ISRAEL: 60 years of independence, personal point of view

Ruty Hotzen, Israel

2008-05-08

Image:Ruty Hotzen
Tomb of Absalom, Kidron Valley

by Ruty Hotzen I was born in Israel.

My parents run away from Poland 70 years ago when they felt unsecured in their country and the voices of WWWII were on the air.
Only they survived from their big families and they began a new life in Israel.
10 years after they came to Israel, the declaration of independence was heart - not with out fear.
The war between Israel and Arab countries around us- began.
We are now celebrating 60 years.

We are 7 millions people.
Jewish 81.3%
Muslim 15.2%
Christian 2.1%
Druze 1.6%

Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English, Hebrew – from right to left, Arabic – from right to left, English- from left to right.
The word SHALOM is how we bless everybody when we come or go.

Yesterday we celebrated independence.
Here is how Goggle sees it:

For me it is a moment of thinking: what am I celebrating?
I do not have another country. This is my home. I do not have to justify myself.
This is my home.
Am I proud? I do not know if I can leave in another country. It is not the best, it is not the most beautiful but this is mine.

Let me show you some pictures:
First from Jerusalem the city I love most in Israel
http://www.youngdiplomats.zsei.info/photo/displayimage.php?album=113&;pos=0

And some music:
First our national anthem:
Hatikva - Israeli Music. The title of the national anthem, HATIKVA, means "The Hope."
As long as deep in the heart,
The soul of a Jew yearns,
And forward to the East
To Zion, an eye looks
Our hope will not be lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Transliteration התקוה
Kol od balevav p'nimah כל עוד בלבב פנימה
Nefesh Yehudi homiyah נפש יהודי הומיה
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah ולפאתי מזרח קדימה
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah עין לציון צופיה
Od lo avdah tikvatenu עוד לא אבדה תקותנו
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim התקוה בת שנות אלפים
L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu להיות עם חופשי בארצנו
Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim ארץ ציון וירושלים

And if you go to this link:
http://www.aboutisrael.co.il/heb/freepage.php?id=997

Scroll the mouse till you will see how beautiful Israel is from above.

http://www.israelemb.org/kids/symbols.html
And this link will take you to some fun activities in English.

I hope you like the pictures and would like to visit us.
Ruty Hotzen (teacher)
Israel