Memorial Day in the US may not be a Jewish holiday, but the concept of remembering and honoring our dead (Hazkarat Neshamot) is a Jewish value. In particular, Jews have served in all of the United States' wars, from securing this country's independence to all of the wars and conflicts in our day. It if therefore fitting and appropriate that we come together to remember and pay tribute to the members of our community who served in our armed forces, whether in times or war or in times of peace, whether they lost their lives in war or lived out their years afterwards.
We Remember Them
By Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer
In the rising of the sun and in its going down - we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter - we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring - we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of the summer- we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn - we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends - we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength - we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart - we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share - we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we rememberthem.
The Young Dead Soldiers
by Archibald MacLeish |
The young dead soldiers do not speak Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them? They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts. They say, We were young. We have died. Remember us. They say, We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done. They say, We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave. They say, Our deaths are not ours: they are yours: they will mean what you make them. They say, Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say: it is you who must say this. They say, We leave you our deaths: give them their meaning: give them an end to the war and a true peace: give them a victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards: give them their meaning. We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us. |
(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר׃
(ב) אֱלֹקִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃ (ג) עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים׃ (ד) יֶהֱמ֣וּ יֶחְמְר֣וּ מֵימָ֑יו יִ֥רְעֲשֽׁוּ הָרִ֖ים בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃ (ה) נָהָ֗ר פְּלָגָ֗יו יְשַׂמְּח֥וּ עִיר־אֱלֹקִ֑ים קְ֝דֹ֗שׁ מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ (ו) אֱלֹקִ֣ים בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ אֱ֝לֹקִ֗ים לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּֽקֶר׃ (ז) הָמ֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם מָ֣טוּ מַמְלָכ֑וֹת נָתַ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ תָּמ֥וּג אָֽרֶץ׃ (ח) ה׳ צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ אֱלֹקֵ֖י יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ (ט) לְֽכוּ־חֲ֭זוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖ם שַׁמּ֣וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (י) מַשְׁבִּ֥ית מִלְחָמוֹת֮ עַד־קְצֵ֢ה הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ קֶ֣שֶׁת יְ֭שַׁבֵּר וְקִצֵּ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת יִשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (יא) הַרְפּ֣וּ וּ֭דְעוּ כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹקִ֑ים אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (יב) ה׳ צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֨נוּ אֱלֹקֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ {פ}
For the leader. Of the Korahites; on alamoth. A song.
God is our refuge and stronghold, a help in trouble, very near. Therefore we are not afraid though the earth reels, though mountains topple into the sea— its waters rage and foam; in its swell mountains quake. Selah.
There is a river whose streams gladden God’s city, the holy dwelling-place of the Most High. God is in its midst, it will not be toppled; by daybreak God will come to its aid.
Nations rage, kingdoms topple; at the sound of God's thunder the earth dissolves. The Eternal One of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah.
Come and see what the Eternal has done, how God has wrought desolation on the earth. God puts a stop to wars throughout the earth, breaking the bow, snapping the spear, consigning wagons to the flames. “Desist! Realize that I am God! I dominate the nations; I dominate the earth.” The Eternal One of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah.
A Prayer of Remembrance for Fallen Heroes
By Rabbi Naomi Levy
Some might have stood by, but you stood up. You were willing to give your lives so that others might live. We are indebted to you, we are humbled by you. When all hope was lost, when the world seemed like a dark and heartless place, you restored our faith in people and our trust in God. You taught us hope, and fearlessness, and honor.
We miss you. We will never forget your service and your heroism. We will teach our children and grandchildren about your courage in the face of danger. We will try with all our might to live up to the example you have set. We will not ignore human suffering, we will not be indifferent to the cries of those in pain; you did not die in vain. You have changed us. You live on inside us, in pride and in love.
May God watch over you as you watch over us. Rest in Peace. Amen.
A Prayer for Memorial Day
By Rabbi Dr. Laurence Milder
Our God, God of our ancestors, we thank you for the numerous blessings you have bestowed upon our nation. Out of the many nations of the world, our country has been blessed with a singular opportunity - to demonstrate how peoples of many faiths and heritages can live side by side, and enrich one another's lives through friendship and the sharing of our unique traditions.
We are united this day in a solemn act of gratitude: to those who have served in our nation's defense, to those who have risked their personal safety to save the lives of others, and above all to those who have died serving this country. Their sacrifices are forever remembered by us and by our children for generations to come. We do not forget.
Our hearts go out to those serving today in our armed forces, and to their families. Those of us who are veterans of previous wars, know best of all what they must be feeling, what their spouses and children are feeling, what they pray for. In all our many faiths, we are united in this: our prayers are with those who serve our country today. We ask God that they may return speedily and in good health and safety to their loved ones.
And may God grant each of us the wisdom to uphold this nation's virtues, that it may continue to serve as a beacon of liberty and harmony between peoples, for all the world to see. Amen.
Memorial Prayer
Adapted from a prayer by Alden Solovy
God of the selfless, God of the strong and the brave, Grant a perfect rest among the souls of the righteous To all of our community's veterans, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children, spouses, friends,Who served our country during whether in times of war or peace. May their dedication serve as a shining lamp of courage and love. May their memories be sanctified with joy and love.
Bless the souls of all who have died in the name of liberty and democracy, Soldiers and veterans, Civilians and professionals, Men and women who answered the call of honor and duty. May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,A living blessing in our midst.
אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שׁוֹכֵן בַּמְּרוֹמִים, הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, בְּמַעֲלַת קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים, אֶת נְשַׁמוֹת כֹּל שֶׁמָסְרוּ אֶת נַפְשָׁם לִמְגִינַת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וּלְחֵרוּת שֶׁל הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהָלְכוּ לְעוֹלַמָם, בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהִי מְנוּחָתָם,לָכֵן בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים יַסְתִּירֵם בְּסֵתֶר כְּנָפָיו לְעוֹלָמִים, וְיִצְרוֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם, ה׳ הוּא נַחֲלָתָם, וְיָנוּחו עַל מִשְׁכְּבָם בְּשָׁלוֹם. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
Eil Maleh Rachamim for Fallen Service Members
Used with permission from the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Exalted, compassionate God,
Grant perfect peace in Your sheltering Presence,
Among the holy and the pure, whose radiance is like the heavens,
To all the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our country and the freedom of the world. May the Garden of Eden be their resting places. Thus, Master of Compassion, may they find eternal shelter beneath Your wings, and may their souls be bound up in the bond of life, together with the righteous souls who stand in Your Presence. May they rest with honor, and may their actions hasten the day when righteousness, peace and security shall prevail forever, when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they study war anymore” and when the Glory of the Eternal will be revealed, and all flesh and blood will see it together.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [אמן]בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [בריך הוא:] לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
עוֹשה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba: [Amen] b’alma di-v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’im’ru: “Amen.”
Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.
Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha, b’rich hu, [b’rich hu] l’eila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “Amen.”
Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “Amen.”
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “Amen.”