My family recently celebrated two unforgettable weddings in Israel — each a reflection of the highs and lows of these times, mirroring a national week of remembrance and celebration.

The first wedding took place a week before Passover. The groom, a commander in an elite combat unit who’d lost many friends in Gaza, spoke under the chuppah of the ever-present responsibility he feels to honor their sacrifice.

While the ceremony was still underway, he surprised us all by bounding out from under the chuppah to embrace a cousin — just arrived unexpectedly from Gaza in his IDF uniform.

The groom’s sister was married this past Sunday evening. Her new husband’s brother, a commander in another elite combat unit, rushed south on October 7 and was killed helping to defend the Yiftah military base in Kibbutz Zikim. 

Despite the ache of loss, both celebrations were full of light and optimism. It shone on the faces of the young couples choosing to build new Jewish families in Israel, and in the exuberance of friends fulfilling the mitzvah of bringing joy to the brides and grooms — dancing long into the night, refusing to let war and grief have the final say.

Rightfully, this generation is now being hailed as Israel’s “greatest generation." Like the American soldiers returning from World War II, these incredibly inspiring young people represent the hope and future of Israel.

This emotional undercurrent ran through this week’s commemoration of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) on Wednesday, followed immediately by the celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day) on Thursday. Grief and joy intermingled. The undeniable miracle that is Israel at 77, even as the longest war in its history drags on and the heartbreak of 59 hostages still in Gaza permeates everyday life.

Adding yet another layer of challenge and complexity to the moment, this week Israel battled massive wildfires near Jerusalem, which destroyed over 5,000 acres of land, requiring international assistance to contain and forcing the cancellation of many national celebrations.

While, thankfully, these flames have now been brought under control, another fire continues to rage — this one figurative and self-ignited by ugly internal discord.

Fierce disagreements in Israel around political leadership, the war in Gaza, hostages, the Haredi draft, proposed judicial reform, and much more have created a terribly toxic environment that threatens Israel from within.

Many of these issues were at the forefront before October 7, with Israel nearing a breaking point. But the shock of October 7, for a time, brought the country together, and the deep divides, while not resolved, were largely put aside.

Now, once again, the internal discord and vitriol is at a fever pitch, more dangerous to Israel’s future than Iran and its proxies.

Noting that the current rhetoric “has exceeded any precedent,” this week President Herzog implored the country to lower the temperature. Referencing the siren that sounds on Yom HaZikaron, bringing the nation to a standstill, the president said: "This year, perhaps more than ever, the siren’s sound is also a true alarm. It commands us: Unite and come together. Do not tear apart from within. Do not destroy our home."

No one expects unanimity. Not everyone will dance at each other’s weddings. But to fight literal fires, to bring our hostages home, to end this war with Israel more secure than when it began — the voices of extreme division cannot be allowed to control what happens next.

Seeing the extraordinary heroism and sacrifice of young people in Israel today swells the heart. We’ll never repay the debt we owe this generation, whose members are laying down their lives to protect and defend Israel for the security of Jews everywhere.

The least we can do — the very least — is to ensure their courage isn’t undermined by internal infighting.

So that when the glass is broken at Jewish weddings, the communal tragedies we remember will remain, as they should, in the past. And the dancing will carry us forward.

Shabbat shalom