בנשמה

Last year's Yom Hazikaron and Haatzmaut were far from the usual given the national lockdown and one of our kids needing stitches. As a sense of normalcy from the Coronavirus pandemic is returning here, there were feelings and experiences that were new for everyone. This Yom Hazikaron reminded us, as parents, how Israel does it right (as hard as it is). Back in the United States, it was peculiar that Memorial Day often is commemorated with sales at the mall, family BBQ gatherings, vacations and the like. Surely we did see social media posts of veterans and cemeteries, but for many in the United States, the impact of loss is far removed. Soldiers are not often seen wandering the streets and with service being voluntary, it is much less in your face. At least, that was our collective and personal observation growing up and continued bewilderment into adulthood. Another new this year was being able to attach the Israeli flag to our car and drive arou