Some friends would like to know what life in Israel is really like, vis-à-vis the U.S. What are some of the differences? The candor? Hearing Hebrew on the streets?
I’d say the calendar, and I don’t just mean the Friday-Shabbat-Sunday shape of the weekend. (Diane would say lack of Sundays.)
There are the holidays, both the festive Jewish ones, including Hanukkah, Purim, and Independence Day — and the mournful ones (Yom HaShoah and Memorial Day for the Fallen). They are all a built-in and deeply felt part of the consciousness here.
Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just about World War II and the industrial-scale extermination of Jews. Especially since October 7, we are reminded that we have real enemies working on our annihilation.
There is one more thing. On Memorial Day and on Yom HaShoah, there are sirens to remind us of the solemnity of the day. Everyone stops and stands at attention, including traffic.
It’s hard to explain, but Simon Schama in his landmark series, “Story of the Jews,” demonstrates this feeling brilliantly in his last episode (#6). Watch the video below. It explains it better than I can in words.
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/338678598
“May their memories be a blessing.”