Yom Ha’atzmaut: Mazkir’s Speech
Chief
Rabbi Lord Sacks, Your Excellency, Rabbi Mirvis, distinguished guests,
Rabbanim, Chaverim.
As
we leave Yom Hazikaron, a day where we remember those who gave their lives for
the State of Israel, we may feel disheartened that our sacrifices are too great
and our problems are insurmountable. Israel is still under attack, both
physically and in the media, and more questions than ever before are being
asked about its legitimacy, its very right to be. It is at times like this that
people look to Bnei Akiva, full of young, energised and passionate people, to
be at the forefront of this modern day battle. And the beautiful tefilla we
have just been part of is the perfect response. We stand, united, unequivocally
declaring our thanks to God for giving us the first Jewish State in 2000 years.
It
is not strange to see young people at the forefront of the battle to defend
Israel. The State of Israel is a country built by youth. Driven by ideology,
passion and a sense of destiny, the achievements of young Zionists in the last
100 years have transformed a barren land into the modern, flowering and
successful country we know and love today. Much of this work was done by
pioneers of Bnei Akiva from this country. You only have to visit Kibbutz Lavi
in the North of Israel to see the immense contribution made by young British
Jews to Israel through the framework of Bnei Akiva.
However,
as time passes, the characters who built the State of Israel and who made such
contributions of note become immortalised in history as great men and women,
whose feats are regarded as almost super-human. Names such as Esther
Cailingold, Yehuda Avner and Arieh Handler are part of folklore and legend in
our circles. How can we inspire the next generation to follow in their
footsteps, that they too can make their mark in Jewish history? How can we show
our Chanichim that they must choose to be activists, playing their part in
Israel’s future? The
answer is found in Megillat Esther, a story which happened many centuries ago,
but speaks to us as if it was today.
After
Haman sent his decree to exterminate the Jewish people, Mordechai immediately
went into mourning, yet Queen Esther was puzzled at his actions. After sending
him normal clothes and inquiring why he was acting strangely, Mordechai
implores her to ask the King to save the Jewish people. Esther refuses, saying
that she is unlikely to succeed and would be put to death. At this point
Mordechai makes the following remarkable argument to Esther: “If you should
remain silent at a time like this, deliverance and salvation will come from
another place, and you and your father’s
house shall perish – and who knows if it was for a time like this that you
became royalty”. Mordechai is not arguing with Esther’s fear of death, rather he is taking
a step out of the situation and surveying it from an external perspective, that
of history itself. Mordechai says ‘you have a chance to make your mark in
history. If you don’t
do it, someone else will. But you will miss your opportunity to be part of the
Jewish story of survival, and worse still, you will have spurned the chance
given to you by God’.
Mordechai’s message calls to us today loud and
clear. Don’t wait for
someone else to come along and do the job. Jewish history is not a closed book
– there are many chapters waiting to be written. We can make history – not
because we want the reward, but rather because we are repaying God’s trust in us, putting us in this
position.
There
was no greater example of this in recent times than the late Marc Weinberg,
Zichrono Livracha. In the months since his tragic and untimely passing, the
extent of Marc’s legacy to
the community and to the State of Israel is now there for all to see. As
Mazkir, he strengthened Bnei Akiva’s
ideological focus, added purpose and professionalism to its work and above all,
he was an inspirational role model and educator to so many. It is to him that
we can attribute the modern success stories of the London School of Jewish
Studies and Alei Tzion, two bastions of Modern Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism
that we as Bnei Akiva are proud to work with. And after such an illustrious
contribution to Anglo-Jewry, Marc not only made Aliyah, realising Bnei Akiva’s
ultimate goal, but took families with him, creating a new neighbourhood in
Modiin.
Marc
was not super-human. He grew up like many of us did. He went to machane and
received an excellent Jewish upbringing. His amazing feats were due to his
decision to fully live the Bnei Akiva vision. He never stopped learning Torah;
he never stopped giving to others; he never stopped finding a new project to
work on – and he never stopped believing in the Religious Zionist dream. His
vision of bringing Bnei Akiva into the modern era is continually being
realised, with Yediot, the time-honoured magazine of Bnei Akiva, becoming a
regular YouTube podcast. Our high-quality educational publications are reaching
new audiences and putting our chinuch on a pedestal within the community. There
is a new camp for Chanichim aged 7-10, with Machane Cadur Regel, football day camp,
taking place this summer. Our challenge as Bnei Akiva Chaverim in 5771 is to
emulate Marc’s, and many
other similar peoples’, achievements and to take them forward – because we have
the talents to do so.
We
are proud that 250 Madrichim have applied to give three weeks of their summer
to volunteer on Summer Machane. They willingly give their time to educate the
next generation and to pass on the great experiences and the knowledge they
received as Chanichim. This unbroken chain of leadership is what keeps Bnei
Akiva strong, ensuring that machane remains the ultimate religious, educational
and social experience available today.
We
are proud of our Bogrim, students, who give to the movement in so many ways,
from running activities in schools to leading sviva on a weekly basis. There is
no better place to be than the Bayit on a Monday night, where you will see
Bogrim and teenagers taking time out of their week to learn Torah in a
welcoming and fun environment.
We
are proud, despite the current difficult economic climate, to have 50 Chanichim
on Hachshara, our year-long programmes in Israel, with a further 32 going next
year. At a time where the concept of a gap year is being questioned more than
ever before, Bnei Akiva is standing tall and sending a clear message to the
community that our connection to Israel is unshakeable, our thirst for Jewish
learning cannot be satisfied in the UK and our commitment to our children’s religious education is paramount.
Bnei Akiva’s Hachshara
programmes produce the great educators, role models and leaders that the
community so desperately needs. Shevet Dvir – we salute you and we look to you
as the future leaders of the movement.
To
be a chaver of Bnei Akiva is to believe in being the best that we can be. We
are not interested in second best. What differentiates Bnei Akiva from others
is the fact that no matter what background you come from or how many camps you
have been on, our acceptance of an ideology that believes in an ultimate goal
of Am Yisrael living in Eretz Yisrael according to the Torah of Yisrael pushes
us to continually improve and look forward rather than back.
So,
let us take our inspiration from Rabbi Akiva, who witnessed the destruction of
the Temple yet stood on its ruins and proudly declared that he could only now
envision the prophecy of its rebuilding.
Let
us take our inspiration from Yechiel Eliash, who said that a religious youth
movement was not a contradiction in terms, and went on to found Bnei Akiva.
Let
us take our inspiration from Arieh Handler, who not only saved hundreds of
Jewish youngsters from Nazi Europe but gave them the tools to go to Israel and
work the land as religious pioneers.
Let
us take our inspiration from Marc Weinberg, who said that it is not enough to
rest on our laurels but that we should always be looking to make a difference
and to inject passion and energy into everything we do.
Let
us take inspiration from our Madrichim, at sviva or machane, who not only
taught us the ideals we live by, but showed us how to live them.
Above
all, let us take inspiration from ourselves and utilise the talents and
abilities we have been blessed with, to make ourselves, our movement, our
community and our country be the best it can be.
Today,
on Yom Ha’atzmaut we
thank God for the miracles 63 years ago that opened a new chapter in Jewish
history, and allowed us to be the words and sentences which are imprinted in
this evolving book. Tomorrow, we must resolve to take the inspiration from
those that came before us, and continue the hard work of taking the people of
Israel and the State of Israel, forward. Kadimah Bnei Akiva.
Arieh Handler Tribute Speech
Delivered at the
Arieh Handler Tribute Evening in St. John’s Wood Synagogue on Sunday 19th
June 2011/17th Sivan 5771 in my capacity as Mazkir of Bnei Akiva.
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, Dayan
Binstock, distinguished guests, Rabbanim, Chaverim.
Tonight we have heard stories,
memories and reflections on the great life of Arieh Handler. We have learned about
his remarkable achievements – in Anglo-Jewry, European Jewry, World Jewry and
the State of Israel. Arieh will go down in the annals of history on the same
pages as the great Zionist leaders of the Twentieth Century. Yet at the heart
of these feats and accomplishments lies the legacy he bestowed on the Bnei
Akiva youth movement, supported by Bachad, Friends of Bnei Akiva.
From the very start, Arieh was the
major influence on these two movements. It was he who brought over young
teenagers from Bachad in Germany and Poland to the UK, escaping Nazi Germany. Arieh
then placed them in Hachshara centres all over Great Britain, the first being
Gwrych Castle in North Wales and the last remaining being Thaxted in Essex.
These were safe havens for the youngsters, where they could live amongst
contemporaries and learn Torah, Ivrit and practical agricultural skills.
Hachshara means preparation, and every aspect of their lives in the centres was
preparation for Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and a life of pioneering in order to
build up the Land of Israel.
Arieh put every effort into running
the Hachsharot and caring for the Chaverim within them. He would travel up and
down the country visiting them and inspiring the youngsters with his passion for
Eretz Yisrael and their role within it. Indeed, at the first ever gathering of
Bnei Akiva in 1940, called the Pegishah, Arieh gave a three hour speech on this
subject – and when he spoke, people listened. Arieh was always proud that over 5000
Bnei Akiva Chaverim have since made Aliyah and contributed to Medinat Yisrael.
This incredible statistic can be attributed to Arieh’s success in actualising
his vision of Hachshara, turning remote places in the UK into breeding grounds
for the next leaders of Am Yisrael of the future.
It is not an exaggeration to say
these actions changed the face of Anglo Jewry forever. In running summer and
winter camps in remote places around the UK, Bnei Akiva have found the magic
formula to transform young people’s lives into ones full of ideology, vision
and purpose. In the 1960s, Hachshara moved from the UK to Israel and became
Bnei Akiva’s gap year programme, which gives young Chaverim the knowledge,
skills and desire to learn Torah, practice Avodah and return as mature young
adults, capable of leading the movement and making a huge impact on the
community.
Following in the footsteps of Arieh,
thousands of Madrichim and Madrichot have given their time to educating and
inspiring the next generation of children, turning them into leaders. Machane
is a unique place where hundreds of teenagers socialise and have fun in a
religious atmosphere, where they can learn from inspirational role models and
take important messages from Jewish history and apply them to today. Today, Bnei
Akiva stays true to its pioneering ideals and this summer over 500 people will
be standing on wooden benches, singing Bnei Akiva songs and camping under
canvas in North Wales, just a short drive from Gwrych Castle. It will be the
beginning of a new era in which only the memories of Arieh will serve to
inspire us in our goals of Torah, Avodah and Aliyah – and it is our job to
ensure that these memories are passed on.
Another of Arieh’s great legacies
has been his work for Bachad and helping it to its role of Friends of Bnei
Akiva. Throughout Arieh’s 35-year chairmanship, he ensured that Bnei Akiva was
financially stable and able to function, working behind the scenes to give it
as much support as possible. Whichever Mazkir you speak to will tell you the same
story of Arieh – how he inspired and empowered them to run the movement as they
saw fit. Arieh always understood the concept of a youth movement and the fact
that Bnei Akiva has always remained one is the reason for its ever-renewing
strength and success.
As an older statesman, Arieh’s
vigour and passion about Bnei Akiva did not weaken. He was always present at
National Weekends, Yom Ha’atzmaut and when the Chief Rabbi visited Limmud. He
was frequently seen around the Bayit and loved nothing better than telling
stories of yesteryear to the Mazkirut of the time. Following his Aliyah at the
age of 90, he still continued to play a role in Bnei Akiva, as he was visited
by Hachshara groups on their year in Israel, as well as each incoming Mazkir.
When young Bnei Akiva Chaverim came to visit him, his face would light up as he
told them his life’s story – and they listened to every word. All those who
have met him cannot fail to have noticed his unwavering passion and ideology.
As the Chief Rabbi says, Arieh’s ability to remain young at heart is what
allowed him to continue being the visionary that he was for all 95 years of his
life – and it is what connected him to each new generation of children.
Tonight, if you look around, you will
see Chaverim and Chaverot of Bnei Akiva, some of whom were lucky enough to have
met Arieh, and some who did not. The fact that a tribute evening to a 95 year
old man attracts so many young people says everything about what Arieh meant to
Bnei Akiva. He is our role model, the ultimate Madrich. He embodied the values
that we teach and practice. In Bnei Akiva, we teach our Chanichim to believe in
an ideology; to love Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael; to have a
vision and realise it; to do and not just talk; to love and care for one’s
fellow Jew; to empower others and to show the next generation the way, to
understand that the movement comes first and that it is incumbent upon us to
play our role within it. All of these attributes were present in Arieh, and the
continued success of Bnei Akiva is testament to his personality and leadership.
Arieh saw great people and witnessed
great events – but he constantly declared that he was most proud of the success
of Bnei Akiva. He understood that affecting one person not only changed their
life, but also that of their family, friends, wider society – and of course
their children and Chanichim. The current generation of Bnei Akiva are still
Arieh’s Chanichim.
In 2006, Arieh’s achievements were
celebrated at a dinner in his honour, with the launch of the Arieh Handler Scholarship
Fund, which raises money for those who cannot always afford to go on Bnei Akiva
camps and Hachshara, a year in Israel. Since then, many people have had
opportunities they would never have received and Bnei Akiva continues its
excellent reputation of giving everyone a chance to take part in the movement
regardless of their financial background. Today, Bnei Akiva and Bachad commit
to continuing this fund and raising its profile to ensure that all Chaverim
have the opportunity to spend time in Israel, as well as launching new projects
in Arieh’s memory to ensure that his name and achievements are not forgotten.
Thirty days ago, the Handler family
were joined by every single Chaver of Bnei Akiva in a period of mourning for
Arieh. His passing ended a glorious chapter in the history of Religious Zionism
in the UK, and Bnei Akiva will no longer benefit from his leadership and
encouragement. Today, thirty days later, we are gathered here to pay tribute to
his achievements. However in the spirit of Arieh, this is not enough – because
Arieh may have been a man of words, but he was a man of action too.
In this vein, we have to ask
ourselves: Are we doing enough to realise the ideals we believe in? Could we
find extra time to invest in sviva, machane or learning Torah? Who will step
forward to join Friends of Bnei Akiva and give the youth the necessary support
to continue if not us?
As we pay a fitting tribute to Arieh
Handler, a hero to each and every Chaver of Bnei Akiva, let today open a new
chapter in Bnei Akiva and Bachad in the UK and ensure that Arieh’s greatest
legacy will never be forgotten.
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