The Blogs: The Meaning of This Year - and 67 Years | Yissachar Ruas

Initially, this was written by my wife. I wrote my own version in English with slight extra in-depth for my foreign friends so they may have a better understanding of what it means to be a Jew living in Israel, since you will never hear this in “mainstream” media:

“Memorial Day in Israel is a day we ALL remember together, since we are reminded throughout the year individually, each person and those he or she remembers.

Years ago during my 3 year stint in the Military, we were called to action after a Sbarro Coffee Shop was bombed leaving scores dead, including 5 members of the large Schijveschuurder family, one of whom went to school with me, both parents were children of Holocaust survivors. They were murdered along with 3 of their younger children, leaving their other children orphans

Time usually numbs the memory muscle, but this year our memories are vivid, since the pain is fresh.

Red Alerts, sirens, rocket barrage fire and shelters were our “routine” this year.

Men left their wives, parents, brothers, sisters, and children, called up to defend their families from indiscriminate terror fired out of Gaza and orchestrated in Tehran.

Many left, too many did not return, many more came back with part of them missing, left behind to never be the same.

Some like Hadar Goldin and Shaul Oron vever came back at all – their bodies kidnapped for the purpose of cadaver ransom all to familiar a tactic used by barbarians.

In the attack that Goldin went missing his commander Benaya Sarel and Liel Gideoni were killed.

Just this year,

Teenagers kidnapped and murdered in cold blood on their way from school

Men slaughtered in their place of worship by Arab butchers with cleavers

Bus stops which were turned into “bumper car” terror attacks

Every person murdered has a name
He had a family, friends, AND a NATION.
We remember them all, we remember to say thank you.

Those that have lost know that the pain never subsides, never ever.
They also know that their Family member’s death was for a purpose – us being able to continue living.

In Israel we KNOW, that every soldier that died had a purpose, we know WHY he died, he gave his life so that millions of others can continue living safely.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

During this year’s Operation “Protective Edge”, my brother, 4 brothers in law and I were all called up to defend our country.

On September 11th, having just gotten back from reserve duty, our 5th child was born.

The nurse that helped us bring life to the world, the name written on her badge “Schijveschuurder”,

8 days later we named our son –

“David Benaya”

That sums up what it means to be a Jew living in Israel – we celebrate life, and always remember those who gave theirs, so we have one to celebrate.”

Yad Lebanim Ceremony 21/04/15 © Yissachar Ruas