We Remember

September 28, 2009 at 6:11 pm Leave a comment

For me, the most moving and meaningful part of the Yom Kippur liturgy is the martyology service – when we remember those from our community who died al Kiddish Hashem, for the sanctification of God’s name. There are so many.

A Chronicle (of modern history):

70 CE… the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple, killing thousands and sending the Jewish community into permanent exile
1096, 1146, 1189… the Crusades dessimate Jewish communities of Europe
1290… Jews are expelled from England
1306… Jews are expelled from France
1480… Jews are expelled from Spain
1597… Jews are expelled from Italy
1648… Chmielniski’s hordes massacre thousands of Polish Jews
1882… government instigated pogroms take place throughout Russia
1945… one-third of our people – six million Jews and five million other human beings – are slaughtered by the Nazis

Eternal God, as we recall all our departed and the blessings they bequeathed to us, we pray their souls be united with ours in the bond of life. May our faith, like theirs, be strong, our devotion to Torah unfaltering, our love for Zion constant, and our concern for Israel and humanity unceasing. For as we identify ourselves with the life, hopes and traditions of an eternal people, we ourselves take 0n an aspect of eternity. May we so live that when our years draw to a close, we too shall be remembered for good and for blessing. Amen.

from The Book of Remembrance, Congregation Beth-El Zedeck