The Children Who Died for Me

After spending four days eating and drinking in Paris, we ended our summer vacation by spending two days in the Normandy region, visiting sites related to the American military invasion. 


It was on June 6th of 1944 when 73,000 American troops invaded Nazi-controlled France– storming four miles of beach and effectively ending the war in Europe. The distance between the beach and the short hills where Nazi machine gunners awaited is short — only hundreds of feet. These young people came ashore to face death. 


After visiting Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha Beach and getting a sense of the carnage that took place there, we went to the American Cemetery where we walked amongst the grave-stones that are molded into crosses and stars-of-David and reflect the faith of the fallen.     


There are 9,387 graves in the American cemetery at Normandy. 9,387 graves of soldiers who lost their lives on D-Day or sometime during the ensuing operations. The average age of those young soldiers was 24 with some being only 18 and a few only 16. These were children who died on that beach and who are now buried in France. Children who had their entire lives ahead of them and whose bodies now lie thousands of miles from home.


Here I was on a family vacation – having spent four days in Paris eating, drinking, walking streets lined with cafés and experiencing joy. And now, we walked amongst the graves of children who gave their lives for us.  


I have to be honest — a wave of guilt ran over me – how could I be experiencing such joy amidst such tragic death? The very idea that this was a ‘vacation’ felt a bit uncomfortable.


This week, we are reading from Parashat Ki Tavo – a portion in which the Israelites are literally commanded to be joyful. Our text reminds us that joy is not some luxury only to be taken part of when we can afford to – joy is an imperative – we are obligated to be joyful in our lives.


Our tradition recognizes joy as the social bonds we have with one another – spending time with our families and the people we love – being there for them and loving them.


The truth is that the war that these young people fought was to protect our very ability to be find real and meaningful joy. They sacrificed their young lives so that ours could be free. They sacrificed their young lives so that generations after them could fulfill the obligation to live with meaning.  


It is the season of Elul – a time of introspection but also a time of joy – a time in which we look back at our past and recognize the potential of our future. 


This year, let us be inspired by those who gave their everything so that we can have ours. 


Wishing you a Shabbat of meaning and hope!!
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