Photocopied faces and biographies of victims of terrorist
attacks in Israel lined the border of Bruin Walk and Meyerhoff Park
on Tuesday as Bruins for Israel led a service for Israeli Memorial
Day.
The pictures gave names to civilian casualties of terrorism and
included tourists, Israelis and foreign workers.
An Israeli flag draped the Meyerhoff Park speaker’s podium
and U.S. flags were distributed as the memorial ceremony began with
the singing of the U.S. and Israeli national anthems.
The crowd stood silent, many wearing stickers that read
“remember the soldiers of Israel” in Hebrew, as candles
were lit to commemorate the losses in Israel’s wars ““
1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982 ““ as well as losses of U.S.
soldiers and victims of terror.
Students then read biographies of victims of terrorist
attacks.
Israeli Memorial Day is a time for people of all cultures and
ethnicities to remember fallen Israeli and U.S. soldiers and
victims of terrorist attacks, said Jennifer Dekel, a fourth-year
communication studies student and member of Bruins for Israel.
The second day of Israeli Independence Week, which marks the
55th anniversary of Israel’s statehood, stands as a somber
contrast to today’s celebration of independence, which will
take place at UCLA and in Westwood Village.
“This is a sad day, but with happiness following
immediately,” said Avishai Shraga, a fourth year computer
science student and vice-president of Bruins for Israel.
Many students pointed out the conflicting joy and grief that are
present in Israeli Independence Week.
“When the state of Israel came into being, it was very
joyous,” said Gabe Ross, president of UCLA Hillel. “But
at the same time, many Israelis lost their lives, as well as many
innocent Palestinians and others.”
Dekel also spoke of Israeli Memorial Day as a significant
opportunity for students and faculty to stand in unity.
“I’m Israeli, and every day I worry about my
family’s safety,” said Tamar Spieler, a third-year
history student.
“So I want to take this day to remember those we have lost
and stand unified with others who are doing the same,”
Spieler said.
The ceremony ended with a moment of silence for the victims of
the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, for U.S. soldiers, Israeli
soldiers and civilians of every nationality who have been killed by
terrorists.
As Bruins for Israel prepare for today’s celebration, the
Israeli Memorial Day service gave them a chance for reflection.
“It reminded us how we got here and how after 55 years we
can’t celebrate without remembering those who have fallen
before us,” Shraga said.