Date: July 11, 2016
Author: Yuval Ashkenazi
Theme: Past, Present, Future

Today, Monday the 11th, our cohort departed Ramet Rachel, after a long and meaningful few days of Kennes. We started off the morning on a serious note - visiting Yad Vashem memorial museum, as well as a tour of mount Herzl. Yad Vashem was truly a significant experience. We began the tour discussing the name of the museum and institute:Yad Vashem. The group was informed that the name highlights the mission of this educational organization, which is not only to provide the world with statistical information about the tragedies of the Holocaust, (hence the Yad, which when translated is monument) but to also provide a center where personal stories of those that we have lost can be shared and spread to the public (Vashem is name, a name is personal in comparison to a monument)
As leader of the day, I decided to provide each fellow with a testimony page of an individual who perished in the Holocaust. I did this to provide each fellow with a more personal perspective when visiting the museum. The tour was overall informative and emotional. Following Yad Vashem, we headed out to Mount Herzel. We first visited the Herzel museum. As a group, we collectively agreed the musuem's technical way of displaying information was innovative and provided an interesting and artistic approach to teaching of Herzel's life. This museum innovation was an excellent example that illustrated how Herzel's dream of the Jews having a modern and successful country became a reality. After the museum we visited the Herzel cemetery, a cemetery where all fallen IDF soldiers and Jewish leaders, such as Herzel, are buried. It was emotional and difficult to hear about the stories of these soldiers who sacrificed their life For the sake of a Jewish stats and for the safety of the Jewish nation. We transitioned to a happier note when we depredated to Eilat to attend the welcome ceremony. We were reunited with our buddies from Eilat and introduced to their families. Overall this day was emotional and significant. We learned the importance that by remembering the past, we can shape the future as young leaders that are involved both in our community and in Israel.