At 10 sharp this morning the sound of a siren was heard all over the country for two minutes.
I knew this would happen, so I stayed in my room. It's not war, relax, everybody already knew.
"On Yom HaShoah and Yom Hazikaron, the air-raid sirens are sounded throughout Israel to mark national moments of remembrance/silence. The accepted practice is to stop and stand at attention, no matter where you are (even cars on the highway just stop in the middle and the drivers stand outside their cars!)."
Of course I couldn't resist looking out the window to see if people actually stop doing whatever they are doing - including driving - and stand up in memory of the holocaust.
They do! (at least the ones who were at the gate of the Technion)
It was amazing to hear the sound go down and see the people in the streets getting in their cars and starting to move, all at the same time as if everything was alive again. It was like a ghost-movie moment.
Note: in Israel today is the Holocaust Day and next week, one day before the Independence Day, is the Memorial Day which is a national holiday. These days are observed according to the jewish calendar, so they float in the gregorian calendar.
14 Nisan: Holocaust Day (יום השואה, Yom Hashoah) - Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day
4 Iyar: Memorial Day (יום הזכרון, Yom Hazikaron) - Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day
5 Iyar, 5708: Independence Day (יום העצמאות, Yom Ha'atzmaut) - anniversary of the proclamation of the state of Israel in 1948
I knew this would happen, so I stayed in my room. It's not war, relax, everybody already knew.
"On Yom HaShoah and Yom Hazikaron, the air-raid sirens are sounded throughout Israel to mark national moments of remembrance/silence. The accepted practice is to stop and stand at attention, no matter where you are (even cars on the highway just stop in the middle and the drivers stand outside their cars!)."
Of course I couldn't resist looking out the window to see if people actually stop doing whatever they are doing - including driving - and stand up in memory of the holocaust.
They do! (at least the ones who were at the gate of the Technion)
It was amazing to hear the sound go down and see the people in the streets getting in their cars and starting to move, all at the same time as if everything was alive again. It was like a ghost-movie moment.
Note: in Israel today is the Holocaust Day and next week, one day before the Independence Day, is the Memorial Day which is a national holiday. These days are observed according to the jewish calendar, so they float in the gregorian calendar.
14 Nisan: Holocaust Day (יום השואה, Yom Hashoah) - Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day
4 Iyar: Memorial Day (יום הזכרון, Yom Hazikaron) - Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day
5 Iyar, 5708: Independence Day (יום העצמאות, Yom Ha'atzmaut) - anniversary of the proclamation of the state of Israel in 1948
