Day 9 - Lehava - Tyler

After one long but meaningful week in Poland, and one wild, joyous day arriving in Israel, today we visited Yad Vashem. Entering the museum we were exposed to a large forest with an abundance of trees, specifically planted for the recognition of the Righteous Among the Nations. It was amazing to think that each tree contained a unique story within its own roots.

Walking into the museum, the well thought out architecture features the large triangular shaping of the building which displays the top part of a Magen David. This is a symbolic indication of those who survived the atrocities of the Holocaust and came out on top, standing strong with fidelity and pride, despite the 6 million lives lost.

A particular part of the museum I found fascinating was the dark hall that recognised the lives of the 1.5 million children that were lost. Despite there being only five flames lit up, the way the glass is positioned and reflected gives the effect of thousands more flames being alight. This represented the 1.5 million flames that were burnt out, and unable to shine.

The inclusion of authentic testimonies, physical items and evidence from the times of the Shoah was astounding to witness in such a meticulous way. The tour itself was informative and emotional. We were able to grasp that our study of the Holocaust had come to an end after intensive learning and experiencing the sights of horror first hand.

Overall Yad Vashem was the perfect way to consolidate our experiences in Poland, and extend the knowledge we have gathered. Whilst the last week has been emotionally difficult, it has only made us realise that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are now ready to explore the beauty and importance of Israel with our newfound deeper meaning and appreciation, beginning tonight with dinner on Ben Yehuda street.