59 and counting - reflections on Israel

The Israel "Holy Week" -- Yom HaShoah [Holocaust Remembrance Day] through Yom HaZikaron [Memorial Day for those killed in service to the country or as a victim of terrorism] and lastly Yom Ha'atzmaout [Independence Day] -- is completed so it's time to reflect upon how each day illuminates the current Israeli reality.

Yom HaShoah was established to be observed exactly a week before Yom HaZikaron. I assume that was done to reinforce the idea that there's a direct connection between the horrors of the Shoah [Holocaust] and the Nazi death camps of WW2 and the creation/establishment of the State of Israel. Unfortunately, it's connection is more conceptual than actual.

• This year it was reported that more than one-third of Holocaust survivors are living under conditions of dire poverty.
• The Israeli government has been accused of being slow and negligent in ensuring that the pre-war assets (bank accounts and property) of those who perished during the Shoah are returned to their surviving family members.
• With the exception of "official" acts -- the establishment of Yad Vashem, the active work in bringing over survivors from the Displaced Persons' camps, negotiating reparations from Germany and the pursuit of Nazi war criminals -- there was little effort expended to help make the survivors' lives easier. Frequently, survivors were 'encouraged' to establish a new identity (e.g. changing their name) in Israel. Their struggle wasn't recognized by allowing them to 'work through their issues'. It may have gone so far as to use the example of the Shoah as a paradigmatic example of "Galut" Jewish life and how the Israeli (no longer powerless militarily or subject to foreign governmental and cultural influences on their daily lives) was the new Jew. Hebrew not Yiddish was the "Jewish" language.

Yom HaZikaron is observed the day before Yom Ha'atzmaout, to reinforce and concretize the sacrifices made to maintain the State of Israel. While it's certainly true that there's a direct connection between the two days, it's often difficult for those families who lost an immediate family member to make the necessary shift from active mourning their family member (father, child, sibling) to joyously celebrating Independence Day.

• In last week's The Jerusalem Post weekend magazine it was reported that non-married [married = common-law or 'sanctified'] partners of killed soldiers are not recognized for IDF services -- survivor benefits and more problematically psychological assistance -- to assist them cope with their loss. Only direct family members are entitled to services. While a non-profit organization has been established (with some assistance from the IDF), the struggle of significant others remains a serious and not fully recognized issue. Even those who later married continue to carry the scars of the death of their earlier lover for many years.

What does all this mean? To me, it seems that the country has its own set of rigid expectations and that anything or anyone who falls outside the drawn lines is left to fend for themselves.