IN MEMORIAM- FOR THE PEACEMAKERS
Memorial Day is to commemorate those who have fallen in war. Today we must honor the 10 or 15 peacemakers who died last night, in an effort to bring humanitarian relief to the besieged people in the Gaza strip.
The Israeli commandos who boarded their ships in order to enforce the Israeli blockade, say that they were attacked with clubs and knives, and fired in self-defense. The Palestinians are calling it a massacre- another 60-80 people were wounded.
War brings great suffering, and those who try to relieve it often are martyred. From Jesus, through Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., those who stand for peace and love have always run the risk of being killed. It is they who deserve our honor and respect, as we observe Memorial Day.
Our planet can no longer tolerate war. The ecological problems are overwhelming, and require cooperation of all nations if we are to solve them and survive with some form of culture. War prevents cooperation, and adds to the ecological burden through pollution- especially nuclear pollution. It adds immensely to global warming, wastes limited resources, and degrades us morally and spiritually.
The peacemakers among us are precious. The loss of 10 or 15 peacemakers on the flotilla headed to Gaza is incalculable. We can only hope that their martyrdom will inspire others to put aside their private pursuits and work for peace.
As a Jew, I mourn for my people, who have gone so far astray. This morning I said Kaddish for those who died on the relief ships:
Yis'ga'dal
v'yis'kadash sh'may ra'bbo, b'olmo dee'vro chir'usay v'yamlich
malchu'say, b'chayaychon uv'yomay'chon uv'chayay d'chol bais Yisroel,
ba'agolo u'viz'man koriv; v'imru Omein.
Y'hay
shmay rabbo m'vorach l'olam ul'olmay olmayo.
Yisborach
v'yishtabach v'yispoar v'yisromam v'yismasay, v'yishador v'yis'aleh
v'yisalal, shmay d'kudsho, brich hu, l'aylo min kl birchoso
v'sheeroso, tush'bechoso v'nechemoso, da,ameeran b'olmo; vimru
Omein.
Y'hay shlomo rabbo min
sh'mayo, v'chayim alaynu v'al kol Yisroel; v'imru Omein.
Oseh
sholom bimromov, hu ya'aseh sholom olaynu, v'al kol yisroel; vimru
Omein.
May the great Name
of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has
created according to his will. May his Kingship be established in
your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire
household of Israel (including
the Palestinians, descendants of Ephraim),
swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen.
May his great name be blessed, forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he- above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel (including the Palestinians, descendants of Ephraim); and say, Amen.
He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel (including the Palestinians, descendants of Ephraim); and say Amen.
Shalom, Salaam, Peace Carol Wolman
