Adventures in Israel: Remember, Remember, Remember...

Remember.....

It has been over 60 years since the Holocaust. To survivors the Holocaust remains real and ever-present, but for some others, sixty years makes the Holocaust seem part of ancient history. Year-round Israel tries to teach and inform others about the horrors of the Holocaust. They confront the questions of what happened? How did it happen? How could it happen? Could it happen again? They attempt to fight against ignorance with education and against disbelief with proof.

But there is one day in the year when Israel makes a special effort to remember. Upon this one day, they remember those that suffered, those that fought, and those that died. Six million Jews were murdered. Many families were completely decimated.

Jim was honored this past Holocaust Remembrance Day, May 2nd, (Yom Hashoah) to have been invited to attend a memorial service at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. The purpose of the service was to honor the survivors and stand together with them and Israel to proclaim "never again". Organizations and friends from around the world attended to individually lay a wreath and to express compassion. Christians and Jews came together as an act of seeking and granting forgiveness.

Starting with Government Officials, each individual or organization was announced as we took our turn laying our wreaths...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

President Shimon Perez

Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat

I was touched by the contingent of Native (or as they referred themselves as) Indigenous Canadians who traveled to Israel to express their solidarity with the Jewish people. As they interviewed with reporters after the event, one gentleman spoke that "no group of people should be targeted for extinction just because they believe in and love God". How right he is...but maybe that's precisely why they were targeted - and why they still are. Never Again!

Elsewhere around the Nation, at 10 am, there was a two minute siren in which everyone went outside and stood in remembrance.

Remember.....

One week later, May 9, was Israel Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron), to remember Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism. At 8 pm the night before (because according to the Jewish calendar and the Bible, a new day begins at sunset) there was a one minute siren across the country.

The next day, at 11 am, there was another siren for 2 minutes, where once again, around the Nation, life came to a standstill in remembrance and honor of those who had lost their lives. As you'll see in this video (not filmed by us) at the shuk (market) - and not at an official ceremony - the solidarity of a people. Then, notice how when the siren ends, life goes back to normal - this also represents life in Israel.

One of the "hot topics" in Israel is the kidnapping and prisoner of war - Gilad Shalit. The people of Israel mourn with his family as this young IDF soldier is still held captive in Gaza by Hamas since June 2006 - when he was only 19 years old. When you travel around Israel, you'll see yellow ribbons everywhere in expression for the safe return of Gilad.

"Graffiti" about Gilad near Independence Park

Remember.....

Back-to-back with Israel Memorial Day is Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut). In Israel, this was celebrated on May 10th, not May 14th as some may think. This is because Israeli holidays follow the Jewish calendar, not the Gregorian calendar.

There is, although, discussions to separate Memorial Day and Independence Day by one day. This would be out of respect for those who have lost loved ones who find it difficult to transition so quickly to a day of rejoicing.

Also in discussion is how to celebrate Independence Day as a Biblical Holiday. Israel becoming a Nation is like no other Independence Day in any other country - it is prophesy fulfilled:

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. Isaiah 66:7-9

One thing we realized on the eve of Independence Day, May 9, is that Israelis are late night people!! Festivities started about 9 pm with dancing and stages set up around Jerusalem (and the country). Fireworks around the city were scheduled at 9:45, 10:45, and midnight!!

After a full day at the office, we decided to go home and try to take a nap since we knew we'd be out late...

We left about 9 pm and took a bus to Ben Yehuda Street - the walking mall. There was a stage set up at the top with musicians and dancing in the streets.

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We then made our way down Ben Yehuda, with more people than we had ever seen there before. We stopped to eat cotton candy and watch some young men break dancing!!

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At the bottom of Ben Yehuda, at Zion Square, there was a large stage set up, and thousands of people! After making our way through the tight crowd - and many youngsters with large cans of shaving cream....we "swam" up Jaffa Street towards the Old City.

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About half way to our destination, Safra Square (at the municipality complex) we came upon a 3-D light show playing on one of the buildings - sponsored by the local bank. It was quite amazing how they made it look 3-D. Here's a video of part of what we saw - you may only want to watch a portion, it's 7 minutes, and again, we didn't film it :)

When we arrived at Safra Square, it was close to 11 pm, which is when the Israeli folk dancing was set to begin - and was to continue until 3:30 am! There were thousands of people in the square, dancing, singing and rejoicing. Now this was what we were looking for! Something more traditional. Everywhere you looked there were groups in circle dances. At one point there was a man on stage calling out directions for dance steps - he reminded us of our friend Curtis - how we wish he and his group were there to join in with the thousands of Israelis in these traditional Israeli folk dances!!!

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At about 11:15 pm the fireworks went off (yes, they were late) while the masses were joyfully dancing to the "chicken dance" of all dances!!!! No, this is not an Israeli folk dance :)

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We stayed until after midnight before heading back down Jaffa Street towards home....which we arrived at about 2 am....when in Israel.... :)

The next day, a holiday and day off of work, our organization hosted a picnic at Independence Park. It was a beautiful day with blue skies. Through out the day the military were conducting "fly-overs". Our own personal Air Show!