Yom Ha'atzmaut 56

Just got back from the UK. Amazing view over Tel Aviv as we were landing, fireworks everywhere, nice of them to welcome me home! Or maybe it was because of Yom Ha'atzmaut eve.

A flurry of activity, check we have enough flags, enough charcoal for the bar-b-q, check what time shul is. Does everyone have a clean white top. Eliana's going mad because she wants choco-milk and she cant because Tanya wants to keep her top white for just five minutes if possible.

Now we're in the car, who can tell me about Yom Ha'atzmaut, what did they tell you in gan?
Well, Abba, Ora said, the Jewish people didn't always live in Israel. Some lived in very cold countries where the people didn’t like them. Mr Herzl was a very good man who wanted all the Jews to live in a safe place which was Israel. Oh by the way, Daddy, did you know the flag of Israel is supposed to be a Tallit? So, the Jewish people ran away from the cold countries a started living in Israel, but there were bad people even in Israel who didn’t want the Jewish people to live here, not even in Netanya where Saba and Savta live! The naughty people tried to fight the Jewish people and a lot of Jewish soldiers were hurt and it was very sad, some were even dead, but its Ok because Hashem looks after them now, but we have to be quiet and remember them. Then, the Jewish people won the fighting and they were very happy and waved flags. Even though the naughty people were still there, they didn’t care because now Israel belonged to the Jewish people again.

Life is so simple when you're 4.

Chag Atzmaut Sameach