Taglit Birthright Winter 2012 - Day 8
Posted on 12/23/2012 @ 03:00 PM
Today was the most somber day of the trip so far. We tackled three difficult subjects in one day: Yad Vashem, Har Herzel and parting ways with our Israeli peers.
The spirit and laughter of this fantastic group of 21-26 year olds quickly changed to teary eyes and reflective silence.
We began with a tour of the Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. The building itself was beautifully crafted, with every stone and brick placed with a purpose. We were soon introduced to our tour guide, Yiftach who showed us a film about a Holocaust survivor named Ovadia Baruch. I was moved to tears by Ovadia's story of loss, fear and love. His story was just the tip of the iceberg for us.
We were then taken to the actual exhibit that transported us through the journey of the Holocaust. I was overwhelmed by all of the information, artifacts, videos and pictures of this time in our history. Yiftach gave us as much information as possible in the time we were there, taking only a few breaks for us to compose ourselves and reflect.
What I found most interesting about Yad Vashem was that the tour truly humanized all the people affected by the Holocaust. When digesting the numbers of people that were killed, it is easy to forget that all these people were individuals. They were daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Yad Vashem did such a beautiful job of telling the individual story and breathing life into the numbers on paper.
After a rejuvenating lunch at the cafeteria we made the quick walk to Har Herzel, the cemetery for soldiers lost in battle as well as the political leaders of Israel. Our Birthright tour guide, Ido, told us the stories of heroic soldiers who gave their lives for their country and of the enduring strength of the Israeli Defense Forces. The most striking experience for me, as well as most of our group, was walking through the newest section of the cemetery. It was there that we saw the newest casualties in the never-ending fight for our land.
Upon looking at the tombstones of these soldiers and seeing that most of them were younger than me, it finally struck me how incredibly lucky and blessed I am to live in a place that is not threatened by bombs and warfare on a daily basis. There was not a dry eye amongst us as we gave out respects to these brave soldiers.
Our group encountered something incredibly special while touring Har Herzel. During the time in the new section of the cemetery we were party to a memorial service for a fallen soldier. We got to witness the people left behind by death and were able to hear the Mourner's Kaddish, and although I did not know the soldier lost, I felt like he was one of my own. The most touching part of this service was that at its conclusion, the mourners embraced and smiled. This reminded me of a picture I had seen earlier at Yad Vashem of men in a Jewish ghetto dancing and holding a Torah. It was incredible to witness the strength of the Jewish people both in our past and our present. Even during suffering and loss, we are able to smile and celebrate our faith and our community.
In Israel, joining the army is not a choice, like it is back home. It is their reality. The IDF soldiers are fighting at home because they must. Their bravery and courage are truly astonishing, and when it finally came time to say goodbye to our Israeli peers and soldiers, I began to see them in a new light. The group and I were sad to see them leave, many of us crying as we hugged goodbye. But the soldiers were not only saying goodbye to their new American friends, they were also headed back to their bases to rejoin the war efforts. Although we are all around the same age, have similar styles and taste in music, our Israeli peers live a life so much different than ours—a life that is blanketed by the imminent threat of war and loss.
We ended the day with a tour of a bird observatory, reminding us of the duality of the life of Israelis. Both sorrow and joy are intertwined in this land. Every day the nation of Israel faces threat and danger that most of us cannot even begin to fathom. But at the same time, the people of Israel experience a joy only residents of this nation can. To live in the land of our people and to share the pride and passion of our faith with friends, family, and neighbors every day.
This day is one that I will never forget, and that is a promise to me, my future children, and the people of Israel.
Natalie Romano
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