Taglit-Birthright Israel: DC Community Trip Day 10

At Mt. Herzl
By Daniel Kliman (Washington, DC)

The last morning began with a trip to Israel’s military cemetery on Mt. Herzl. Entering the cemetery, the noise of Jerusalem fell away. In silence lay the heroes of Israel.

Walking alongside rows of lovingly maintained graves, I experienced a range of emotions.

Grief: the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for Israel were so young. For many, life ended at 18, 19, 20. With each perished an entire world – their hopes, dreams, and the family that might have been.

Awe: the courage of men and women, many younger than myself, was inspiring. Michael Levin’s story struck a particular cord. An America oleh, Michael Levin set aside a comfortable life to join the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Like so many other solider, he died so that a Jewish state might live.

Frustration: Israel emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust only because its citizens were willing to pay the ultimate price. The geography of Mt Herzl symbolizes this: the graves of the soldiers and Yad Vashem and the memorial to Theodore Herzl, Zionism’s leading visionary. More than 60 year later, the geography of Mt Herzl still describes Israel’s precarious existence. The Jewish state would cease to exist if not for the sacrifices of its people. Little has changed.

Resolve: services in the military imbues the lives of Israelis with meaning. They serve a cause larger than themselves. As American Jews, it is easy to focus on our narrow personal goals. Standing amidst Israel’s heroes, my resolve to live a life of meaning was reinforced.