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Dear veterans, heroes of the war against Nazi Germany,
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should have been here during this ceremony. Arik would probably have rightfully called you “my fellow warriors”, and saluted you as brothers in arms. For, like you, Arik has known many a battle and, like many of you, shed his blood on the battlefields in courageous struggles against our people’s enemies – the enemies of the Jewish people. Right here, on the other side of the hill, Arik fought during the War of Independence, drenched in his blood, determined to continue and never give up, until who would later be Brig. Gen. Asher Levi - who is here with us today – rescued him for the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Regrettably, Arik is not here with us today, but I am certain that all of you here, veterans of battles and veteran warriors, all join me in saluting Israel’s hero, Arik Sharon, and pray for his well-being and speedy recovery.
As one who shoulders the heavy burden of undertaking Arik Sharon’s difficult mission, I too would like to salute you and thank you for your deeds. As one who was Mayor of Jerusalem for many years, I used to accompany you on this day on the streets of Jerusalem, welcome you at the city square and embrace you to my heart, you the veterans, the veteran soldiers. I believe that they are a source of inspiration and pride to us all. I am pleased that as Vice Prime Minister, I can continue this tradition with which we began in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.
Here with us today are also children of the “Gedolim MeHahaim” [Larger than Life] Organization, who are bravely fighting cancer. I believe that the Yad Lashirion Organization did a wonderful thing in bringing together on Tu B’Shvat two groups of people who, each in its own manner and struggle, symbolizes bravery and courage: on the one hand, the “Gedolim MeHahaim” children, who are daily courageously fighting a terrible illness and do as much as they can to continue to lead a normal life despite the distress, suffering and pain which have become an inseparable part of their lives. And on the other hand you, the veterans, who exemplified bravery in the war against Nazi Germany.
The victory over Nazi Germany was much more than just a military victory. It was the victory of the human spirit and love of man, the victory of liberty over oppression and tyranny, and over hatred and racism in their most bestial and dangerous form.
Those of you who fought in the Red Army may know the line from the popular song, which sounds more or less as follows: “This is a tearful celebration” – a line which aptly expresses how painful the victory over Nazi Germany was especially for the Jewish people, of whom 6 million were murdered at the hands of the Nazi oppressor.
A million-and-a-half Jewish soldiers fought against the Nazis and their allies. There is no other nation in the world that sacrificed such a high percentage of its sons and daughters in the war against Hitlerism.
Approximately a quarter of a million Jewish soldiers fell in the war. Over 200,000 medals and awards for bravery were presented to Jewish soldiers – living and dead. Their joining in battle, in all armies, symbolized more than anything the common fate of the Jewish soldiers with their fellow Jews, despite their dispersal in the four corners of the earth.
Only three years after the end of the Second World War, Jewish fighters, victors over Nazi Germany, mobilized in the fateful hour of the War of Independence. Many of them died on the battlefields of Latrun. If there is a place which symbolizes the co-joining of the Jewish people, Holocaust survivors, survivors of the Second World War, the brave fighters who came from there – this is the place, Latrun, where so many of them fell in the bloodiest battle, a battle of the courageous, which was so fateful for the future of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. In this battle here, of the Second World War veterans, the soldiers contributed to the establishment and strengthening the security of the State of Israel.
In recent years, we saw an additional contribution of many Second World War veterans who came to Israel from the Soviet Union, and have since enriched our lives in many fields, and are a source of faith and pride.
Here, in this place, a museum will be established in commemoration of the Jewish soldiers who fought in the Second World War. It will serve to remind future generations of your exemplary lives, of limitless bravery, dedication and personal sacrifice in fighting for a just cause. I commend you, David Azrieli, on your willingness, together with the Government of Israel, to contribute to the establishment of this museum of Jewish heroism which will forever be a part of our people’s heritage. And I also commend Arik Sharon who lent a hand and urged the establishment of this museum, and saw to it that in addition to personal contributions, budgetary resources will also be allocated for its establishment and construction.
Today we celebrate Tu B’Shvat. In a few days, the Red Army veterans will celebrate the Red Army Holiday. There is something symbolic and moving in the fact that many of them are here with us today, on the day which most prominently marks the return of the Jewish people to its land – neither with slogans nor with declarations, but with the human, tangible and deepest touch possible – the touch with which we plant in the Land and build on the Land.
I congratulate the Red Army veterans on the occasion of the Red Army Holiday. I wish a happy Tu B’Shvat to the heroes and heroines – young and old – who are here today.
I wish you all good health. I hope that the veterans who are here today will live to see the saplings which were planted here today grow into large trees, in the shade of which the children from the “Gedolim MeHahaim” Organization will learn the stories of bravery during the Second World War, and will add to these stories the heroism of the brave younger generations who are fighting for this country, for its construction and defense.
On behalf of the Government and myself, I would like to tell you all, to the veteran fighters and the young fighters: we love you, we are proud of you. Thank you very much.
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