Yom Hazikaron

Tuesday, 28th April 2009

This week, on Tuesday, we commemorated the lives of Israel?s soldiers who died defending the State of Israel over the past 61 years. Immanuel College pupils commemorated their bravery in a moving assembly with guest speakers from Our Soldiers: Sgt Benjamin Anthony, aged 29, who served in the Israel Defence Forces and fought in Lebanon and Gaza, and the man he labelled his ?hero?, his Captain, Matan H., aged 27.

The ceremony commenced with the lighting of a memorial candle and was followed by the memorial prayers ?Yizkor? and ?El Male Rachamim?. The Choir, led by the mellifluous voice of Joel Fisher, 11PDN, sang ?Latet? by Chamutal Ben Ze?ev and a group of Year 9 pupils recited ?We Weep for You?, a poem by Aviv Gefen.

Sgt Benjamin Anthony explained how serving in the Israel Defence Forces makes Israeli boys grow into men overnight, a process that usually takes years in a normal society. His humbling and emotive speech gave all present, pupils and staff alike, an insight into the complex emotions felt by every soldier as he or she crosses the border into Gaza or Lebanon. He drove home the realities of war and described how soldiers came to terms with their fears, the fact that they or their comrades might not return alive, and the enormous responsibility of engaging in military action.

Shoshana Goldstein, in the LVI, said, ?I was proud to take part in today?s assembly and felt privileged to be joined by Sgt Benjamin Anthony, who inspired me with his remarkable stories. I recited the prayer for the missing soldiers; I hope that my prayer will be fulfilled and that the soldiers will be returned safely to their families in good health.?

Pinchas Listenberg (LVI) and Shoshana Goldstein concluded the proceedings with the prayer for the missing soldiers, with a media presentation reminding us of their now-familiar faces, Ron Arad and Gilad Shalit amongst others.

Notes

*names of the soldiers have been changed to protect their identity.

Photo Caption:

Captain Matan H. (speaking) and Sgt. Benjamin Anthony from 'Our Soldiers? organisation address Immanuel College pupils.