Israelis who are used to queuing up for everything from bus tickets to a concert, stood in long, mostly silent lines today outside post offices all over the country waiting to receive a booklet, just published, that contains the names of the more than 2500 Israeli soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in the Yom Kippur War. It is called “The Book of the Dead”–Knesset Speaker Israel Yesheyahu referred to it yesterday as “the book of pain, heroism and dedication”–and is the first complete list of Israel’s war dead.
Although the number of casualties was published some time ago, the dimensions of the tragedy suffered by so many Israeli families was brought home more forcefully by the publication of the actual names. Grown-ups and school children wept openly as they approached tables draped in black to be handed the booklets by members of the Association of Bereaved Parents.
Within one hour the booklets were all distributed and tens of thousands were still lining up to get the booklet. It was later announced that the booklet was now printed in another edition and the distribution will resume Friday. “We shall continue to print the booklet until everyone who would like to have one will get it,” a senior army officer said tonight.
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