Thursday, May 31, 2012
A ceremony commemorating 85 Israelis from South Africa who fell in Israel's wars took place in the Lavi Forest in northern Israel last week, with KKL-JNF and the Zionist Federation of South Africa (Telfed).
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Standing by the memorial.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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A ceremony commemorating 85 Israelis from South Africa who fell in Israel's wars took place in the Lavi Forest in northern Israel last week, where the memorial site honoring their memory was rededicated by KKL-JNF and the Zionist Federation of South Africa (Telfed).
The memorial site was originally constructed in 1986 in the heart of a forest dedicated to the friendship between South Africa and Israel. The current project involved restoring the remarkable stone monument and memorial wall, with the updated names of the fallen.
“Behind every name on the memorial wall is the life story of someone who fell, and a family that grieves,” said Dave Bloom, Telfed Chairman, at the ceremony. “The connection with KKL-JNF in Israel and in South Africa allows us to salute our sons and daughters. It is in their merit that we are able to realize the Zionist dream. We have come here not only to remember their sacrifices but also to celebrate their lives.”
During the War of Independence, more than 800 machal volunteers came to Israel from South Africa in order to take part in the war effort, a large number in proportion to the community's size. There are about 20,000 people living in Israel today who emigrated from South Africa, and there are about 80,000 Jews still living in South Africa. “It is important for us to foster and preserve the connection between the members of our communities,” said Bloom. “We have a shared history and culture, and it is our hope that the younger generation will safeguard their roots and know their past.”
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Reciting El Maleh Rahamim.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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Glenn Elon adressees participants. Photo: Yoav Devir
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Gideon Katz lights memorial torch. Photo: Yoav Devir
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Sidney Shapira, Telfed's CEO, considers the cooperation between KKL-JNF in Israel and in South Africa to be very important. Many joint projects have already been undertaken, the largest of which is the construction of a reservoir in the Negev. “Every mission to Israel from South Africa visits this memorial site, a contribution of our community towards the establishment of the State of Israel, its development and defense,” said Shapira.
The memorial ceremony was emceed by KKL-JNF representative Avinoam Binder, who had been personally involved in the creation of the memorial more than twenty-five years ago. Binder spoke about how all the Jewish communities in South Africa took an interest in the project. In KKL-JNF jargon, said Binder, this area is called “the South African Galilee,” because of the many projects carried out in Israel by friends of KKL-JNF in South Africa, including forests, observation points, playgrounds for children and land improvement for several communities in the vicinity.
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Harold Kaufman recites Kadish.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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Roi Saudo lowers the flag.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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The memorial sculpture.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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Glenn Elon, father of Mark, of blessed memory, who fell in the course of duty in the artillery corps, spoke on behalf of the bereaved families. “The refurbishing of the memorial wall gives honor to our dearly beloved, who fell defending the homeland. Many parents are present, who have mourned and wept for their children, and we are all part of the family of the bereaved.” Roi Suadan, one of the machal veterans, lowered the flag to half mast.
Pearl Novack, mother of the late Asher, of blessed memory, and Tessia Gordin, mother of Yonit, of blessed memory, unveiled the memorial wall. Gideon Katz lit the memorial torch. His brother fell in the Yom Kippur War, while he was serving in the tank corps. Dror Klein recited the yizkor prayer, and Harold Kaufman, father of Ilan, of blessed memory, recited the kaddish. The IDF cantor, a young IDF soldier, moved everyone present when he sang the El maleh rahamim prayer.
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Pearl Novack & Tessia Gordin unveil memorial wall.
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The memorial wall. Photos: Yoav Devir
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At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone went over to the memorial wall and located the names of their dear departed ones. Above the names is a striking monument of stones, which was created by South African sculptor David Fine. The larges stones had been cut and then rejoined, perhaps to symbolize the connection between the fallen and their families who live on, who remember them and miss them.
From the memorial site, the families proceeded to the KKL-JNF tree planting center and planted 85 trees that were contributed by friends of KKL-JNF in South Africa to commemorate the fallen heroes. “Planting trees is the most natural way to commemorate,” said Gideon Katz, who was one of the initiators of refurbishing the memorial site and organizing the memorial ceremony. He said he was hoping to raise additional support for planting a forest of 8,500 trees—100 trees for each of the heroes.
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L-R: Dave Bloom, Sidney Shapira and Dror Klein plant a tree. Photo: Yoav Devir
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Group Photo.
Photo: Yoav Devir
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