Shavua Tov
As we approach this meaningful moment on our communal calendar, I write to you with both a heavy heart and a deep sense of hope.
On Monday evening, we will observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, a sacred time when we remember and honor the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and the victims of terrorism. It is a day rooted in אחדות של זיכרון, a unity of remembrance, where the entire Jewish people pauses to bear witness to sacrifice and loss.
Our tradition commands us, “זָכוֹר”, Remember. This imperative is not passive; it asks us to actively carry memory forward, to ensure that those who gave their lives are never forgotten. Memory, in Jewish life, is a sacred act of continuity and responsibility.
As a community, we will gather for a meaningful ceremony prepared by the Weintraub Israel Center, a partnership between JPSA and The J, on Monday evening at the J. Together, we will reflect, mourn, and hold one another in this collective moment.
The melodies of our people often give voice to what words alone cannot. In Vehi She’amda, we are reminded: “In every generation, there are those who rise up to destroy us.” Yet embedded within that same song is an enduring truth that we persist, that we endure, that we are still here. And even in the shadow of grief, we carry forward the quiet but powerful refrain of Yehi Tovthe hope, the belief, that one day, everything will be good.
And then, as it has for generations, our calendar turns.
From the depths of sorrow, we rise guided by the words of the Psalmist:
“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Immediately following Yom HaZikaron, we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, the 78th birthday of the State of Israel. It is a transition that captures something essential about the Jewish spirit: the ability to hold grief and joy, memory and hope, side by side.
Our community will come together to celebrate on Sunday, April 26, with what promises to be an incredible event organized by the Weintraub Israel Center. This celebration is not just about marking a date it is about affirming life, resilience, and the miracle of Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland.
David Ben-Gurion once said, “In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” The existence and flourishing of the State of Israel is one such miracle born out of tragedy, sustained through challenge, and strengthened by the unwavering spirit of its people.
Even in these complex and often challenging times, I remain filled with hope for the future. As a community, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to lean in and bring to life the guiding principles of the Z3 movement: Unity, Not Uniformity; Engaging as Equal Partners; and Welcoming a Diversity of Voices. These values are not abstract they are the foundation upon which a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient Jewish future is built.
As we move from remembrance to celebration, from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut, may we carry both the weight of our history and the light of our hope. May we continue to sing the songs of our people from sorrow to joy and may we never lose sight of the dream expressed in Hatikvah, the enduring hope of the Jewish people.
With gratitude for all you do for our community, and with hope for the days ahead,
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
