Standing in Silence

Today is Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day. At 10:00, we will have a צפירה, a siren where we will stand at attention to remember those who perished in the Holocaust.

We will have two more sirens next week on יום הזכרון, when we remember our fallen soldiers and others who were victims of terrorism.

In some circles, there is opposition to these moments of silence, and see this as a violation of the Pasuk, לא תלכו בחוקות הגוים, that we should not follow non-Jewish practices.

Rabbi Natan Slifkin addressed this claim in two ways. First, he felt that there is a reference to standing silently during a tragedy from Aharon in this week’s Parsha. The Torah says, וידם אהרון, that Aharon stood in silence when he learned that his sons Nadav and Avihu, had passed away.

The second explanation is that the origin of a moment of silence, does not follow under the category of חוקות הגוי. This is because, this prohibition is related to matters connected with עבודה זרה. Showing respect for the dead by standing in silence, has no connection to idol worship, according to Rabbi Slifkin.

There are those who recite תהילים during the time of the siren, in order to cover themselves.

Personally, I believe these sirens and moments of silence, are a very nice gesture and a time of reflection on what these losses represent. These sirens make Israel very special in that everyone is forced to recognize the sacrifices made so that we would have the benefit of a Jewish State.