Leadership and vision must be carried out and they sometimes bear a heavy price. We have come to pay tribute to those who paid the heaviest price of all.

We are sitting at the foot of the grave of Izikiel-Haim who fell in while defending Jerusalem and he is but 16 years old – 3 years more than Itai today.

The Hagada claims that they set out to destroy us and our father in heaven rescues us. But the Hagada is wrong and we can only count on our father in Miluim (reserve duty).

The appropriate words here are not mine – they are Alterman’s:

The Silver Platter/ Nathan Alterman

…And the land will grow still crimson skies dimming, misting
Slowly paling again over smoking frontiers

As the nation stands up torn at heart but existing
To receive its first wonder in two thousand years

As the moment draws near it will rise, darkness facing
Stand straight in the moonlight in terror and joy

Then across from it came slowly pacing towards it
In plain sight of all, a young girl and a boy

Dressed in battle gear, shoes heavy with grime
On the path they will pace while their lips remain sealed

To change garb, to wipe brow they have not yet found time
Still bone weary from days and from nights in the field

Full of endless fatigue and all drained of emotion
Yet the dew of their youth is still seen on their head

Thus like statues they stand stiff and still with no motion
And no sign that will show if they live or are dead

Then a nation in tears and amazed at this matter
Will ask: who are you? And the two will then say
Without words: We are the silver platter
On which the Jewish state was presented today

Then they fall back in darkness as the dazed nation looks
And the rest can be found in the history books.