Memorial Day 2018

Last night the siren wailed and DD and I rushed out onto the balcony to stand in silence. There were a couple of cars stopped in the middle of the road with the drivers standing next to them, a few pedestrians stopped mid-step and a number of neighbours also on their balconies. The country stood still and so began Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

All shops were shut. Many people were at ceremonies and services last night. Today was a half-day in school and every school had it's own ceremony. There are no lessons, but rather a whole morning of activities about the day. I got a whatsApp last night telling me that I was to help Idit in 2nd Grade for the first three hours and then be with Nechama's 5th Grade boys for the last hour. No problem.

As we left the house I noticed another WhatsApp. I decided not to waste valuable time reading it at that moment -I'd read it on the bus. It said that Idit didn't need me so I could come in later but I must be there for Nechama at 11.15. Okey-Dokey, too late.

I went into the gym to see the 6th Grade boys' Memorial Presentation. They told the lives of different fallen soldiers. They acted out parts and showed interviews with their families.

One boy who spends quite a lot of time during my lessons driving me crazy, took the part of Adam Weiler, who was honoured this year by the Government along with his brother Gideon Weiler. Whilst taking his exams at Sussex University in 1967, Adam heard that war had broken out in Israel. He abandoned his exams and rushed to Heathrow Airport where he was told that no one was flying to Israel until further notice. He saw an ElAl plane on the tarmac and ran past the security guards to board the plane. Adam survived the Six Day War but was killed in action three years later. His younger brother Gideon fell in the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

It was very moving to watch my student pushing the security guards out the way and running to get on the plane. I suddenly had a surge of respect for this boy as I forgot, for one moment, that he was only playing the part in a presentation. And then I remembered that this 12 year old boy will be serving in the army in just six years time and doing whatever he has to do to keep me and DD safe. Israel's Memorial Day messes with your mind.

We had a group of soldiers join us for the ceremony after the presentation. Mt. Herzl, the military cemetery, is near our school. These soldiers were part of a platoon who had lost brothers in arms and were visiting the graves together, along with the families of the fallen soldiers. However, these particular soldiers are all Cohens. The Cohens are direct descendants through the male line, of the priests who served in the Temple until it was destroyed in 70 CE. They are forbidden from coming into contact with dead bodies so they don't enter cemeteries - ever. Despite this, they wanted to be at a ceremony. Their Commanding Officer happens to be Idit's son so he brought them to our ceremony, and they also watched the 6th Grade presentation before it.

It added something very special to have the soldiers in uniform at our ceremony. It felt like a real honour that they wanted to be with us. And it was great for the children to see them standing still and serious and only moving when their CO gave them permission to be at ease. I noticed that the whole school was better behaved than usual. We asked them to participate by reading a couple of the prayers.

Then the 11 O'clock siren sounded and we all stood in silence again. We lowered the flag to half-mast and sang Hatikva. We sang the school song (Soar, soar to great heights, you can soar, you have wings to carry you on the wind, don't be afraid, don't hold back, soar to great heights, you can soar) and a song to God for the safety of all our soldiers (God who blessed our fathers, please bless our soldiers, protect them and bring them home to us, safe and sound, please God bring them home).

I went into Nechama at 11.15 but she told me she only needed me for the last five minutes as she had to go early. I returned to the teachers' room where the teacher who sometimes gives me a ride home (a 10 minute ride instead of a 40 minute ride on the bus after waiting x minutes for the bus to arrive) was just leaving. I explained that despite having no duties all day, I had to stay to be with Nechama's class for the last five minutes of the day.

I went into Necahma again at 11.45 for the final 10 minutes. At 11.50 she told me I could go as she decided to stay until the end after all. I got the bus home.

Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day. We are celebrating in a big way this year so I'll be offline until after the weekend. Happy Birthday Israel, 70 Years!

Memorial Day And Israel Independence Day

Memorial Day ceremony at school. You can see the flags as I can't post faces.

It's a two day event. We don't celebrate Independence Day without first remembering those who have fallen defending our country and protecting us all on a daily basis. We also remember those killed in acts of terror.

It feels strange to be writing about Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror just one week after I wrote a heavy post about Holocaust Remembrance Day. But in history it did all happen so close together and in chronological order. The Holocaust (1938 - 1945), Israel Independence (1948) and so many wars since then.

So yesterday every school, every synagogue, and every community held a ceremony to remember 23,544 fallen. Everyone knows somebody. No, I lie, everybody knows several people who either didn't come home from the army or were murdered in a terrorist attack. This is the reality in a small country surrounded by hostile nations and in which every child, sibling, and parent served in the army. (Not including those of us who joined this amazing little nation after the age of 25.)

The view from the Tayelet

Then night falls and we celebrate Independence Day. DD and I went up to the Tayelet (the Promenade) overlooking the Old City and surrounding neighbourhoods on the opposite mountains. There was a live band. They had me as soon as they started singing The Proclaimers. There were street performers on stilts, market stalls, and the inevitable fireworks.

I suddenly realized that DD had never seen fireworks up close before as we usually watch the display from Mount Herzl from our balcony. It's pretty but far away. Last night she exclaimed, "It's like a dream!" And later she whispered under breadth, "best day ever."

Today we got up late. We saw some of the Air Force fly-past from the balcony as we ate a late breakfast. This afternoon it's the traditional barbeque parties and general relaxation with friends.

Happy 69th Birthday Israel!

"It's like a dream!"

From Sorrow To Celebration - 65 Years!

As Memorial Day segues into Independence Day we try to lighten to mood and move forward. It's fitting that the day before we rejoice, we remember those who have died to make it possible for Israel to be celebrating 65 years.

Last year on the morning of Memorial Day I took DD to a ceremony at the school I used to teach. All the schools do this. They start with the 11 o'clock siren and commemorate the fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Then they start the uplifting music, marching, dancing, flags, gymnastics, singing, and rejoicing for Independence Day.

This was last year. I didn't say much but took a bunch a of pictures. This year DD was going to the ceremony at the school connected to her kindergarten. The whole kindergarten went together. I stood on my balcony for the minute of silence and the siren.

Opposite us is another nursery, not connected to a school. These children are also 4 years old but were not doing the ceremony thing. As I waited for the siren I watched them playing on the slide and other outdoor apparatus. Laughing and squealing, running and climbing. I wondered what would happen when the siren went off.

Suddenly it started. It's very loud. You can't ignore it. The cars in the street came to a standstill and the drivers got out to stand silently for the duration. The teacher from across the road shouted, "Come children, stand still!" Every child stopped playing instantly, stood where they were, straight and silent, without moving for the full minute. I took a quick photo - notice how everyone is wearing blue and white today. When it was over the teacher announced, "Well done! Now we go into Independence Day with happiness!" And they all went back to their toys.

I was amazed and proud.

I arrived at the school to collect DD just in time for the final dance of the ceremony. Then all the children stood up to sing Hatikva. DD doesn't know the words yet but I was overwhelmed (again) with pride to see my 4 year old daughter 'singing' Hatikva in a ceremony for Israel Memorial Day - Independence Day. It took me back to all those Zionist summer camps where we ran around a field in The Wye Valley or South Wales capturing the Israeli Flag and singing Israeli songs around the campfire. This is what it was all for.

And for the whole afternoon DD marched round the flat chanting: YIS YIS YISRAEL, ECH ANACHNU OHAVIM ET ERETZ YISRAEL. (Is Is Israel, Oh how we all love the Land Of Israel). At one point I asked her not to stomp so much as it might disturb the downstairs neighbours. Her reply - "I'm not stomping, I'm marching!" Oh well, I think they are Zionists downstairs too so they'll understand just for today.

Israel Memorial Day

Soldiers observe the minute of silence.
From: www.jewishjournal.com via google

Today is Memorial Day. We remember all our soldiers and victims of terror who have fallen.

When I was growing up in England we observed the minute of silence on 11.11 every year. It was for soldiers who died during the two world wars, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. It was a minute and then it was over. It had all been such a long time ago as far as us children were concerned.

In Israel every family knows people who have died either defending our country and keeping the rest of us safe, or in terrorist attacks. I think the situation is also a little different in England since I left because of the Falkland War, Iraq and Afghanistan but, not to compare, we are a country of 7 million and the old adage of six degrees of separation is about three too many.

Every boy and girl has to serve in the army. It's not a career choice, it's a necessity. Even if your son is the most sensitive, non-athletic type he will have to toughen up in order to defend his country and defend us all. And they go with pride. And we are proud of every one of them. Some of them never come back.

My peers were in the army during the first Lebanon war in 1982. A close friend has spent every Memorial Day since then, along with other members of her unit, visiting the families of comrades in their unit who never came back. Over 30 years later but they are still honoured and remembered for their courage and selfless sacrifice.

At the college where I teach, I was invigilating an end of year exam. One student was pointed out to me by my head of department. "This student gets extra time if she needs it, she may leave the room and come back, whatever you can do to help her." A young girl recently married, she was widowed when her husband was shot by terrorists whilst driving home one day.

So many wedding photos over the years with the family gathered with a framed photo within the photo. The son who died in the army who is still part of the family and should have been there.

The teacher at school who had the first day of the new school year off in order to take her 5 year old niece to her first day in big school. Both parents had been killed in a drive-by shooting on the road to Eilat.

My 14 year old student and daughter of my friend who was blown up while buying school books in the centre of town.

My plumber who lost his eldest daughter when a bus stop was blown up one night as she waited for the bus home.

I dedicate this post to all our soldiers. To their parents who hold their breaths for three years and never turn off their phones. I thank you for a country where I can walk the streets even after dark and feel safe.

To all the victims of terror, victims of war, and their families. My heart breaks for you.