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Activities
Remembering
Israeli Astronaut,
Colonel Ilan Ramon z"l 1954-2003
Biography: http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/people/iramon.html
The shock and outpouring of grief in the United States, Israel and India
at the loss of space shuttle Columbia STS-107, with all hands, during
re-entry on Saturday February 1st 2003 has been immense. Flags have been
flying at half mast in the United States and Israel, as signs of national
mourning. As we remember all the astronauts and extend our condolences
to their families and all those involved in the Space Mission, we would
like to specifically address the group or community gathering to commemorate
the death and life of Ilan Ramon.
1. Mourning - Commemoration
By Gila Ansell Brauner
We offer two options: Classroom/group gathering, or Community gathering.
Items to prepare:
- Yahrzeit candles [to be used in accordance with fire regulations
only]
- Recording of Zemer Nugeh - Hatishma Koli [Can you hear my voice?]
by Arik Einstein, or clip of the Columbia wake-up call when it was played.
Text of the song and full translation.
Bekol Ram © version, with transliteration.
[Hebrew: http://www.shirim.net/07/106.htm
]
Other Israeli music – Ofrah Hazah, Arik Einstein
- Text of Yesh Kochavim
(There are Stars)
- Space patch "badges" to wear http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/spacepatch/ramon.html
- Psalms with sentiments of faith in adversity: 23, 24; 61, 62; (69)
- Psalms for the letters of his name Aleph-yod-lamed-nun and Resh-mem-vav-nun:
1,10, 30, 50; 200*, 40, 6, 50.
(*Read Psalm 119:153 to 160)
- Text of Kaddish/Yizkor
Photonews Album/Scrap book:
Memorial Book & Corner
- Israel Government statement on Space Shuttle Columbia http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0n110
- Prime Minister Sharon's Opening Remarks to the Israeli Cabinet Meeting
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0n140
- Small Israeli flag, American flag [large flags for community ceremony].
- Table with replicas of special items that Ilan Ramon took with him
into space [Israeli flag, Israeli Declaration of Independence, "microfiche
Bible", kiddush cup, Moonscape].
A. Group/Class Gathering
Procedure:
1. Have the song playing in the background.
Memorial candles can be lit beforehand, or later on – depending on
the fire regulations and the facilities. Seating should be informal,
or at least chairs without school desks.
2. Opening words could be based on the following:
For Israel, the tragic death of Colonel Ilan Ramon, the first
Israeli astronaut, has had a devastating impact on morale for everyone
from children to seniors: over the pre-launch period and the 16 days
in space, his career and achievements were followed closely with a
sense of wonder and tremendous pride that were the success story of
both Ramon the man and Israel, our tiny country, as well as offering
an upbeat focus during the ongoing security crisis and war on terror.
Jewish communities worldwide found themselves equally inspired
by the personality and the saga of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli in
space and together we wish to mourn and commemorate a special person
who fell on an international mission, so that his name, his achievements
and his values should live on.
One of the important features of Jewish mourning is to allow
grief to be expressed and to help perpetuate the memory of the person
we have all lost.
3. General ventilation questions:
- Had participants been following the Columbia mission – and if so,
what most interested them?
- When did participants first hear about the Columbia re-entry disaster?
- How did they feel then and how do they feel today?
4. Focused questions:
- What had they felt about the presence of an Israeli astronaut on
this mission?
- What were his messages and his legacy?
- Would they like to do something to commemorate Ilan Ramon and his
message?
5. Hand out copies of the song "Zemer Nugeh" and the English
translation.
This was Rona Ramon's choice of wake-up call for Ilan on the shuttle
early in the first week of the mission. Allow time to read the text
and share impressions of its meaning [distance, love, foreboding, faithfulness…].
The song can then be taught as part of the activity, or sung by those
who know it.
6. Album/Scrapbook:
If this has not been prepared beforehand, and there is time, participants
should choose significant photos and articles to commemorate the mission
and particularly Ilan Ramon. Personal messages may be added now, or
later on. The display may be in album form, or on stiff card/posterboard
on the wall. It should be laminated before display.
Photos can be found on the J Site: In Memory of Ilan Ramon z"l
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/history/space.htm
7. Ideas for National Commemoration:
Israel was so pleased to be in the US space program, that commemorative
stamps and medal issues were one of the ways it wished to acknowledge
this as a national landmark. Discuss with the group in which ways national
recognition can be given to the Columbia crew and specifically Ilan
Ramon. [Stamps, medals, Israel Prize for Science…]
8. Memorial Corner:
Set up the Album/Memorial book for signature on a table and add together
replicas of the special items taken by Ilan Ramon on his space mission.
8. Readings:
- Traditional readings would be Psalms, Prayers [see list above];
- To these can be added modern poetry, songs, or – if time is available
– personal compositions by participants;
- It is recommended that the final readings be Kaddish and Yizkor,
which is also an opportunity for memorial candles to be lit.
- Close with Hatikvah and everyone receives a memorial "space
patch" as they leave.
B. Community Gathering
Most of the elements in the group activity can be incorporated into a
community commemoration ceremony, although there would not be the same
opportunities to ventilate and clarify individually.
For this reason, a few speakers should prepare short interpretations
of his legacy and message, while others work on a Memorial Book and preparing
the Memorial Corner.
2. Mission Values
by Chezi Friedman, Schlomo Balsam, Serah Beiser
Neil Weissbrod's documentary film (Israeli Channel 1 TV/IBA - Hebrew)
on Ilan Ramon's preparations for his space trip: clip discussing which
items he chose to take with him to space.
In-space interview (CNN, Fox News) where Ilan Ramon showed his Kiddush
cup.
Screen this or similar clips and hand out copies of Ilan Ramon's biography.
Part I:
- What do we learn about Ilan Ramon as a person, an Israeli and a Jew?
- What special differences were there for him in making this flight?
- Why was it important for Ilan Ramon to take an item of religious
significance into space?
- Why did he wish to take an artefact from Yad Vashem with him?
- Could an Orthodox Jew go on a space mission?
- What would s/he take with?
- What special problems would s/he face?
- What solutions can you suggest?
- Why do these questions arise in space travel?
Part II:
Have everyone to write down 3-5 items they would take with them to
space.
(and/or)
Divide the participants into groups, where the group decides which 3-5
items they would take.
Ask for explanations on why specific items were chosen.
Bring the group together to discuss what they suggested, listing the
most common, the most unusual ideas.
Is there a difference between choices that would be made by an Israeli
astronaut and a Jewish astronaut?
Discuss the importance of a common past, Jewish continuity, Jewish values
in this connection.
How do background and identity affect these choices?
Content links:
3. Points to Ponder
There are a number of issues which might be raised during discussion
with teenagers and adults, and should not be avoided if they come up.
However, the recommendation is that educators should think about how they
would respond to them in advance.
- The sanctity of life set against the risk of manned space missions
[and: was it worth this loss?];
- The responsibility of the country or agency for the safety of the
mission staff;
- The development of technology in line with space science;
- The supra-national character of contemporary space missions – an
exclusive or inclusive club?;
- The impact of extraordinary space missions on the imagination and
interest in science – in Israel, in the USA, India and worldwide;
- Man's quest in space – the future;
- Ilan Ramon's stature as a national hero in Israel.
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