Freedom's Cost

Sunday was our day in Tel Aviv. We had two learning experiences scheduled, Independence Hall and the Palmach Museum. After those two things, we had a couple of hours on the beach to swim in the Mediterranean before returning to Jerusalem.

I have to say that I was shocked by my response to Independence Hall. We actually had a walking tour in Tel Aviv in October and she finished here (although it was outside in the square, we didn't come inside) and I was... underwhelmed. This time, though, we watched a video on the settlement (modern settlement) of Israel, Herzol, and the UN declaration. Then we went into the room where they read their Declaration of Independence, complete with name cards, flags, and the photo of Herzol in the background. The most moving part by far, though, was the audio recording that was played of David Ben-Guiron reading the Declaration, followed by the announcement out of the second floor window and the crowd outside spontaneously breaking into "Hatikvah", the Israeli national anthem. It's not my country nor is it my national anthem, and I truly haven't ever connected very strongly with all of the events surrounding Israeli's independence, but I was so very moved by standing in that room, hearing that audio recording. It really made me think about the fact that freedom, no matter where you are or what year it is, freedom has such meaning for everyone.

Now, the Palmach (you really need to hear me say it because I'm getting really good at the throat clearing sort of sounds that the Israeli's make) Museum... WOW. I am so aggravated that we didn't bring Emma and Kelsey here in October because the would have LOVED it. It is a tribute to the Palmach, the partisan fighters who were the first version of the Israeli Defense Force. I am amazed at their story and the bravery they exhibited with so little during those early days of freedom. The museum itself was incredible, because you progress from room to room, following a video that is the story of a group of them. However, each room is like a movie set and the video projects on the wall (or screens, or tents, or rocks). There are even SMELLS! The part where they were sitting around the campfire talking, we were sitting on logs and the ROOM SMELLED LIKE A CAMPFIRE. I am ENAMORED. I also really loved something else that happened. As we went in, there was a wall of black and white photos. I glanced at them as we went in and appreciated them for their beauty. I was even remotely interested in the subjects, but not profoundly so. When we came out, we walked by those photos again. I couldn't make myself walk away because those photos... they meant something. Those PEOPLE meant something. I now had a connection with them. I took a photo of part of the wall (second from the bottom here) and realized that is exactly my goal in Holocaust Literature... I want you all to connect, to connect PERSONALLY with the subjects. If I do that, I have accomplished something valuable.

The Mediterranean was nice if you like jellyfish. I did get my first brush and tiny sting from a jellyfish, so there's that. We got a little sun and then got some pizza when we got back, hung out on the terrace a while with new friends, called it a night.