EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – On Thursday night, April 26, 2012, Anna C. Little attended a
moving Israel Independence Day celebration and Israel Memorial Day commemoration at the
East Brunswick Jewish Center.
moving Israel Independence Day celebration and Israel Memorial Day commemoration at the
East Brunswick Jewish Center.
Yom HaZikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, commemorating Israeli soldiers and citizens who
have sacrificed their lives for the State of Israel, occurred on Tuesday night, April 24 through
Wednesday, April 25. Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the Israeli Independence Day, which occurred on
Wednesday night, April 25 through Thursday, April 26, celebrates the birth of the State of Israel
in 1948.
have sacrificed their lives for the State of Israel, occurred on Tuesday night, April 24 through
Wednesday, April 25. Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the Israeli Independence Day, which occurred on
Wednesday night, April 25 through Thursday, April 26, celebrates the birth of the State of Israel
in 1948.
The evening began with East Brunswick Jewish Center congregant, Yigal Oren, husband of the
event’s organizer, Deena Oren, describing his experiences and difficulties endured while trying
to emigrate from Iraq to Israel, along with his subsequent move to New Jersey. Another
congregant described how, as a child, his parents paid to smuggle him and his siblings out of
Iraq, through Iran, and then eventually to Israel in the 1950's. His parents were not able to leave
until years later due to restrictions imposed on the Jewish population from the Iraqi government.
event’s organizer, Deena Oren, describing his experiences and difficulties endured while trying
to emigrate from Iraq to Israel, along with his subsequent move to New Jersey. Another
congregant described how, as a child, his parents paid to smuggle him and his siblings out of
Iraq, through Iran, and then eventually to Israel in the 1950's. His parents were not able to leave
until years later due to restrictions imposed on the Jewish population from the Iraqi government.
Following Oren’s presentation, the evening proceeded with a Memorial Service, commemorating
those who sacrificed their lives in establishing and defending the State of Israel, along with those
who were victims of terror. The service included several Israeli songs, prayers in memory of
those who died, emotional accounts of soldiers killed while defending Israel and terrorist
victims, and the singing of the U.S. National Anthem.
those who sacrificed their lives in establishing and defending the State of Israel, along with those
who were victims of terror. The service included several Israeli songs, prayers in memory of
those who died, emotional accounts of soldiers killed while defending Israel and terrorist
victims, and the singing of the U.S. National Anthem.
“I was deeply moved to hear the heartbreaking story of a man who lost his fiancé in a terrorist
bus bombing in Jerusalem, while he was visiting the Oren family in New Jersey,” Little said.
Deena Oren described undergoing the anxiety of not knowing what happened, along with the
fear of her friend possibly learning about the death through the Internet. “Hearing how Oren’s
friend recovered from such loss and continued his life in a positive manner shows the stoic
courage that is so emblematic of how Israelis live their lives in the face of the dangers from
Palestinian terrorists and hostile neighbors.”
bus bombing in Jerusalem, while he was visiting the Oren family in New Jersey,” Little said.
Deena Oren described undergoing the anxiety of not knowing what happened, along with the
fear of her friend possibly learning about the death through the Internet. “Hearing how Oren’s
friend recovered from such loss and continued his life in a positive manner shows the stoic
courage that is so emblematic of how Israelis live their lives in the face of the dangers from
Palestinian terrorists and hostile neighbors.”
Following a heartwarming singing of Hatikvah, “The Hope,” the national anthem of Israel, the
evening concluded with a festive celebration and dinner in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The
dinner featured Israeli food catered by Maoz, an Israeli food chain with a location in New
Brunswick. The celebration also included contemporary Israeli music and dancing. Little said,
“It was wonderful watching the children play and adults dancing to celebrate life, freedom, and
the birth of the State of Israel.”
evening concluded with a festive celebration and dinner in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The
dinner featured Israeli food catered by Maoz, an Israeli food chain with a location in New
Brunswick. The celebration also included contemporary Israeli music and dancing. Little said,
“It was wonderful watching the children play and adults dancing to celebrate life, freedom, and
the birth of the State of Israel.”
A week earlier, Wednesday night, April 18, through Thursday, April 19, marked Yom Hashoah,
Holocaust Remembrance Day. “During the Holocaust, six million Jews, and eleven million souls
of all faiths and nationalities were murdered,” Little said. “Those who perished in the Holocaust
had no choice. But those who died to found and defend the State if Israel, which emerged from
the ashes of the Holocaust, freely chose to sacrifice their lives to establish and defend a country
of their own.”
Holocaust Remembrance Day. “During the Holocaust, six million Jews, and eleven million souls
of all faiths and nationalities were murdered,” Little said. “Those who perished in the Holocaust
had no choice. But those who died to found and defend the State if Israel, which emerged from
the ashes of the Holocaust, freely chose to sacrifice their lives to establish and defend a country
of their own.”
Little continued, “We salute and celebrate the modern State of Israel on the occasion of her 64th
birthday. We believe in supporting Israel, a beacon of democracy and economic opportunity for
the Middle East and the world. Israel remains our steadfast strategic ally, helping to fight
common enemies, and collaborating with the Unites States on military technology and
intelligence. We share a common religious heritage with Israel, the birth place of the Jewish and
Christian faiths. We also share in common the democratic values of freedom, the rule of law, and
the rights of the individual. As the United States of America continues to illumine the world as a
‘shining city on a hill,’ the State of Israel and its people are and always will be a ‘light unto the
nations.’”
birthday. We believe in supporting Israel, a beacon of democracy and economic opportunity for
the Middle East and the world. Israel remains our steadfast strategic ally, helping to fight
common enemies, and collaborating with the Unites States on military technology and
intelligence. We share a common religious heritage with Israel, the birth place of the Jewish and
Christian faiths. We also share in common the democratic values of freedom, the rule of law, and
the rights of the individual. As the United States of America continues to illumine the world as a
‘shining city on a hill,’ the State of Israel and its people are and always will be a ‘light unto the
nations.’”
For more information about Anna Little for Congress, or to volunteer, visit
www.annalittleforcongress.com or call 732-658-5461.
www.annalittleforcongress.com or call 732-658-5461.
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