Am Yisrael Chai

So, I got back from Egypt on Sunday night and found a nice little wall post on my Facebook. Apparently, my friend Raechel since I have known since my Beth David days (a.k.a childhood), who is also studying in Haifa this semester was coming to Tel Aviv the next day, Monday! I was so excited! I had visited Raechel in Haifa once in early April and her and I had the most amazing time. we spent the day walking along the mountain looking out at the ocean and then when we got bored with the scenery we headed over to the Druze village and shopped around the shuk. I really clicked with her friends, they were a breathe of fresh air, haha, earthy kids as I call them, those Jewish kids my age that are all down to earth and what not. Anyway, enough with the tangents, Raechel was coming from Monday, May 5- Thursday, May 8 with her friend Kira who is a doll to say the least.

When they arrived they took a cab over to Brodetsky (my dorm) where we hung out for a bit, the real fun started the next day though. On Tuesday, Ari and I went over to Nahalat Binyamin, and art fair that occurs every Tuesday and Friday, Raechel’s hostel was close by so she met up with us. We walked along around for a bit, and then headed to the grocery. At sundown on May 6 Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day would begin. Everything closes, everything. The entire country is pretty much shut down. As a result I had to make the girls dinner that night. The next day, at 11 o’clock the sirens go off, all over the country, and everyone EVERYONE pauses, cars stop, people halt, and national moment of silence is taken. For those few moments the entire country freezes. Its unbelievable, the same occurred for Yom Hashoah (which occurred a week before, its Holocaust memorial day). I don’t want to bore you with every detail Yom Hazikaron was kind of uneventful we went to the beach for the day. it was amazing to be here though to see a nation-state, a people come together and wholly mourn over those they have lost. You feel the sense of loyalty, fraternity, and patriotism just by being here.

The real fun started that night. When the clock stroke 6 the mourning was officially over… and Israel was 60!!! When the close stroke 12 Kyla was 21!!! So the girls and I went to Sushi Republic for a birthday celebration, Israel at a strapping 60 and Kyla at a youthful 21. Dinner was great, everyone had a blast, and my friends loved Raechel and Kira’s company. I was so happy to have her here. After dinner we all headed over to Florentine (same place we were for Purim). The street was packed, Israeli flags (as with most of the city) covering every inch of the place. hundreds of people Jews, all in pure bliss. It was unreal. And in the middle of the madness, a guy steps out of his apartment looking down onto the chaotic street and takes out his massive Shofar. For the next ten minutes everyone was silent while he blew it. Only in Israel. Only in Israel.

The next day, May 8, we headed over to the beach for an air and sea show. Another mod of people, just waiting to see their armed forces perform. The respect, empathy, and heroism, the patriotism, well it’s refreshing. The show was incredible, also impressive. But even more awesome were the cheers, the claps, from ages 1-100. Everyone in unison celebrating the country they love so dearly. This is why I came abroad to Israel.

This week was important for me, impressive. Israel and Israelis it’s an amazing thing. A people, a nation, a state that has suffered so much, endured so much, but still has the spirit, the determination not only to survive but to leave its mark. A country, so small you can hardly see it on a map, but with a soul so large. Larger than life. it reminds you of how proud you are to be a Jew, how proud you are to be apart of something so special.

To say the least, Am Yisrael Chai