The festive season was high! our first yom haatzma'ut in Israel.
Ben went to shul on friday night to a packed frenzy of singing and emotions running high. imagine: in the diaspora there is normally that nerdy overzealous zionistically inclined frummer pounding away at the songs in Hallel (for those who go!). Here it was different. Imagine a room filled with those kind of people! we were all very much singing from the same hymn book (no pun intended). And whether you say a beracha or dont (for Hallel) there was definitely a sense of gratitude at being where we were. All of Israel, united as one, in the holy land, and jerusalem.
As with Pesach when we chanted "leshana haba'ah b'yerushalayim", so too here, there was an enormous sense of arrival. To think, just 66 years ago, our little nation, displaced a so numerous a time in history, our homeland is in our hands. In recent history... the egyptains, jordanians, lebanese, iraqis, iranians, syrians and palestinians, be it government, pseudo government, guerrillas and terrorists, have all sought after our demise (and many still do!). As we say at Pesach "...not only one has stood up against us, for in every generation they stand against us to obliterate us, but the Lord saves us from their hand". How can one not be grateful?
Israel is a powerhouse of Judaism. There has not, in recent history, been nearly as much freedom to practice religion and learn all aspects of Torah freely, as there is in this day and age. Jews are returning from all the corners of the Earth. The other day I was in a car pool back home from work with 4 other strangers, all Jews, from 5 difference places on Earth: Iran, France, Russia, Brazil, England - we each had a story and a common brotherhood. I really believe that these are the stories that will be written in the history books of the future. I even exclaimed in the car "if this isn't the gathering of exiles I dont know what is!"
Israel is not just thriving, it is living, breathing, growing, developing, learning, yearning and striving. When I walk on to the streets I dont just see people, I see pioneers. Establishing schools, learning Torah, building infrastructure, sewing the land, building the economy and paving the road to redemption. Its all happening here :) and what a great time to be thankful for what we have.
And of course, we celebrate with meat! many cows (and chickens) had sacrificed their lives for this most holy of causes! We went to the 'Park of Independence' just outside the old city and met some great people. The Kenigsbergs organised a wonderful BBQ and orly had a wonderful time walking with her crocs up and down the streams in the park. The sun was (eventually) shining and the air was filled with unity (and general bbq smoke across the entirety of Israel!).
Cautious at first, the shmorg tests out the rough waters
Excellent balancing skills as Orly races off in the 'water rock climbing', she was excellent at the mini waterfalls!
Pink lolly
picnic with bbq :)
a squishy faced gorgeous child
Yael trying to get into the container with all the meat.
Being given food mush instead!
The kaysers later on in the day. orly found another burger to consume.
