Chevra, today, Erev Yom Kippur is another one of those days when I
re-realize why I live here.
The other two special days are in the spring; Yom HaZikeron La Shoa v’
LaGvura and a week later Yom HaZikaron L’ Challai Tzhal, Memorial Day
for/of the Shoa (Holocaust) & Remembrance Day for/of Casualties of the
Israeli Army.
On these three days practically the whole country shares a deep
emotional experience. This is also reflected and stimulated by the
media. Especially the radio, most specifically Kol Yisrael, (The Voice
of Israel) the National Broadcasting System. All and I mean ALL the
music broadcast is of a melancholy sand and reflective nature. Pop or
classical, Israeli or foreign, European or Eastern there is a unity of
introspective audio experience.
I would like to share my experience today as I was taking care of some
last minute chores around town.
Although I usually am offended by the blathering of on the “religious”
stations (both here and in the US), today, on one of them the DJ Rabbi,
gave a drash on the meaning of Kol Nidre in a most beautiful and rich
Hebrew. He talked about Kol Nidre being about bringing back into the
community those who for some reason were expelled or not welcomed. The
religious by the secular, the secular by the religious; the European
Jews towards the Eastern Jews, etc, etc, etc.
To end the drash with a dramatic flourish, he chose a beautifully
orchestrated popular song by Avihou Medena, “Kol N’Dari”.
It became difficult to keep the car in the proper lane, to be conscious
of all the street conditions…
Tomorrow, in a phenomenon which is probably totally unique to the Jewish
state, not a car or a bus or truck will be on the roads and highways of
this small country. The national radio & Television will go to silence,
all the restaurants and malls and movie theaters will be dark.
On whatever level of belief the individual chooses to live here, they
will know that its a special, not ordinary day. This day is different,
like we as individuals are different, as we as communities/peoples and
nations are different and we are invited to celebrate and experience the
differences.
Of course, some people can not stand being different, being dictated to
by the society and will have chosen to travel abroad. Some do this
during Pesach so they can have a Pizza & a beer.
