We checked out of our Jerusalem hotel with little incident and made our way to Yad L'kashish. Yad L'kashish is a very special organization that leaves you wondering why there aren't more organizations like it not only in Israel but in every country and indeed every community. Established 60 years ago, Yad L'kashish is an organization that serves vulnerable elderly individuals by giving them employment and so much more. The 200 folks who work at Yad L'kashish all live below the poverty line. They are all immigrants to Israel, many having fled their birth nations as long ago as the Holocaust and as recently as the current conflict in Ukraine. These individuals are employed by Yad L'kashish as artisans, creating the most beautiful and unique items ranging from Judaica to children's toys. In addition to a modest salary, they receive access to health care, public transportation, a daily hot meal, and most importantly a sense of community and a sense of purpose that is all too often denied to this vulnerable demographic. The best part is that 20% of the organization's operating budget comes from their gift shop. We hit it pretty hard!
From Yad L'kashish we crossed town to visit Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial. It was, as you might expect, incredibly challenging. During our 4 hours at Yad Vashem we confronted the horrors and complexities of the Holocaust head on. Over the years, our Davis visits to Yad Vashem fluctuate in terms of their impact and resonance. Sometimes we're simply too exhausted to be fully present. Sometimes there's just not enough collective maturity to really handle the content. For the most part our 8th graders rise to the occasion, but full disclosure, it can be a mixed bag. Not today. Today all the chaperones noticed the same thing-- that our kids absolutely rose to the challenge. We could see it in their body language, in their engagement with the Yad Vashem certified guides, in their questions and in their thoughtful responses. We could see it in the noticeable lack of complaining-- whether about hunger, physical exhaustion, or mental exhaustion. We did not hear a single kvetch during our entire visit. On the contrary, we saw the kind of engagement that reassures us that "the message has been received." It really felt like a "L'dor Vador" (from generation to generation) moment. While they will inherit a world where there are no longer remaining survivors of the Holocaust, they will bring to that world their deep understanding of this horrific chapter not only of Jewish history, but for all humanity. We didn't eat lunch until after 2pm. And again, not a single complaint.
As we journeyed from Jerusalem to the Golan Heights, where we are staying this evening, we stopped at a gas station about 1/2 way. That allowed us to unload some shekels and enjoy some Israeli favorites during the lengthy ride. Emerging from a tunnel that went through a mountain we found ourselves suddenly in the beautiful Galil (Galilee) region of Israel. We ascended the Golan Heights and eventually arrived at Kibbutz Ortal. It was a love affair at first site when the kids realized that all their rooms surround a central courtyard. Within minutes they were hanging out as a large group, listening to their "music," and having a great time together as a Kehilah. It's the kind of bonding that we promised you would happen here. It's what we mean when we advise everyone to trust the process...
Dinner was late (8:30pm) due to some Kibbutz politics (imagine that!). We enjoyed a simple meal and then let the kids hang out some more before sending them to prep for tomorrow (a big day).
Between their 7th and 8th grade trips, our kids will have visited two of the most challenging and significant Holocaust Memorials in the world: the US Holocaust Memorial and Yad Vashem. On the basis of those two visits alone, they will know more about the Holocaust then most of the people they will meet in their lives. And yes, with that knowledge, comes a responsibility. They will be responsible for educating others who have not had these experiences or visited these sites. They will be responsible for setting the record straight if (when) they encounter Holocaust denial in its various insidious forms. And perhaps most importantly, they will be responsible for living life to the fullest, knowing that this simple human right was denied to millions of our people, and is currently being denied to millions of other people in the world today. Actually, truly most importantly, they will be responsible for becoming champions of justice and vigilant guardians, doing what they can to make sure that something like this never happens again.
Context is important. Visiting the US Holocaust Museum one cannot help but ask: Why didn't the United States intervene? Why didn't we bomb Auschwitz? Why didn't we take in more refugees? The answers to these questions are and will remain troubling. Following that line of thought, it raises the even more distressing question, will Jews ever feel truly at home in this world? Will we ever feel fully safe and secure? Visiting Yad Vashem, in the heart of Jerusalem, and emerging from the darkness to be confronted with the beautiful light of the Jerusalem skyline, a different question arises: If the State of Israel had existed when Hitler rose to power, would the Holocaust have ever been allowed to take place? We will never know for certain since there was no State of Israel during those dark and tragic days, but I think, in all of our hearts, we know the answer with something much greater than certainty.
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