יום הזכרון

Our Remembrance Day began in the square amid Jerusalem's municipal buildings, Kikar Safra. There we heard from the mayor and several other dignitaries about the importance of the day, some of them talking about Jerusalem's contributions to Israel's history, the many sacrifices the population has made, and the possibility for a brighter and less violent future. There were also honor guards made up of policemen and soldiers, as well as a group of teens wearing the traditional blue and white. The event didn't match the scope or the intensity of the Independence Day preview Jon saw, but it wasn't supposed to - the people there honored the State's fallen by their presence and their respect.

After the ceremony we went to the shuk, and while we were there the siren sounded. We've already heard the wailing call to remembrance twice in the past week - on Holocaust Day and last night - but this time was very different. Rather than people stopping their cars in the middle of the street or halting their relaxation to stand at attention, it took several moments for the bustling arena to be shushed into silence, and even then you could see the smiling shopkeepers counting down the seconds until they could resume their shouting and hawking. The reverence and awe seen and felt at the other siren-soundings was almost completely absent there. At the same time, it was amazing that so large and busy an area could be quieted so quickly and to such a great extent.

In the afternoon we tried to plan out our schedule for tomorrow, Independence Day. We decided it would be fun to go to the Chidon Hatanach, the International Bible Quiz, which takes place annually on Yom Ha'Atzmaut. We called the venue, who directed us to someone named "Rav Somethingorother". This Rav referred us to another, who agreed to give us tickets after Jon said his students often compete (which is true). Jon then went down to the office where the tickets were being held. He entered the room and was greeted by a bearded "Rav".
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm Jonathan Parker. We spoke half an hour ago about tickets?"
"You're Jonathan Parker?"
At this point the Rav strokes his beard and raises a critical eyebrow, as if to say "why would someone as beardless as you want tickets to this event? And why would some as beardfull as me agree to give them to you?" Luckily he had already put the tickets in an envelope and written Jon's name on it with permanent marker, and probably couldn't bear to waste all that work, so with a dismissing wave he sent Jon on his way.