Why not dance?

By Alicia Feldman, PJ Library Coordinator

Yom Yerushalayim — Jerusalem Day — is the most recently added holiday to the Hebrew calendar. It commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty. This 1967 victory of the Six Day War marked the first time in thousands of years that all of Jerusalem came under Jewish control. Most notably, it allowed Jews access to the holiest parts of the city, especially the Western Wall, a remnant of the ancient Temple.

In Israel, this joyous day is marked with men, women and children of all ages filling the streets. This celebration is called “The Dance of Flags,” where participants dance, sing and pray together while waving the Israeli flag. It is wonderful that, in a faith which is nearly 4,000 years old, we can still find new occasions in which to rejoice and celebrate together.

Although Jerusalem Day is not celebrated widely outside of Israel, we all could learn something from this uniquely Israeli holiday. When a moment is meaningful to us, we should publicly and voraciously celebrate it. We should look for things that are new and wonderful in life and allow the best parts to be the focus. In a time of uncertainty, we can take a page from our Israeli cousins to find and appreciate the joy in life. Let’s all find a reason to dance!

I hope to see everyone at our Yom Yerushalayim Park Playdate on Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m. at the “Can You Dig It” playground where we can enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the holiday together.

YOM YERUSHALAYIM PARK PLAYDATE

When: Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. Where: “Can You Dig It” playground at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Rd.

Sponsored by PJ Library