Hebrew by Inbal<p>Today, I’m holding two countries in my heart — and two memorials.</p><p>In Israel, it’s Jerusalem Day, /yom ye-roo-sha-'la-yeem/.</p><p>In the U.S., it’s Memorial Day.</p><p>One marks the reunification of our eternal capital. </p><p>The other remembers those who gave their lives for freedom.</p><p>And as an Israeli living in America, I feel the weight of both — deeply.</p><p>Growing up in Israel, memorial days were never abstract.</p><p>Yom HaZikaron stops the entire country. Sirens sound. We stand in silence. We know the names. We’ve served alongside them. We’ve wept beside their families.</p><p>There’s no separation between "them" and "us."</p><p>Everyone serves. </p><p>Everyone remembers.</p><p>So when I came to the U.S. and saw Memorial Day marked with barbecues and sales, it was jarring at first.</p><p>But over time, I’ve come to understand the quiet dignity in how Americans grieve. </p><p>To the fallen, in every uniform: </p><p>We remember.</p><p>To Jerusalem — my forever center — we celebrate. </p><p><a href="https://babka.social/tags/MemorialDay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MemorialDay</span></a> <a href="https://babka.social/tags/JerusalemDay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>JerusalemDay</span></a> <a href="https://babka.social/tags/Remembrance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Remembrance</span></a> <a href="https://babka.social/tags/Holiday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Holiday</span></a></p>