Yom Kippur War 40 years ago, on Judaism’s holiest day, Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר, Day of Atonement), while the Israeli people were fasting and praying for G-d’s forgiveness, Israel was attacked by surprise. On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria joined forces and attacked Israel from the north and the south: Egyptian armored forces crossed the cease-fire lines in Sinai and Syrian tanks crossed the cease-fire lines along the Golan Heights. The thin Israeli defense lines were swamped by massive Arab forces. Unlike other armies, most of the Israeli Defense Forces is made up of reserve forces (milu’im, מִלּוּאִים). These reservists were and still are the everyday citizens of Israel, who work in the public and private sectors. Many of these people were praying in their synagogues on Yom Kippur 1973 when they were suddenly called on to defend our country. After a few days of fierce fighting, Israeli forces managed to stop the invaders and found ways to infiltrate behind enemy lines. In a surprise move the Israeli forces, under the command of Ariel Sharon (אֲרִיאֵל שָׁרוֹן) crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt, effectively cutting off supply lines to the invading Egyptian army. Facing no opponents, the Israeli army stopped voluntarily, 101 km from Cairo. Up north, the Syrians met stubborn Israeli defenses led by individuals and small units which had slowed their advance. In one case, a single tank commander named Avigdor Kahalani managed to destroy over 200 Syrian tanks, changing tanks time-after-time, utilizing all their ammunition. In yet another case, a small tank unit called “Zvika Force” (כּוֹחַ צְבִיקָה) stopped a full Syrian division. The Israeli Defense Forces pushed the Syrian army back into Syria and stopped just 35 km short of Syria’s capital, Damascus. On October 22nd, the Golani Brigade and Sayeret Matkal commandos recaptured the most strategic point in the Golan Heights - Mount Hermon (הַר הַחֶרְמוֹן). In a famous broadcast, one of the soldiers described the mountain peak as “the eyes of the country” (הָעֵינַיִם שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה, ha’eynayim shel hamedina) – an expression that has become synonymous with the Hermon as a place that provides a scope deep into enemy territory. The proximity of Israeli forces to the capitals of Egypt and Syria and the siege on the Egyptian army forced the two superpowers of the world at that time, the USSR and the USA, to intervene, both urging an immediate cease-fire that took place on October 24, 1973. In spite of the fast recovery and the military victory, Israel was left wounded with the loss of 2,656 soldiers and deflated national pride. The fact that Israel was attacked by surprise caused citizens to begin questioning the ability of the country to protect and guard its citizens. After the war, the then Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir and Defense Minister, Moshe Dayan, assumed responsibility for the war and resigned. Every Yom Kippur, as we pray and ask for forgiveness, we remember the soldiers and heroes who valiantly fought for, defended and changed our nation. The words of Isaiah seem especially poignant when remembering this war, as they still ring true for events in the region to this day: וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים, וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת--לֹא-יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל-גּוֹי חֶרֶב, וְלֹא-יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה. (יְשַׁעְיָה ב, ד) and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4) גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה, Gmar Xatima Tova May you be inscribed in the Book of Life,
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 03:56:40 +0000
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