From Memorial to Remembrance, Day to Day,
Between Zachor and Yizkor
I wonder.
What do I remember? What will we recall?
The Midrash (Sifra, Behukotai) says:
“How, then, do I fulfill ‘Remember’? – That you utter it with your mouth.”
Repeat with your mouth – alter with your mouth.
“Alter”, make “other” – make an other.
I could remember by heart.
But it is also written: “Don’t forget”, and “Keep”,
Which are already mitzvot of the heart.
So remembrance must be from the mouth.
In full.
The mitzvah to wipe out the memory of Amalek
I perform through my mouth –
Recalling what Amaleq did.
And what Egypt did? By telling, Haggadah.
To son and daughter.
With the mouth. In full.
On Yom Hashoah. Holocaust
Remembrance. In living rooms,
In houses throughout Israel people gather
At home. Gathering. Community.
To remember. To repeat.
From one mouth to an other.
Remember the Shabbat Day. With words.
Over wine.
At home. Family.
On Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Day of
Remembering, I remember by heart. Still.
Perhaps when we repeat,
From one mouth to an other,
We will reach the Day
Of Independence
