Day 15 - Holocaust Memorial to Tel Aviv
Trip Start
Mar 21, 2008
1
15
Trip End
Apr 05, 2008
Tel Aviv,
Tel Aviv,
Israel
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
I completely embarrassed myself at our meeting with Zwi and Hannah Bacharach when I asked them what Zwi's present place of work, Yad Vashem, was. It is, in fact, the biggest Holocaust memorial site in the world. Comprising research facilities with myriads of archived documents and memories, an international learning centre, various memorials and a multimedial museum it covers a vast location on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Of course we were compelled to visit and learn more about our nation's past and the plight of the Jews under the atrocious nazi regime. We were shocked by how incredibly cold-blooded everything was thought through and executed to the most minute detail, such as the different strategies for the "final solution" in different parts of Europe, the approach in the west (e.g
Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem
. Holland) being much more subtle than in the east (Poland and Russia). But we also learnt about guerrilla resistance groups, and individuals across Europe who risked their lives to hide Jews, the most famous example being Oskar Schindler. Large parts of the outdoor park commemorates these individuals. There are quite a number of other memorials commemorating the children who died and the tragically futile bravado of the Warsaw Ghetto revolt. There's an eerie "Valley of the Communities" remembering those Jewish parishes that were stamped out across Europe. Also there is a solemn hall with the names of all concentration camps reflected in the shimmer of an eternal flame (that ex-German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder famously turned off by accident).Somewhat solemn we made our way back to our hostel, then to the bus terminal to return to Tel Aviv aboard a bus full of travelling (and of course armed) soldiers. Here we were to spend our last night in Israel. We were sad to go and Tel Aviv knew it, so it successfully did its best to cheer us up. We had our last (and coincidentally first) Kebab on a small square where a singer and keyboarder were playing Jazz and Pop favourites with little children dancing around an locals chiming in.
We then strolled through the closing markets to the beach to watch the sun set into our third Sabbath while in front of us students were gaily twirling various artistic implements through the air and behind us dancers were shaking it to the rhythmic pounding of countless drums
The Valley of Communities, Yad Vashem
. What a way to go out!Farewell Israel!
That's it.
Thanks for sticking with us, it's been fun writing the blog. We've had many a fond twinkle in our eyes going back down memory lane. We can fully recommend this country rich in so many things tangible and intangible! It's left a long spiritual aftertaste which we are sure you'll appreciate just as well if you put your concerns aside and boldly venture where history has left one of its strongest marks. We dare you!
Regine and Peter
