ISRAEL, ONE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST DEMOCRACIES
Israel: One of the World’s Oldest Democracies
Einat Wilf with Shany Mor
Seventy years after declaring independence, Israel is (by one reckoning) the world’s tenth oldest continuous democracy. It had universal suffrage from its first day – yes, Arab citizens too. Israel was not the only newly independent state to emerge in the aftermath of the Second World War and to begin its days as a democracy, but it has been the only one to never fall, even temporarily, into some kind of authoritarianism. No coups, no emergency governments, no cancelled elections, no opposition leaders in jail, no suspensions of basic political or civil liberties.
Israel is one of only 20 or so countries (out of 200) that has been rated free by Freedom House for nearly half a century. Of the very few countries that have been practicing democracy without any interruptions longer than Israel, most have only done so for slightly longer (Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) and none have done so in conditions of ongoing conflict, repeated wars on multiple fronts, terrorism, waves of immigration in unparalleled proportions, and a population of vast linguistic, national, religious and ethnic diversity.
Dr. Einat Wilf is a former member of the Knesset (2010-13). Shany Mor is a former director for foreign policy on the Israeli National Security Council. (Fathom-BICOM)
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YAHRZEITS — IYAR, 5778
RAM’S HORN POLICY FOR LISTING YAHRZEIT MEMORIALS:!
Yahrzeit memorials are listed by consecutive Hebrew month, date, and year, if known, or at the beginning of the list for one calendar year following the date of passing.
Compiled by Aitz Chaim over many years, this list is maintained by the Ram’s Horn. Please send any corrections or additions to editor@aitzchaim.com
May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.
| Name of Deceased |
Hebrew Date of Passing | Deceased Relationship to Congregant |
|
| Dorothy Meyer | 27 Av, 5777 | Stepmother of Diane Sherick | |
| Ann Belfert | 20 Av, 5777 | Mother of Gail Belfert | |
| Maurice Weissman | 2 Iyyar, 5751 | Father of Jerry Weissman | |
| Marion Kelman | 11 Iyyar, 5776 | Sister-in-law of Evelyn Kelman | |
| Sheldon Maznek | 12 Iyyar, 5776 | Brother of Evelyn Kelman | |
| Ada Handler | 15 Iyyar, 5740 | Grandmother of Wendy Weissman | |
| Bessie Stiegler | 27 Iyyar, 5758 | Aunt of Nadyne Weissman |
YOM HAZIRIKON LASHOAH/HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: APRIL 12
600 Holocaust survivors and their families gathered at Beit Avi-Chai in Jerusalem, marking the upcoming Holocaust Memorial Day.
AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY SEDER IS SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018
Please join us for our annual Aitz Chaim Community Seder, led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko.
When: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Where: Clark and Lewie’s, 17 7th St. S., 5:30 P.M.
What: The meal will include all the traditional fixings including matzo ball soup, salad, brisket, chicken, potato, vegetable, and dessert.
By now we should have received your reservation and payment.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
DAYENU: MY ATTEMPT AT ENGLISH TRANSLATION
I wrote these words to be sung to the familiar tune, one of my favorites.
If He’d brought us out from Egypt,
And had not judged the Egyptians,,
Out from Egypt,
Judged Egyptians,
Dayenu!
If He had judged the Egyptians,
And had not destroyed their idols
Judged Egyptians,
Not their idols,
Dayenu!
If He had destroyed their idols,
And had not destroyed their first-born
Destroyed idols,
Not their firstborn,
Dayenu!
If He had destroyed their first-born,
And not given us their riches,
Destroyed firstborn,
Not their riches,
Dayenu!
If He’d given us their riches,
And had not the Reed Sea parted,
Given riches,
Sea not parted,
Dayenu!
If He had the Reed Sea parted,
And not led us through on dry land
Reed Sea parted,
Not on dry land,
Dayenu!
If He led us through on dry land,
And had not drowned our oppressors,
Through on dry land,
Not oppressors,
Dayenu!
If He had drowned our oppressors,
and not led us in the desert,
drowned oppressors,
Not the desert,
dayenu!
If He’d led us in the desert,
And had not fed us with manna
In the desert,
Not with Manna,
Dayenu!
If He had fed us with manna,
And not given us the Shabbat,
Fed us manna,
Not the Shabbat,
dayenu!
If He’d given us the Shabbat,
And not brought us to Mount Sinai
Gave us Shabbat,
Not Mount Sinai,
Dayenu!
If He brought us to Mount Sinai,
And not given us the Torah
To Mount Sinai,
Not the Torah,
Dayenu!
If He’d given us the Torah,
and had not brought us to Israel
gave the Torah,
not to Israel,
dayenu!
If He had brought us to Israel,
and not built the Holy Temple
brought to Israel,
not the Temple,
dayenu!
YAHRZEITS — APRIL, 2018
RAM’S HORN POLICY FOR LISTING YAHRZEIT MEMORIALS:!
Yahrzeit memorials are listed by consecutive Gregorian month, date, and year, if known, or at the beginning of the list for one calendar year following the date of passing.
Compiled by Aitz Chaim over many years, this list is maintained by the Ram’s Horn. Please send any corrections or additions to editor@aitzchaim.com
May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.
| Name of Deceased |
English Date of Passing | Hebrew Date of Passing | Deceased Relationship to Congregant |
| Dorothy Meyer | Aug 19, 2017 | 27 Av, 5777 | Stepmother of Diane Sherick |
| Ann Belfert | Aug 12, 2017 | 20 Av, 5777 | Mother of Gail Belfert |
| Sherri Estil Hopperstad | Apr 4, 2003 | 2 Nissan, 5763 | |
| Sandra Albachari | Apr 4, 2005 | 24 Adar II, 5765 | Mother of Julie Nice |
| Margaret Breslauer | Apr 6, 1969 | 18 Nissan, 5729 | Mother of Bruce Breslauer |
| Sid Kelman | Apr 6, 2003 | 4 Nissan, 5763 | Brother-in-law of Evelyn Kelman |
| Naomi Bay Kaplan | Apr 8, 2007 | 20 Nissan, 5767 | Grandmother of Kai Nealis |
| Heidi Espelin | Apr 11, 1986 | 2 Nissan, 5746 | Sister of Dawn Schandelson |
| Esther Nagel Lyndon | Apr 12, 2012 | 18 Adar, 5772 | Aunt of Meriam Nagel |
| Elaine Thall | Apr 15, 2006 | 17 Nisan, 5766 | Mother of Terry Thall |
| Maurice Weissman | Apr 16, 1991 | 2 Iyyar, 5751 | Father of Jerry Weissman |
| Janet Woodcock Getzenberg | Apr 16, 2005 | 7 Nisan, 5765 | Relative of Anne Getzenberg |
| Gary Cohn | Apr 17, 1984 | 15 Nissan, 5744 | Brother of Arlyne Reichert |
| Harry Wasserman | Apr 19, 2003 | 17 Nissan, 5763 | Father of Miriam Wolf |
| Irving Greenfield | Apr 28, 2000 | 23 Nissan, 5760 |
DAYENU WITH ENGLISH, HEBREW, AND TRANSLITERATION
Dayenu with English Hebrew and Transliteration
From http://www.haggadot.com
Contributed by Danielle & Misha Slutsky
One of the most beloved songs in the Passover seder is “Dayenu”. A few of us will read the stanzas one at a time, and then everyone else will respond, “Dayenu” – meaning, “it would have been enough”.
How many times do we forget to pause and notice that where we are is exactly where we ought to be? Dayenu is a reminder to never forget all the miracles in our lives. When we stand and wait impatiently for the next one to appear, we are missing the whole point of life. Instead, we can actively seek a new reason to be grateful, a reason to say “Dayenu.”
Fun fact: Persian and Afghani Jews hit each other over the heads and shoulders with scallions every time they say Dayenu! They especially use the scallions in the ninth stanza which mentions the manna that the Israelites ate everyday in the desert, because Torah tells us that the Israelites began to complain about the manna and longed for the onions, leeks and garlic. Feel free to be Persian/Afghani for the evening if you’d like.
English translation
Transliteration
Hebrew
If He had brought us out from Egypt,
Ilu hotzianu mimitzrayim,
אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם
and had not carried out judgments against them
v’lo asah bahem sh’fatim,
וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayeinu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had carried out judgments against them,
Ilu asah bahem sh’fatim
אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים
and not against their idols
v’lo asah beloheihem,
וְלֹא עָשָׂה בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had destroyed their idols,
Ilu asah beloheihem,
אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם
and had not smitten their first-born
v’lo harag et b’choreihem,
וְלֹא הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had smitten their first-born,
Ilu harag et b’choreihem,
אִלּוּ הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם
and had not given us their wealth
v’lo natan lanu et mamonam,
וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us their wealth,
Ilu natan lanu et mamonam,
אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם
and had not split the sea for us
v’lo kara lanu et hayam,
ןלא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayeinu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had split the sea for us,
Ilu kara lanu et hayam,
אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם
and had not taken us through it on dry land
v’lo he’eviranu b’tocho becharavah,
וְלֹא הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had taken us through the sea on dry land,
Ilu he’eviranu b’tocho becharavah,
אִלּוּ הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה
and had not drowned our oppressors in it
v’lo shika tzareinu b’tocho,
וְלֹא שִׁקַע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had drowned our oppressors in it,
Ilu shika tzareinu b’tocho,
אִלּוּ שִׁקַע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ
and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years
v’lo sipeik tzorkeinu bamidbar arba’im shana,
וְלֹא סִפֵּק צָרַכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayeinu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years,
Ilu sipeik tzorkeinu bamidbar arba’im shana,
אִלּוּ סִפֵּק צָרַכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה
and had not fed us the manna
v’lo he’echilanu et haman,
וְלֹא הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayeinu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had fed us the manna,
Ilu he’echilanu et haman,
אִלּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן
and had not given us the Shabbat
v’lo natan lanu et hashabbat,
וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us the Shabbat,
Ilu natan lanu et hashabbat,
אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת
and had not brought us before Mount Sinai
v’lo keirvanu lifnei har sinai,
וְלֹא קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayeinu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai,
Ilu keirvanu lifnei har sinai,
אִלּוּ קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי
and had not given us the Torah
v’lo natan lanu et hatorah,
וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us the Torah,
Ilu natan lanu et hatorah,
אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה
and had not brought us into the land of Israel
v’lo hichnisanu l’eretz yisra’eil,
וְלֹא הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
— Dayenu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had brought us into the land of Israel,
Ilu hichnisanu l’eretz yisra’eil,
אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
and not built for us the Holy Temple
v’lo vanah lanu et beit hamikdash,
וְלֹא בָּנָה לָנוּ אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
— Dayeinu, it would have been enough!
dayenu!
דַּיֵּנוּ
Moses was the first, not Apple.
Technically, Moses was the first person with a tablet downloading data from the cloud.
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