Remember—Yizkor

May 28, 2013

by: Rebecca J. Brimmer, International President and CEO

The Importance of Remembering

It is very clear that remembering is important to God. Over and over in the Scriptures we see this emphasized.

• In the Song of Moses we find these words, “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you” (Deut. 32:7).
• When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River they were told to set up 12 stones—why? “These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever” (Josh. 4:7).
• The most famous scriptural commandment for both Jews and Christians is found in Deuteronomy and quoted by Jesus (Yeshua) in Mark 12:29–30. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:4–8).

This most important commandment, to know the one true God and to love Him, is immediately followed by a command to keep (remember) these words in your heart; to teach them to your children; to talk about them all the time; and to create physical reminders of God in day-to-day life. Because of the command to write the words on the doorposts, today in Israel small boxes called mezuzot are attached to the right-hand door frame. Each box contains Scripture passages, including Deuteronomy 6:4–8. It is an effort to always remember this injunction to acknowledge the one true God and to remember to love Him. When Jewish people walk through a doorway, they often lightly kiss their fingers before reverently touching the mezuzah.

God’s People Choose to Remember

In Israel we see many ways in which the Jewish people choose to remember.
“Like a cloud sailing in the blue of the sky above, Judaism winds its way through history, refreshed by the memories of its hoary and holy past as by a soft breeze. To this very day, the pious Jew blesses his children with the words, ‘The Lord make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh’” (Sombart, Jews and Modern Capitalism). Throughout the year, the Jewish people remember what God has done through their holidays which are actually holy days prescribed in the Bible! Recently we celebrated Passover, in which the story of the Exodus from Egypt is told in great detail. Imagine, 95% of the Jewish–Israeli public gathered around dinner tables and had a special Seder (Passover ritual meal) in which they remembered the mighty works of God when He delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

Post-biblical historical dates are also commemorated. Let me quickly mention three of these days.

Tisha b’Av (date on the Jewish calendar which usually falls in July) is the day when both of the Temples were destroyed, as well as other tragic events which occurred on this same day. This is a day of fasting and praying.

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) when we remember the six million Jewish people slaughtered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. At 10 am sirens are blown all over the country and everyone stops in their tracks and stands still in silent honor to the memory of their murdered family members.

Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) is commemorated the day before Israel’s Independence Day. On this day, all who made the ultimate sacrifice in Israel’s wars or in terror attacks are remembered. Over 25,000 people are remembered each year in ceremonies in every town and village across Israel.

Streets all over Israel are named for heroes, biblical characters, presidents, and statesmen as the nation takes seriously the whole idea of remembering. Towns have names like Mazkeret Batya (in the memory of Batya) or Zichron Yaakov (the remembrance of Yaakov). Museums tell of Israel’s history, both ancient and modern.

Philip Birnbaum in his book, Encyclopedia of Jewish Concepts, says, “thus we are told to think back on the days of old, to reflect on the years of each generation.” He goes on to talk about many ways in which the Temple is remembered in Judaism including grooms breaking a glass during their wedding ceremony. At the close of his short essay he says, “It has been remarked that a scattered people, which remembers its past and connects it with the present, will undoubtedly have a future as a people and perhaps even a more glorious life than the one in the past.”

We can all learn from this. Let’s make remembrance of God and His mighty deeds a constant part of our lives in our words, deeds, holidays, and prayers.