Negotiators Understand 'Packaging'

The anecdote i'm sharing is powerful for many reasons.  Israel will be celebrating her 68th Birthday this coming Thursday.  Also, the fact that the country are bounded together by mutual respect for life, therefore acknowledging a day in which to reflect upon those Men, Women, Girls and Boys who defended their country so that others can live with all the freedom and peace we as westerners take for granted.  Lastly, the admiration I have for Rabbi Johnny who considered that albeit his first proposal wasn't successful, he re-packaged his second proposal therefore progressing to his 'Must Have'. Scotwork teaches you these skills that will over time and practice become innate.

Two years ago on Yom Hazikaron I had a conversation with an Israeli police officer that helped crystallise how I feel about Israel, and especially how I relate to the fallen soldiers buried on Mount Herzl Military cemetery.

I had been to Mount Herzl on a number of occasions, but never on Yom Hazikaron - and certainly not since we’d made aliyah. So that Yom Hazikaron afternoon I drove from Yad Binyamin to Yerushalayim to visit and honour those who are buried there, while especially planning to visit the graves of Hannah Senesh, Yoni Netanyahu, Nachshon Wachsman and Michael Levin - whose names had been engraved in my heart and mind through their stories and their example.

Having arrived at around 4pm I walked towards the main entrance of Mount Herzl, but just as I was about to enter the cemetery I was stopped by a police officer who asked me where I was going. I replied that I wished to enter Mount Herzl and visit the graves of the fallen soldiers. She then asked me whether I had any relatives buried there, to which I answered no. Then, in a kind yet firm manner, she explained that entrance was currently limited to those whose family members are buried there and that, with regret, I was unable to go in.

Though I understood that the police officer was just doing her job, I was very disappointed. I had made a special journey to come and visit, and while I certainly wished to respect families visiting their relatives, I also wished to honour those who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the Jewish State. Given my mixed feelings, I took a few moments to do some thinking, and I then approached the same police officer and, in a gentle tone, told her the following:

“A few moments ago you asked me if I had any relatives buried on Mount Herzl, and I replied no. However, while it is true that none of those buried are my blood relatives, they are all part of my family. I am a Jew who loves Israel and who has chosen to make Israel my home, and all those buried here did so because they considered every other Jew as part of their family. So today, on Yom Hazikaron, I’d like to visit my family who are buried here and show them the honour that they most certainly deserve.”
The police officer was deeply moved by what I had said, and she then allowed me to go in.

Yom Hazikaron is a day on which we think about those whose dedication to both the people and the land of Israel led them to make the ultimate sacrifice for both the people and the land of Israel. It is a day of sadness and reflection, while also a day of pride and appreciation. But most importantly, it is a day when we should remember that we’ve all got family buried on Mount Herzl, and that we are utterly indebted to each and every one of them.

I’VE GOT FAMILY BURIED ON MOUNT HERZL by Rabbi Johnny Solomon