On Wednesday (May 4) sirens sounded throughout the entire State of Israel and the entire country came to a halt. For two minutes all conversations ceased, people stood in place on the sidewalks, and automobiles stopped in the street and remained in place.

These two minutes of silence were but one of the many different commemorations of Yom Hashoah ve’Hagevurah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day that took place here. (You might have noticed that while Americans refer to the holiday simply as Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Israeli name emphasizes the bravery of those who resisted the Nazis as well as those who perished at their hands.)

Special services and memorials took place throughout the day. Thousands of Israelis flocked to the recently opened new museum at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Sharon was not in Israel but instead participated with 20,000 March of the Living participants in special commemoration at the former site of the Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. We watched many of the ceremonies on television, and noted that the primary message to all Jews was that we cannot depend on others for our survival and that a strong Israel is vital if we are to prevent future holocausts against our people.

Earlier in the week we joined our youngest daughter, Margalit, and her Nativ friends on a tiyul (tour) of northern Israel. Nativ is the "first year of college in Israel program" of United Synagogue Youth, the official youth movement of Conservative Judaism. (http://www.usy.org/programs/nativ/) This year there are over 50 participants. They spent the first half of their year in  Israel either at Hebrew University or the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and the second half on Kibbutz or in Beer Sheva doing volunteer work. They also receive Hebrew language instruction, daven together, and participate in special seminars and tiyulim.

Nativ is a leadership development, as well as educational, program. With their intensive Israel experience behind them, we count on these outstanding young men and women to become the future leaders of Conservative Judaism on their college campuses and in the Jewish community at large.

On this tiyul the Nativers visited many historical and religious sites. We joined them on their tour of the Golan Heights Winery and in Sfat. They visited the many beautiful and mystical synagogues in Sfat and wandered the ancient alleys.

A special treat was a visit to the Sfat candle factory from where many of the most colorful Shabbat, Havdalah, and Chanukah candles in the world are manufactured. We would have loved to spend more time in Sfat but it was freezing cold during our visit! We said shalom to Nativ and began making our way back down the coast.

Here, in Jerusalem, as Shabbat approaches, preparations are already underway for Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for Israelis killed in defense of the country and victims of terror) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day). Israeli flags are waving from automobiles, jets in tight formation are practicing aerobatics overhead, and the markets are filled with barbecue grills and charcoal (a favorite Israeli Yom Ha’atzmaut activity!).

We are surveying the programs and celebrations planned and trying to decide which ones to attend. It promises to be an exciting week. We and the rest of Israel won’t be getting much sleep!

I hope you and your families are well and I look forward to sharing next week’s adventures with you.