NO THANKS ALL THE SAME

Today Israel is mourning our dead...soldiers...terrorist victims. Last night the siren went off for one minute and the country came to a halt as one and all stood at attention to remember lost friends and family and strangers who became family.

There are no movie theatres open on Yom HaZikon. The restaurants are closed. There is only a country remembering. And what a country!!!

As I stood at the window watching the traffic come to a halt as people got out of their cars to pay their respect and thank the fallen for the terrible price they paid for us, I cried. And prayed. And cried again.

Then there was the opening ceremony at the Kotel. Peres spoke...the Rabbis spoke...the head of the IDF spoke...all to the point...all eloquently. Yizkor was sung by the Head Hazan from the army. A young man with the voice of an angel brought even more tears to our hearts. Israel mourns her dead and does not take one life for granted.

This morning the siren went off again for another two minutes. But this time as I was standing at attention...for the first time...I realized that my four year old and six year old grandchildren were standing at attention too. That thought took my breath away. Israel is a marvellous country.

If you want to know what Israel really is like come here for two weeks. Start out with Yom HaShoah where we mourn our lost brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers who were butchered in the Holocaust. Then just a week later we have Yom HaZikaron...today...where...well you know...and tonight we go into Yom HaAtzmaut...Independance Day. Only Independance Day can break the belt of sorrow that clamps around our heart. They were smart, whoever they were, who figured that out.

All the streets around my house are blocked. I live five minutes away from Har Herzel...Mount Herzel and next to it is the military cemetary. All of Jerusalem has gone to visit their fallen loved ones.

That is one club I never want to join. Thank you God for all my blessings. Please watch over Israel. May we know no more sorrow.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.