Memorial Day, Independence Day, and some Army Training?

Memorial Day and Independence Day are incredibly important holidays in Israel, and are handled very interestingly.  Memorial Day yields different emotions than Independence Day, which can make it difficult considering Memorial Day was April 14^th, and Independence Day was right after, the 15^th.    

While many Americans associate big clothing sales and parades with Memorial Day, it is one of the saddest holidays in Israel.  It honors the 23,085 fallen soldiers beginning from the fight for Independence up until now, defending the country.  On this day, the radio stations only play melancholy music, show war-related films on TV, and shops, malls, theaters, and bars are closed. 

There are three times a year where a 1-2 minute alarm is sounded in Israel, all within a few weeks of each other.  The first is for Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the second and third are for Memorial Day.  It is a truly powerful moment, in which everyone stops what they are doing: walking, driving, talking etc.  They just stand and think about those that have sacrificed themselves for the small yet fearless country.  

After the alarm sounded in the evening, I went to a ceremony in City Hall, in which everyone was sitting on the lawn together, singing sad songs and watching videos in honor of fallen soldiers.  The next morning, I went to Mount Hertzl, the largest cemetery for soldiers in Israel.  Flowers are distributed to everyone to put on the graves.  People stand together, pray for their loved ones, tell war stories, and comfort each other.  

At the entrance to Mount Hertzl

 Only about six hours later, everyone rejoices and cheers for the start of Independence Day.  This year marks the 65^th year that this young country has become a Jewish State.  Barbecuing and watching fireworks are a few things that are a must on Independence Day.  24 hours after hearing the sad songs and watching videos in City Hall, people were Israeli dancing, singing happy songs, and partying with friends.  For some, the transition from mourning to celebrating is a difficult one, but for me it was nice to end the two days on a happy and sweet note.  

Everyone getting ready to Israeli dance in City Hall

This past weekend, I went on a hike with my aunt and two cousins in the Negev desert.  And in case you were curious, I did not have training for the army.  But the hiking was pretty difficult, more than I am used to.  Still a lot of fun!

The first site we went to was Mitzpe Ramon.  Mitzpe Ramon is a huge crater that was naturally created by Earthquakes thousands of years ago.  We did 4 hours of hiking in the warm weather (even though the rest of Israel was rainy and cold).  

The next day, we went to Sde Boker, a kibbutz in which David Ben-Gurion lived.  It’s also a beautiful place to hike, and on our second day, we hiked here for 6 hours.  

 

 The weather was a bit colder and windier, which is surprising for the desert mid-April.  The real surprising bit came at the end when the sunshine turned to an opaque grey, powerful winds, and rain splashing down on us.  My cousin informed me that we were caught in a sand storm.  Shorts and a T-shirt did not prepare me for this storm, and the sand was slapping my legs.  Luckily, I had a hat and sunglasses that shielded my eyes.  Aside from the discomfort, it was actually a really funny experience.  What got me through it was “finding my happy place,” all thanks to Happy Gilmore. 

 

After making it to the bus, waiting for everyone else, and embarking home, we got another surprise:  Two camels being transported by truck.  

All in all, a great week with a variety of emotions. 

If There's Water, There's a Way

When one thinks of the geography of Israel, desert might be the type of land that comes to mind.  Sure, every birthrighter gets to enjoy a camel ride in the Negev desert after enjoying a night in a Bedoin tent, but is that really Israel? 

For only 7,992 square miles of land, Israel sure is diverse.  Starting in the north, there are the mountains and the forests, yes forests.  Although forests only make up 3.5% of Israel, it feels like more when hiking or driving through it.  

The Golan Heights

Traveling south you have the major cities, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and you have the desert in the south.  But for a land in which the water needs to be conserved for the lack of a lot of rain, there sure is a lot of water.  

I was blessed to travel throughout Israel and discovery some of these bodies of water.  I don’t consider myself a water creature, but after visiting these places, I could find myself swimming all day (warning: do not forget to reapply sunscreen or else you will get burnt).  Here are some of the bodies of water I visited over Passover break, and boy do they put the Jersey Shore to shame.  

Banias

Banias in the north is an archaeological site of the City of Caesarea Philippi.  More importantly, it encompasses a huge spring that rushes into the Nahal Hermon stream.  Banias is a great place to take the family on a hike, see the archaeological sites, and of course to marvel at the clearness and freshness of the giant spring.  

Rosh HaNikra

Arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth (thanks to my cousin Lehe), Rosh HanNikra is a chalk cliff into which grottoes have been eroded.  It is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  In order to get down to the cliff, one has to take a ski lift.  I have never seen water so turquoise in color, truly beautiful. 

The Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)

The Kinneret is Israel’s largest freshwater lake.  The end of a 3-day hike I did (called Sea to Sea) ended in the Kinneret.  It was refreshing to swim in a large body of water that didn’t contain salt.

The Dead Sea

However, the Dead Sea is a special place to see. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth.  My friends and I camped on the beach, so you can imagine that the hike up from the beach in the hot sun was a workout.  It is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, so salty that you float in the water.  The Dead Sea is also famous for the mud formed alongside it.  Loaded with minerals, the mud and other products are sold all over the world.  But if you get a chance to go to the Dead Sea, you have an unlimited supply of it.  A little hesitant at first about putting mud on myself, I soon was lathering the soft mixture all over myself.  

Exfoliating our skin with the Dead Sea mud.

Eilat

My favorite body of water was the northern tip of the Red Sea, in Eilat.  Eilat is the Southern-most point of Israel, so you can imagine that having water to cool off is completely refreshing.  What surprised me the most was simply the translucence of the water.   I could put my feet in the water, and actually see my feet!  I also loved Eilat because I got to go snorkeling at the Nature Reserve and at a Cave right nearby.  Both times I saw coral and really cool fish.  No octopuses or sharks, but maybe next time.  

These are only a few of the many types of water in Israel.  I was shocked by its variability for such a small country in the Middle East, but that’s what makes it a truly special place.