Yom HaZikaron

For those who don't know, Yom HaZikaron is an Israeli national holiday -- a memorial day -- for Israeli fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. There are ceremonies and memorials all over the country, as well as educational programs and school activities. It is custom to wear blue pants and white shirts, and I did see a lot of that today. On the eve of the holiday, a siren sounds throughout all of Israel at 8pm for about one minute. On the day of the holiday, another siren sounds throughout the country at 11am for about two minutes. This is the same siren that sounds at 10am on the day of Yom HaShoah -- Holocaust Remembrance Day. The siren is the "all clear" siren that sounds once air raids stop during times of war. It is an unbelievably powerful experience to stop whatever it is you are doing and stand in silence as the siren sounds. Politics aside, the day is about remembering and honoring the dead, and it is important. I can't help but wonder why this isn't something America finds important. How many soldiers have died in Iraq alone? What about 9/11? The sound of the siren and a common experience for a society speaks volumes that no politician or grieving parent can say. Below is a link for two videos -- they are on the top of that page. The first was taken during the 8pm siren. I was standing on Rechov Keren Hayesod in Jerusalem. Notice how folks stop and stand where they are walking on the sidewalks, how people came out of the hotel across the street to stand in front, how the bus stops and everyone on it stands up and how people put their car into park, get out and stand. The second video was taken during the 11am siren. I was standing on Rechov HaPalmach in Jerusalem. The siren is much louder in that part of the city, so you can really hear what it sounds like. People do the same things I mentioned above. One thing you may notice is that during the two minutes, two different taxis drive up the street. My immediate thoughts on that were that A) it is an example of democracy at its best or B) it is arguably, but highly likely, that the drivers were Arab. I asked A LOT of people this question and found out that, understandably so, Arabs might choose not to take part in this extremely significant act of Israeli patriotism. I found the whole day to be quite moving and thought you might enjoy viewing these videos. What is possibly most striking is that, particularly in the second video, you can really see how time stops for two minutes, but then life keeps right on moving. The way it should be I guess. I write this at 3am, having just come home from an awesome, awesome night out, as tonight was Erev Yom HaMatzaut -- Israeli Independence Day. I have a camera full of videos and photos that I will post in the next day or two. If you've been dying to see some footage of the masses partaking in a little Israeli dancing, then you're about to be in luck. Tomorrow is a holiday, and like most Israelis, Rachel and I will be hanging out in a park with friends, grilling and smoking nargila (hookah). What a life. Can't wait!

http://www.dropshots.com/marah