Birthdays
"I hate my life," my now five year old daughter claimed last night. Surprised, I asked her why and was answered "because I miss my friends and I will miss my friends." The face in the pictures would show a completely different story. Generally our cheerleader, as you might imagine, bedtime took longer.
It was a tough two hours. Dashing out of the house at 6:20 p.m. for the Yom Hazikaron tekes at our shul, I watched as our eldest looked semi horrified (ok maybe a lot) by the stories of young men who died serving the country. We quietly discussed how without these men, we wouldn't have a country, and that he can choose whatever he'd like to do within the army. Later that night, he too asked if we've ever been in the army. Josh answered no, but that Grandpa Raba was in the army (he's 94 and we just saw him on Pessach) and that roommate also served in the Israeli army (shout out to my cousin's husband!).
The transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haatzmaut is psychologicall draining. I remember in seminary the build up to being so crushed and then being told, OK time to celebrate! I found it so bizarre.
Today I witnessed my son in army gear, his classmates navigating an obstacle course as if there are mokshim (grenades and the like). It's all fun and games on Yom Haatzmaut. Somehow that intense grief and pain dissipates. We are forced to get up and move along.
In the United States, there is no draft, and Memorial Day weekend is a time for barbecues and sales at department stores. Every Yom Hazikaron I am reminded of the sacrifices made both nationally and internationally. The 24 hours to observe honorable memorials is done with grace and pride in Israel.
At the tekes, we were one of three asked to raise the Israeli flag to transition into Yom Haatzmaut. Our son read the paragraph and we practiced saying "le tiferet medinat yisrael" correctly. Being on the stage with them both, I nearly cried, but held it together. As their guardian it is our job to build into them that sense of responsibility for ourselves and onto others. The following in full was read:
We are the Vogel family. We are honored to raise this flag in honor of the aliyah movement and mark our dream of what will be 11 years. We wish that all individuals and families, young and old, from all corners of the world, find a place and way to glorify the State of Israel. לתפארת מדינת ישראל.
Moving anywhere isn't rosie. It's hard and full of emotion. A lot of emotion.
But I was happy today to finally attend a school birthday party in person. Always working, I never had the opportunity, whereas Josh works from home and tends to have more flexibility in his career.
Little victories, one day at a time.
It was a tough two hours. Dashing out of the house at 6:20 p.m. for the Yom Hazikaron tekes at our shul, I watched as our eldest looked semi horrified (ok maybe a lot) by the stories of young men who died serving the country. We quietly discussed how without these men, we wouldn't have a country, and that he can choose whatever he'd like to do within the army. Later that night, he too asked if we've ever been in the army. Josh answered no, but that Grandpa Raba was in the army (he's 94 and we just saw him on Pessach) and that roommate also served in the Israeli army (shout out to my cousin's husband!).
The transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haatzmaut is psychologicall draining. I remember in seminary the build up to being so crushed and then being told, OK time to celebrate! I found it so bizarre.
Today I witnessed my son in army gear, his classmates navigating an obstacle course as if there are mokshim (grenades and the like). It's all fun and games on Yom Haatzmaut. Somehow that intense grief and pain dissipates. We are forced to get up and move along.
In the United States, there is no draft, and Memorial Day weekend is a time for barbecues and sales at department stores. Every Yom Hazikaron I am reminded of the sacrifices made both nationally and internationally. The 24 hours to observe honorable memorials is done with grace and pride in Israel.
At the tekes, we were one of three asked to raise the Israeli flag to transition into Yom Haatzmaut. Our son read the paragraph and we practiced saying "le tiferet medinat yisrael" correctly. Being on the stage with them both, I nearly cried, but held it together. As their guardian it is our job to build into them that sense of responsibility for ourselves and onto others. The following in full was read:
We are the Vogel family. We are honored to raise this flag in honor of the aliyah movement and mark our dream of what will be 11 years. We wish that all individuals and families, young and old, from all corners of the world, find a place and way to glorify the State of Israel. לתפארת מדינת ישראל.
Moving anywhere isn't rosie. It's hard and full of emotion. A lot of emotion.
But I was happy today to finally attend a school birthday party in person. Always working, I never had the opportunity, whereas Josh works from home and tends to have more flexibility in his career.
Little victories, one day at a time.
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