Day Begins with Remembrance of War Dead, Ends with Festivities Celebrating 27th Anniversary

A day that began this morning with sorrowful remembrance of the nation’s war dead was transformed this evening into a national festival celebrating the 27th anniversary of Israel’s independence. The abrupt change of mood reflected the catharsis that Israelis undergo annually–the Jewish tradition of tempering sadness with joy maintained by having Memorial Day precede and merge with Yom Haatzmaut.

Officially, Memorial Day began at sundown yesterday. All cafes and places of entertainment were closed when air raid sirens sounded their brief dirge for the soldiers and civilian victims of Israel’s four wars and the violent episodes between them. President Ephraim Katzir kindled a memorial torch at the Western Wall where bereaved families assembled.

Chief of Staff Gen. Mordechai Gur told grieving parents, wives and children that Israel had not “wasted” the past year, that it was stronger now in weapons and spirit than ever and prepared to “face the political and military tests to which we may be put in the coming year.” Chief Army Chaplain Mordechai Firon recited a memorial prayer he composed for the occasion and the widow of a fallen soldier left a memorial lamp. Similar ceremonies were conducted in towns and villages all over Israel.

SERVICES HELD THROUGHOUT COUNTRY

The sirens sounded again at 11 this morning, signaling two minutes of silence and a halt to all activities. Traffic came to a standstill on city streets and on highways all over the country. Pedestrians stopped in their tracks and stood silent with bowed heads. Memorial services were held at military cemeteries. Premier Yitzhak Rabin attended the ceremony on Mt. Herzl overlooking Jerusalem. He eulogized the fallen youth of Israel “who did not look forward to military conquests but knew how to hit the enemy deep in its territory.”

In another ceremony at the military cemetery in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, just outside Jerusalem, Defense Minister Shimon Peres said: “Our people has never had what other people had–large territories, abundant water and natural resources and a continuous period of peace. However, our people has a strong conviction, an historical continuity and a marvelous youth, We are a people which believes in man. The Jew is a believing soul.”

Memorial services were also held at industrial plants and on university campuses, Katzir reviewed an honor guard for the war dead in downtown Jerusalem.

STREETS SWARM WITH PEOPLE

The sirens sounded again at sundown today and the Independence Day festivities commenced. Cafes and theaters reopened. Israelis swarmed into the streets for music, singing and dancing. The customary fireworks display was missing in Jerusalem tonight because of the high price of imported fire-works, Other municipalities had skyrockets and Roman candles left over from last year, however, and a few small localities received fire-works supplies from the Independence Day Committee which otherwise kept a tight rein on its budget.

Independence Day was ushered in officially when 12 citizens, selected for their outstanding service to the nation during the past year, lighted 12 beacons on Mt. Herzl, symbolizing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. There will be no massive military parades or displays of armed might tomorrow. Instead of converging on the cities for such events as in the past years, Israelis have been encouraged to use their holiday tomorrow for hikes and picnics in the countryside. Public transportation will be operating at peak capacity and thousands of private vehicles are expected on the roads.

Cultural events are expected to attract thousands. Arthur Rubinstein, the pianist, will perform a solo concert with the Jerusalem Broadcasting Authority Symphony Orchestra. The event was initiated by Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem to benefit musical education programs of the Jerusalem Foundation. The programs enable every student at Jerusalem schools to attend free musical events during the year.

POLITICAL SITUATION NOT FORGOTTEN

The political situation could not be entirely forgotten on Independence Day. Some Arab leaders were expected to attend the traditional Presidential reception and other formal events. But the mayors of Arab towns near Jerusalem indicated today that they would not accept Kollek’s invitation to the Independence Day reception he holds annually at the Tower of David at the entrance to the old walled city. The mayors of Bethlehem and Beit Jallah, who had attended these receptions in past years as a “personal gesture” toward Kollek, said they wouldn’t be there this year.

Arab clergymen who usually attend the Kollek reception are not expected to show up tomorrow, Since the trial and conviction of Greek Catholic Archbishop Hillarion Capucci, relations have cooled between the clergy and the Israeli Establishment.

The three top leaders of the Jewish Agency also will not be present at Independence Day festivities in Israel–they are all visiting Jewish communities abroad. Pinhas Sapir, chairman of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Executives will be in Australia tomorrow, part of a month-long tour that will take him to Iran and later to the U.S. Jewish Agency Treasurer Leon Dulzin is in South Africa at the invitation of the local Zionist Federation. Moshe Rivlin, director general of the Jewish Agency, is accompanying Foreign Minister Yigal Allon on his American tour on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal.