"A state is not handed to a people on a silver platter." - Chaim Weizmann

In fact, a state costs human lives, and on Tuesday, May 10th, Jewish Pittsburgh paid tribute to the thousands of Israelis who gave up their lives for the Jewish state.

Hundreds of Pittsburghers assembled at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill to observe Yom Hazikaron - Israel's memorial day. They stood silent for a minute as a siren, electronically recorded in Israel, was replayed. (In Israel, everyone across the country stops whatever they're doing at precisely the same moment on Yom Hazikaron and stands silent to remember the fallen while a siren wails.)

Judi Kanal, event chair for the Pittsburgh program, said all Israelis experience a "collective and personal anguish" on this day.

"It is a day on which the living rededicate themselves to the State of Israel," she said. Herzel Fakiro opened the evening by blowing a long blast on the shofar. The Israeli flag was lowered to half mast, Rabbi David Greenspoon led "El Male Rachamim" and a representative of the Israel Defense Forces read the order of the day by the IDF chief of staff, Gen. Moshe Ya'alon.

The rest of the program was led by an eight-member youth delegation from Pittsburgh's Partnership 2000 community of Misgav, who presented a program of dance, poetry and song to remember the fallen.

One of the readings they gave was a portion of a speech by the late Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. "This country has known great suffering surrounding its wars," Rabin said. "Its faces [are] all scarred with pain. We've paid a dear price and we are continuing to pay that price in return for the right to stake our claim to this land, to build our home here."

Memorial candles were lit by Herzel and Uri Fakiro for their brother, Jacob Fakiro; Yehuda Samet and Miriam Cohen for their brother, Jacob Samet; Melissa Haviv for her sister, Michal Alexander; and Ronit Pasternak for her brother, Shlomo Tzabari.

Yom Hazikaron comes one day before Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's independence day, creating an interesting dichotomy in the Jewish state where nationwide mourning is followed immediately by nationwide celebration. Tuesday's program in Pittsburgh concluded with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, "Hatikvah", and by the "Star Spangled Banner".

The Eight area young people were part of a delegation sent to Pittsburgh to participate in Memorial Day and Independence Day events organized by the Jewish community. The delegation, sent by the Jewish Agency /Partnership 2000 and the misgav Community Center. The group was accompanied by Malka Maor ∓ Chen Ginat who were responsible for directing and preparing the young people for the various ceremonies and activities.

These young people all brought a fresh and young Israeli spirit to Pittsburgh's various schools, synagogues, and community centers, conducting a wide range of activities for children grades 4-12 at the community's various Jewish schools and synagogues.

The visit was viewed very favorably by the community, which was impressed by the young people's professionalism as exhibited in the preparation and execution of the shows, their talent and the genuine Israeli spirit they conveyed throughout their visit.