May 1 in Israel
Sun., May 4, 01:31 PM
My friend MF is a gentleman with whom I worked a few years ago. He is now based in Europe and occasionally visits Israel in the course of his work. Since he knows I am interested, as well as that I shall never get there, he often writes to me about his visits. His writing is descriptive, informative, and often humorous.
The following is an account he sent about Yom Hashoah, the day of remembering victims of the Holocaust. It is not the sort of report you’ll find in the “liberal” American press. But it is definitely better than anything I’ve written myself recently.
Last night at sundown all stores and restaurants closed in preparation for Holocaust Memorial Day today. The hotel restaurant is allowed to stay open, and it was packed, naturally — what are tourists supposed to do? The Sheraton Tel Aviv is very nice, has an excellent kosher kitchen serving the breakfast buffet (oh, so that’s why there wasn't any crispy bacon to go with my eggs) and the most fabulous lamb dishes you've ever had for dinner.
Also after sundown yesterday all Israeli TV stations had no broadcasting, just a tasteful shot of a memorial candle and, I presume — it was in Hebrew letters — a commemorative text of some kind.
Today was a normal work day, but I was told that at 10:00 sirens would go off to signal a two-minute moment of remembrance of Holocaust victims. I am glad they prepared me for this. I went outside the building, because I knew I would get emotional. For as much as one thinks one has processed the enormity of that crime against humanity, it is just too big to ever grasp.
Promptly at 10 a.m. sirens began their shrill lament. People stopped their cars and got out and stood silently. Big burly construction workers put down their tools. I think it’s the only two minutes in the year when Israelis don’t have their mobile phones glued to their ears. I did get emotional — glad I was outside. Despite the wailing of the sirens, you could still sense the pause and quiet of people. I had goosebumps all over me and even thinking about it gets my skin crawling again.
The oddest feeling was afterward. You think two minutes of sirens wailing is a long time. When they stop, you think it is far too short a time for this commemorative event. By the time I got back to the building, everyone was back at work, a little subdued, but still I had the feeling that it wasn’t enough of the sirens wailing and people being reflective.
Oh, well. I’ll get over it. And probably sooner than I should.
It is especially good for someone like me to hear that report. Over the years I have read so much about the Holocaust that I am on perpetual overload, and I often find myself avoiding anything more because I have just so much emotional strength left. But remembering is important, for we know we cannot ever let it happen again.
