ANZAC Day 2014

ANZAC day is not just a commemoration and celebration of Australia’s past and present servicemen and women but rather a symbolic occasion on which each and every Australian acknowledges the forging of our national identity, personified largely by the feats of the ANZACs during the First World War. On Australian shores, the ANZAC spirit radiates a societal value of mateship, a willingness to help out our fellow man and come together to celebrate things important to us. In line with these values, there was no better way for participants of Australian gap year programs in Israel to celebrate ANZAC day than to come together for a day of teambuilding and bonding.

Thursday morning began in educational fashion as individual movements and programs visited different sites relating to the ANZACs which are present around Israel; Aviv began with a trip to the edge of the Hayarkon River which featured a statue dedicated to the battles of World War One’s eastern front on which the ANZACs were pivotal. Our JNF guide did an admirable job of explaining the intricacies of the role of Australian soldiers in the claiming of Israel by the allies from the Ottoman Empire, then named Palestine, it was captured through successful battles at Beer Sheva and then Jerusalem. Our next stop was the hub of Israel’s water recycling program in Kfar Saba, a program which contributes 80% of Israel’s overall drinking water, a stat which leads the world by a huge margin to its nearest competitor. This stop further solidified our knowledge of Israel’s role as a leading force in world technology. Our final stop before consolidating with the rest of Australia’s gap year program was to the JNF’s tree planting centre in Nachshon Forest, at which we were afforded the opportunity to perform the mitzvah of planting a tree in Israel, the only country in the world with more trees now than when it was founded.

We finally arrived at Nes Harim, our accommodation for the night, at around lunch time, greeted by the smiling faces of friends who take up residence on one of the many other Israel programs offered to Australians at the completion of their high school educations. As old friends reunited in all new surroundings the day got off to a flying start, soon after a delicious and plentiful lunch we were divided into program-mixed groups in which we were to participate in a variety of teambuilding exercises which saw friendships, both new and old, blossom. It was a marvel to watch over 250 young Jewish Australians interact with their counterparts in a beautiful natural setting. We were also treated to a demonstrations in Japanese martial art as well as Krav Maga, the deadly martial art of Israelis. We watched in awe as the instructors belted one another, until one humorously drew blood from the nose of the other prompting multiple jocular comments. Free time followed prior to dinner as a ‘forced march’ was offered by our instructors, an invitation taken up by the majority who undertook the 4 kilometre walk with gumption. A barbecued dinner soon put smiles on the faces of most before the day was rounded out by chill time in which most took the opportunity to make new friends, meet new people, wash themselves and finally get some shut eye.

Friday was ANZAC day itself, and it was a pleasure to see bus after bus of young Australians arrive at Mount Scopus for the official Jerusalem commemoration, each dressed in their respective uniforms or official garments. The Australian ambassador to Israel as well as multiple other dignitaries were in attendance as we witnessed a traditional ceremony which saw the usual staples of the last post, the ode and the laying of wreaths performed with utmost respect to the heroes of a nation situated on the other side of the world to where we stood, however to us it wasn’t just any nation, it was our nation. A huge amount of organisations were represented included almost all of the belligerents of the First World War as well as the United Nations and others, with all paying their respects through the laying of a wreath, including Australia’s many gap year programs, represented by carefully chosen participants of each program. Overall, the ceremony was unbelievably respectful and it made each and every one of us, miss home in some way, shape or form. The service was fittingly concluded by a mass recital of the mourners Kaddish in the Jewish section of the Mount Scopus cemetery.

I am personally exceedingly grateful that we were given the opportunity to celebrate ANZAC Day in fitting fashion on Israeli soil, after all, we are first and foremost Australian representatives in the holy land and what better way to represent our country than to be ambassadors on one of our country’s most important days. I hope that this wonderful initiative by the ZFA is continued well into the future.

By Jake Rosengarten