Remembering
All throughout this trip, we have focused on the power of our memories, both collective and individual. We've explored history through memory and we've collected much data to remember through the years. Most of all, we have created memories which will tie us to this group of people forever.
At Shaharit this morning we once again engaged in prayerobics, crafting body movements to parallel the morning blessings. We remembered what it was like to do this on the first day, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. During Ashrey we remembered creating our own acrostic of things for which we are grateful; today we created one tied to the aspects of this trip about which we feel grateful.
Our day had, or will have, three distinct tastes. We started the day at Har Herzl, Israel's national military cemetery (much like Arlington). We began with the everyday soldiers, noting that all of the graves were structurally identical, no matter the soldier's rank, differing only by the personal touches families have added. We were struck by the youth of those buried there, many of them the same age or even younger than our participants. And we did our best to remember them by telling stories, recounting the lives they led that were cut down. Among them we remembered Michael Levin, an American immigrant from Philadelphia, who moved to Israel after spending the year on Nativ, the gap year program under the auspices of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (KOACH's parent organization). Michael was visiting family in Philadelphia when his unit was called up during the Second Lebanon War. He was under no obligation to return, but felt compelled to do so. He fell in Lebanon. His parents worried that they would not have a minyan for reciting Kaddish when they came to Israel to bury him. Traffic throughout Jerusalem was blocked by the number of people who came to the funeral, never even having known him, but honoring his commitment and ultimate sacrifice. At the end of our visit to this half of the cemetery, we read a children's book called Guni, a mother's story about her son's tremendous love for Israel and desire to protect it, only to fall in battle at the Beaufort Castle, a day after his official retirement, but having felt the obligation to be with his unity. It was an intense and powerful experience for all of us.
The second section of the cemetery is dedicated to Israel's founders and we paid homage to Teddy Kollek, former mayor of Jerusalem, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin, among others. There we recited the Kaddish Yatom, the Mourner's Kaddish, sanctifying the act of remembering. Our visit concluded at the grave of Theodor Herzl, father of Modern Zionism. Our guide pointed out that Herzl's grave, at the very top of the mountain, renders Har Herzl a very happy place, since his dreams were fulfilled beyond what he ever could have imagined. And he wished the same for us.
From the sublime to the mundane, our bus took us down to Ben Yehuda Street for a final rally of fast food and shopping. Our travelers did an excellent job of supporting the Israeli economy!
Now we're preparing for the sweetness of Shabbat together and a gentle process of saying goodbye. Participants are very much in tune with departure, feeling a mixture of sadness and anticipation. We on the staff will be very sad to say goodbye.
Meanwhile, we wish you a Shabbat filled with joy and anticipation as well.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director
