselves and describe how they feel at this time to be in Israel with their students. One of the survivors will be Morris Faintuch of Winnipeg, who also fought in the battle of Latrun in 1948.

Narrator: Every moment, Israel's existence depends on the Israel Defence Forces, and on the courage and valour her soldiers practice everyday in defense of their country. We would now like to invite Major Roni Egozi, Representing the IDF Armor Corp, to speak on behalf of the soldiers of Israel.

KEYNOTE MESSAGE:

Major Roni Egozi

The Commander's speech for the ending of the Israel Memorial Day ceremony and the beginning of the 56th Israel Independence Day events:

Soldiers, "March of the Living" representatives from Australia and Canada and honorable guests:
This evening we declare the ending of Remembrance Day, a day to commemorate the IDF fallen soldiers and those wounded by hostile acts, and the beginning of the Independence Day event, celebrating 56 years to the declaration of the state of Israel.
Here as we stand in front of the Wall of Names, where the names of the 4,904 Armored Corps fallen soldiers are engraved, we unite and commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for their country.
Even today, we find ourselves in a state of war over our existence, however this time the enemy is closer than ever before, an enemy who is willing to carry out desperate and unthinkable acts in order to reach their goal.
As we struggle to cope with our day to day safety, we can see that bridge exists, a bridge of joint destiny between our brothers who were murdered and tortured in the holocaust that happened over 60 years ago, and among them those who survived the battle and came to fight joined the I.D.F. in the battle over our Promised Land, Israel. It's thanks to them that we are able to live in this country as a free people.
A special connection exists between Jews from all over the world and Jews living here in Israel. It's the connection of the Jewish nation, a bond so strong no enemy throughout the generations has succeeded in destroying.
We stand here today, united, embracing one another, the IDF soldiers and young people from Jewish communities from all around the world. Together as we see past the celebration of the day of our Independence we make a promise to the generations to come that e will remain united. Our unity is the source of our power and strength.

EIGHTH READER: (Toronto)

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), followed by English (Australia))
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 (CTC)
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, it's 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)
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
I make him a man that loves and builds, (CTC)
Creates and fashions and sees beyond,
I am the mother. He is my child.

How can I hold my peace always (Toronto)
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! (Australia)
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! (Montreal)
Man's blood is one,
Do not despair ‹
We'll save him yet!

A living wall of all man's mothers, (CTC)
Brown and white and black;
A towering wall which does not lack
the yellow and the red.

Over every clash ascends (Toronto)
What is in common and transcends.

Millions, differing in all, yet share (Australia)
The same great happiness ‹ to bear
A child, to be a mother,
And call a living son by name.

And millions will rise, (Montreal)
Millions of hands,
And these will be raised
Unto the skies,
Uplifted in oath:

Our sons to slaughter (CTC)
We will not give!! Earth be our witness....And heavens above

Narrator: We would now like to invite Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal to deliver a final message before we conclude our ceremony with the lighting of the torches.

Final Speech: Rabbi Reuben Poupko

LIGHTING OF THE TORCHES

Introduction: (Montreal)

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:(CTC)

"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 Israel's 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: (Toronto)

"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: (Australia)

"I light this third torch in honor of Israel's 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: (Montreal)

"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: (CTC)

"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.