In Israel there are a series of meaningful holidays that follow Passover.
First we have Holocaust Memorial day. Our biggest reason for needing to rebuild our indigenous homeland, and not stay spread across the globe was the Holocaust. Many of the first refugees, founders, and even people who fought the war of independence were Holocaust survivors. So, in Israel, on the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, we honor the millions who were sadistically and methodically murdered by genocidal maniacs under Nazi occupation. A siren sounds at 10:00 in the morning. The whole country comes to a standstill for a full minute of silent reflection. Only a siren wailing, reverberating through generations of persecution.
Then, one week later, we have our national Memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. It serves as a reminder of the price we have continually paid to remain safe and protect ourselves as a people since our independence. Along with the civilians who were tragically ripped from us through acts of terror. This day is marked with a siren the night before at 8:00pm, and another at 11:00am. Both are for two minutes. Two minutes of reflection of all of the souls we've lost, both soldier and civilian.
These two somber days of reflection remind us of the cost we have paid for our right to exist.
But these two days are aptly timed and specifically Memorial day leads up to Independence day (back to back days). Independence day, a day of celebration for all of the things we have accomplished in our 77 years of independence.
Each of these days are marked with ceremonies both public and privately.
Today, for example, both my own school and Siikwan's hosted ceremonies. Siikwan's school invited us to come and light a candle during the ceremony on behalf of all immigrants.
Although both of our girls were born here in Israel. I immigrated at age 29 with very few language skills in tow. So on behalf of the immigrants we have here in our little community of Tekoa, I'm honored to have been asked to light a candle.
On behalf of the immigrants, like myself...
...who struggle learning the language,
...who are moved by living history,
...who struggle to navigate bureaucratic agencies, and socialized medicine,
...who feel not Israeli enough, but also somehow too Israeli (especially when back in America).
...who just want to live in a place with such deep roots to the history and culture of our people for thousands of years...
Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱
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