Blue and White: Shmuel Sackett

I have been living in Israel for 34 years and have always taken Yom HaZikaron very seriously. Unlike the fun, shopping, vacation, and barbecue day in America called “Memorial Day,” Yom HaZikaron is a very meaningful, somber, and emotional day. This year, however, there really is no more Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day) – because it has been replaced with Sh’nas HaZikaron (Remembrance Year).

The term “Jewish leadership” is tossed around quite frequently. We long for strong and proud leaders, but we can’t seem to find them. We question ourselves why this is so difficult and invent answers that aren’t true. Let me ask this question directly: Why is it so challenging to find people capable of leading the Jewish Nation? We build billion-dollar companies, have incredible scientific minds, and are geniuses in Torah wisdom, but we can’t find solid leaders?? Why is that so?? Here’s the answer: It’s because we’re looking in the wrong place!

It is becoming clearer by the day that we had two great rabbinic leaders who told us what to do – but we didn’t listen. These two giants were crystal clear in what the State of Israel needed to do to defeat the enemy, but their words fell on deaf ears. I am referring to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Across the Jewish world, thousands of shuls, yeshivos, and minyanim are saying the prayer for the IDF soldiers. Now – more than ever – this prayer is meaningful, significant, and very emotional. As I say these words each day, I see faces of beautiful young men who will never be returning home. Each morning, as I turn on my phone and look at the news, my heart breaks: a young father from Yitzhar, a medical student from Tel Aviv, a lone soldier from France, a new immigrant from New Jersey, a 53-year-old IDF commander from Petach Tikvah, and a 19-year-old new recruit from Eilat – from every city in Israel, every demographic group, every level of observance. A dear friend told me that these soldiers are today’s “korbanos” – unblemished sacrifices who have been offered on the altar.

I recently visited a kindergarten in northern Israel. The reason I traveled there was to see the “ganenet” (kindergarten teacher) in action, who happens to be my daughter Tova. For the past eight years, Tova has been a shining example for 32 kids each year (minimum), and my wife and I went to see her “home-away-from-home.” Knowing that I have lots of experience speaking before crowds, Tova asked me to teach them a few things about Yitzchak and Rivkah – the topic she had been focusing on for several weeks – and I happily agreed.

Instead of apologizing and feeling guilty about who we are, the Jewish people need to stand proud and begin educating the world. I would begin by pointing out how the founding of America was inspired and motivated by many of our Jewish leaders.