I was scheduled to teach one unit of Berlitz today, but the student was actually a no-show: 9:00-9:45.
At 11:00 today, a siren sounded for two minutes as the entire country came to a halt to remember those killed in Israel's wars and the victims of terror.
I was generally quite lazy today, but I didn't watch TV until evening because there wasn't much on. I enjoyed a relaxing and thoughtful day, though.
I had a salad and weenies wrapped in tortillas for lunch.
I actually took a nice nap in bed this afternoon!
In the early evening, I took another walk and took more pictures, including today's pic of the day, Harim Road crossing Nakhal Shakhamon:
In the evening, I watched the annual traditional ceremony on Har Herzl in Jerusalem, which marks the transition from the very somber Yom HaZikaron ("Day of Remembrance") to the most joyful day of the year, Yom HaAtzma'ut ("Independence Day"). It's always a very impressive ceremony, and this year was no exception. The theme was Jerusalem this year, since we'll soon be marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Old City, including the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, and the unification of the city.
I enjoy the speech by the Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, each year. He's originally from the Soviet Union, but he speaks in clear, measured, elegant Hebrew and always has good things to say.
One notable part of the ceremony this year was a singer named Rita, who wore a white dress that extended away from her in all directions for many meters. As she sang a beautiful version of Y'rushalayim shel Zahav, the lights made all kinds of interesting patterns and colors on the huge white dress on the ground.
Each year, they have notable people light 12 torches to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They try to pick a wide variety of people who have made contributions to our country and our culture. Among others, this years torch lighter included an Arab professor of medicine in Jerusalem, a female soldier who made aliyah from Ethiopia at age 4, and a blind woman who read her speech in Braille. Each person gives a short speech about himself or herself and the people whom they are especially honoring, and each one ends with the phrase ולתפרת מדינת ישראל ultiferet mdinat yisrael ("And for the glory of the State of Israel").
After that, there is much parading around with flags, forming various symbols and numbers on the parade grounds, and singing and dancing. It's always fascinating, exhilarating, and inspiring to watch!
I walked a total of 9.3 kilometers today.
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