Zikaron

Value: Zikaron

The three Hebrew letters  form a root that has to do with memory: remembering. Jews are big on remembering. Just about every Jewish holiday tells the story of some major past event. We light a candle and say Kaddish on the anniversary of someone’s death. And on the three festivals and at Yom Kippur we say Yizkor (remembering prayers) for those who have died. Yom ha-Zikaron is the day before Yom ha-Aztmaut, Israeli Independence Day. The fourth of Iyyar is a day devoted to remembering soldiers killed defending the state of Israel. Many Israelis go to the cemetery. At the end of the day, after two minutes of silence, sirens are sounded. A new holiday is begun. It is a day of parades and dancing in the street. It is the celebration of the State of Israel. Zikaron also has to do with the Holocaust. Yom ha-Shoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is observed as a day of commemoration of the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. In Israel it is a national memorial day. In other counties it is observed by Jews in synagogues and communities. The Hebrew word yad (hand) also means “memorial”. The national Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Israel is called Yad Vashem because Isaiah 56:5 says: “ And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (Yad va-Shem) that shall not be cut off.”

Zikaron Text: Kiddush

This is the text of the Erev Shabbat (Friday night) Kiddush. It teaches us a big lesson about zikaron.

Blessed be You, the Eternal our God, Ruler-of-the-Cosmos, the One-Who-creates the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are You, the Eternal our God, Ruler-of-the-Cosmos,

The One-Who-made-us-holy through the mitzvot and One-Who-is-pleased with us and the One-Who-gave us the holy Shabbat with love and satisfaction as a zikaron (remembrance) of the work of creation.

Because this is a day of Halellujah

A holy time

Zekher (remembering) the exodus from Egypt.

Because you chose us and separated us from other peoples and intentionally separated Shabbat with love as our inheritance,

Blessed be You, Eternal, the One-Who-makes Shabbat holy.

1. The Kiddush teaches us that Shabbat is about remembering two moments in history. What are they? 2. Almost every Jewish holiday remembers a moment in history. What moment does each of these holidays remember? a. Passover b. Shavuot c. Sukkot d. Hanukkah e. Purim