Israeli Independence Day

Today was the Israeli version of the 4th of July, complete with festivals, barbeques, and people all over the place. It was really fun, especially since I got to hang out with a family friend, a man who is part of the Bay Area Israeli community that helped raise me. We walked around, ate felafel, and just visited. It was such a relief to just be with a familiar face, and cool because it was in a new setting. It helped me realize that I am really doing this - really making a life for myself here in Jerusalem. I'm on top of the world! haha just kidding, sort of.

What was interesting was to realize that although today is this day of great celebration, the Arabs have another name for it - the day of disaster. Which is kind of sobering. Although it makes sense, considering they never wanted there to be a state of Israel, and then when they declared war on the first Israeli Independence Day (as soon as Israel was declared a nation), they were totally humiliated by defeat. There was definitely security and police every 2.5 feet, and even on top of buildings as lookouts. Just another part of celebrating anything here in Israel.