In Memory of the Munich Eleven, The Israeli Olympians, Z"L

SHALL WE SAY KADDISH - THE MEMORIAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD -- FOR THE GLORIOUS IDEALS OF THE OLYMPICS?
How ironic that we're reading about the 2012 International Olympic Committee's refusal to allot a minute of silence as a memorial tribute to the eleven slain Olympians who came to Munich, Germany to represent Israel in the 1972 Olympic Games. We're reading about this as the People Israel -- the Jews -- approach Tisha b'Av (which begins with tonight's sunset and extends through Sunday to end at sunset). That means that Tisha b'Av occurs the night after the opening ceremony in London.  Tisha b'Av (which means "the ninth [day] of [the month of] Av") is the date that commemorates the tragic date on which the Temple of Jerusalem was twice destroyed. I don't personally mourn the destruction of the Temple in the elaborate way of my Orthodox and Conservative co-religionists, but, am aware that for Reform Jews this day on the calendar is a day on which to remember many Jewish tragedies that have occurred throughout history, one of the more recent being the murder of the '72 eleven Israeli Olymians along with the despicable event of the IOC's refusal to appropriately acknowledge this significant 40th Yahrzeit, that is, the 40th anniversary of their death. Although no silence was offered in their memory or as a condolence for their families and country and the People Israel or as a sign of mourning for the savage attack on the Olympic ideal of sport for peace, the well known sportscaster, Bob Costas, whose suggestion to offer a minute of airtime didn't materialize, at least raised the issue with NBC and tonight marked the tragedy as the 2012 Israeli Olympians entered the London stadium, saying, "Still, for many, tonight, with the world watching, is the true time and place to remember those who were lost and how and why they died." Maybe Costas as well as viewers 'round that world as NBC went to break. SHALL WE SAY KADDISH - THE MEMORIAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD -- FOR THE GLORIOUS IDEALS OF THE OLYMPICS? No, I still believe -- although I'm doubtful. Don't confuse belief and doubt. Say Kaddish for the dead. Don't say Kaddish for the ideal of "shalom," that is, "peace and wholeness."  Zichronam l'Vracha -- May the memories of the slain eleven Israeli Olympians be for a blessing -- of inspiration and motivation.  And, dear friends, let us each continue to work in our own personal and communal ways for that day on which the living act as if we are all truly one family, each made "b'tzelem Elohim," that is "in the image of God" and that the lives of all will be equally valued and remembered. In memory of the departed, promise that your acts will bring that day closer.