Memorial Day Blues

May 28, 2007 - 4:00 PM by Stephanie

Israelis who find themselves in the U.S. during the American Memorial Day holiday are often puzzled.

Wait. Did she just invite us to a barbecue? On Memorial Day? I don’t get it.

Why are all of the stores having sales on Memorial Day? Aren’t people sad?

And the answer would be that yes, some people are definitely sad. And the number of sad (North) Americans grows as soldiers continue to be stationed in Iraq and in other conflict areas around the world.

But Memorial Day in Israel versus Memorial Day in the U.S. is a very very different experience.

& I only really understood that difference when, during my first year of college in Israel, I was walking with a boyfriend when the air-raid sirens calling for people to stand for a moment of silence began wailing.

We halted but nearby a group of religious boys did not heed the customary moment of silence and continued walking. No getting into the politics of why – I didn’t understand it at the time anyway.

But when my boyfriend saw them not standing in deference, he ran after them and began screaming. I didn’t know enough Hebrew to comprehend what the exchange was about. But I did catch him yelling about friends who had been lost.

When he returned to my side he was crying. He was only twenty-four.

Since then Memorial Day has never really held the same meaning for me.

Our hearts and thoughts go to families marking the U.S. Memorial Day today….Israelity

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