Marking Yom HaZikaron Away from Home

Marking Yom HaZikaron Away from Home

Shalom! My name is Ziv Shalev, and I’m the ShinShin here at Congregation Shaare Emeth from Israel for the year. It’s an honor to write to you and to be able to share a bit of my perspective. Being part of a Jewish community outside of Israel reminds me how deeply connected we all are, no matter where we are in the world.

As a Jewish people, we share many holidays and traditions that unite us across the globe. Whether we are in Israel, the United States, or anywhere else, our shared customs keep us connected as one people. However, Israel also has its own national days—ones that may appear on the global calendar but are truly felt only in Israel. And tonight, I would love to tell you about one of these days: Yom HaZikaron – a day that deeply shapes not only Israel’s history but also my own personal story.

Yom HaZikaron is one of the most difficult days in Israel. It is a day when we stop everything to remember and honor the Israeli soldiers and victims who lost their lives in war and acts of terror. Some of my first recollections of Yom HaZikaron are from first grade, standing at the school ceremony, listening to the heartbreaking words of families who lost their loved ones. I remember sitting quietly, absorbing the sorrowful songs with lyrics that carried so much pain.

From first grade through high school, Yom HaZikaron was always a solemn and meaningful day. As I grew older, I began to understand its significance on a deeper level. Suddenly, I knew names, faces—people I had met—who were no longer with us.

I never imagined that one day I would hear their names being honored in the ceremony.

This day is painful for all of Israel, yet at the same time, it is a day of unity. We feel each other’s pain, we share in the grief, and we remember together. We recognize that those who fell sacrificed their lives to protect us, to protect Israel, to ensure that we can live in peace and security. They fought so that children could grow up without fear, so that we could live in a reality that feels normal, not one filled with uncertainty and danger.

This year, for the first time in my life, I will be observing Yom HaZikaron outside of Israel. I will be far from my family, my friends, and the place where I am used to marking this day in a formal and respectful ceremony. I worry that it will feel different, that I will feel distant from my people at a time when all of Israel mourns together.

But I find comfort in knowing that even here, outside of Israel, in this Jewish community, we will come together to commemorate this day. I hope that we will stand together, remember together, and connect with the grief of the families and the mourning of the entire nation of Israel. I hope to see our whole Jewish community come to this year’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony at the JCC on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m., to show support, to offer a distant embrace, and to remind ourselves that no matter where we are, we are one, connected at heart. RSVP here.

In addition to the ceremony, I will also be leading a special class on Tuesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. with Rabbi Lori Levine in honor of Yom HaZikaron. This will be a meaningful opportunity to dive deeper into personal stories, discuss the impact of this day, and explore the importance of days of memory in Israeli society. You can find details and RSVP for this program here.

I would love for you to join me at one or both of these programs for a moment of reflection and learning. Thank you.

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ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of  Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the  J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board.  Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.