ANZAC Day in Jerusalem
Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple addressed the ANZAC dawn service a the Australian War Cemetery at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem.
He told those attending including Australia’s ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths:
“On Anzac Day we’re always rather solemn and serious, even spiritual.
We use prayer words, even if praying doesn’t usually figure in our life.
Let‘s recall the Hassidic Master, Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev.
Levi Yitzhak always said his prayers, Shaharit, Minhah and Maariv.
One night, he looked at himself and said: “Levi Yitzhak, what are you doing? You said the same thing yesterday!”
Then he said, “I did? But this time I really mean it!”
So it is with us.
We asked God last year and every year to remember the fallen,
To help us improve the world: but this time we really mean it.
There have been too many wars: now there is a new one in Ukraine.
There has been too much pain, and there is now more than a year ago.
What a tragedy! At dawn, we can’t see the face of a brother or sister.
What a tragedy! O God, teach us how to turn enemies into friends.
O God, Your world is big enough: surely there is room for us all.
Help us to find each other, to uphold hope, not hate.
We said this last year, but this year we really mean it!”
Ambassador Paul Griffiths with members of the armed forces
Ambassador Griffiths tweeted: “Remembering soldiers’ sacrifice and legacy, especially during these challenging times.”
