Mini Israel, Big Celebration

Last night we stood on the corner of the roof here at the hotel and watched the streets below as the siren wailed at 8 PM marking the beginning of Yom HaZikaron. Cars started to pull over, bikes rolled to a halt, and the people stood at attention, as we stood in silence with the residents of Tel Aviv.

This morning, we stood beside Yitzhak Rabin's memorial as his daughter and other family members waited for a small memorial to begin in his honour at the scene of his death 19 years ago. The siren sounded and we could see the faces of the Israelis in mourning today, a different scene than the one we saw from the rooftop.

And this of course is metaphoric of our whole experience here. Sometimes we are watching Israel, seeing its stories and the places where they happened. Other times we are looking Israel in the face, feeling it, and connecting. The two elements collided with force tonight at Mini Israel.

We were there for a transition ceremony with Canadian participants from the March of the Living. They had a choir, and survivors spoke about coming to Israel after re-visiting Poland, and you could feel the mood changing as the choir sang Od Yavo Shalom faster and with more enthusiasm. Looking down at the mini country, we were able to have the real Israeli experience of moving from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Ha'Atzmaut. I know it's still a sad day at home, but for us, it's all fireworks and fellafel now. Chag Sameach!!!