With the Israeli holidays of Memorial and Independence Days approaching, it is makes me long for the Israel that I so love. These are days when one can walk around with a sense of pride in the State of Israel. With the changing of the seasons and the coming of spring, there is a feeling of peace and serenity in the air that Israel's existence is so vital and inspiring at the same time.
Memorial Day in Israel is not like the American version. It is not a day for shopping and yard work. It is a day when we embrace the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure the existence of our home. Nearly every Israeli family has a personal connection to a soldier who has been killed or injured in service to their country. The radio stations play nostalgic and quiet Israeli music leading into the Memorial Day evening while television channels broadcast documentary movies of the various Israeli wars and ceremonies held across the country in the army cemeteries for the soldiers. Cars decorated with Israeli flags, stop in middle of traffic and drivers and passengers stand at attention when they hear the memorial siren. When I was a soldier, I attend one of the national ceremonies for a Givati Brigade soldier. When placing flowers on the graves of the soldiers I could feel the ceremony was full of respect and honor of our heroes who gave their lives for future generations. I stood there with one thought going through my mind - that these boys and girls back in that day were full of ideals and passion for the state of Israel. They sacrificed themselves with no further questions. Sadly, today one sees fewer of these kind among the Israeli youth. Then, suddenly, as though a bright light is switched on to illuminate a dark room, the mood changes. Night falls and joyous celebrations begin. The sharp and difficult transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day, which follows immediately, is the most Israeli thing that exists. Gone is the holy atmosphere that had descended on the streets on the eve of Memorial Day. A torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl marks the transition to Independence Day. This is something one can only experience in Israel. The transition is so sharp and yet, it is clear to everyone and there is no need to say out loud, “we are moving on!” Everyone is waiting for the evening of Memorial Day to begin. The Independence Day National celebrations of the Government are screened on all TV channels to start the celebrating. In my youth, I used to go to the main square in the city which was having the best Israeli musicians and dancing into the night. The next day, which is a holiday and a day off for everyone and public transportation is free, I'd go with my friends to the beach in Tel Aviv to watch the flyover of the Air Force, Navy ships. Then of course, like all typical Israeli families, we’d have a barbecue at the park, where we spent most of the day. Things have changed in Israel in recent years, since the days when we were a small country that dreamed of the declaration of our existence while facing the surrounding Arab countries with only a few forces like the Palmach, Etzel and Haganah. We have become a democratic country with a strong army and a Western country with a vibrant high tech industry that has introduced products used by the whole world. We are still a young country, trying to overcome social gaps, fighting for recognition of our existence as a state and battling movements that reject our legitimacy. But these two days of Memorial Day and Independence Day remind us of who we are, where we come from and why we are here. They are a potent mix of feelings of sadness, joy, pride, pain and sorrow. During these days those who live in Israel realize that this is our reality - a day of sadness which honors those who sacrificed their lives for us and a day of joy that we are free in our country : "To be a free people in our land of Zion and Jerusalem! " More than every other day in the year I can feel the sense of home and belonging to Israel. And I miss them while I’m away.
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