Alena's blog

Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut 2025: From Grief to Gratitude and a Country on Fire I had the powerful experience of witnessing the transition from Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) to Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) here in Israel. Yom HaZikaron is a day of deep national mourning. It’s a time when the entire country remembers the soldiers who fell defending Israel, and the civilians who lost their lives in acts of terror. At exactly 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m., sirens rang out across the country and everything stopped. I stood still with others, in total silence, as traffic froze, conversations paused and a collective moment of memory filled the air. It’s hard to describe how moving it is to see an entire country hold its breath together. Then, as night fell, the atmosphere was supposed to shift into celebration, as Yom HaAtzmaut began. But this year was different. Due to massive wildfires across the country, especially in central Israel, most Independence Day events were canceled. Among them...

It was my first time experiencing Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. I had heard about it before, but nothing compares to being here and witnessing it in person. At exactly 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, April 24, 2025 a siren rang out across the city. I was in Haifa and suddenly everything stopped. Cars pulled over, people got out, and everyone stood in silence. No one spoke, no one moved. For two full minutes, the entire country stood still. It was deeply powerful. Yom HaShoah is a national day of mourning and remembrance for the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. It’s a day of silence, memory, and unity. Ceremonies are held, stories are shared, and candles are lit. But the siren - that haunting sound - is what stays with you. It’s a shared pause in time, a collective moment of respect, grief and reflection. Standing there in silence, I thought of the victims, the survivors and all the families whose lives were shattered. I thought of the importance of rem...

  This year, I celebrated Pesach for the first time in Haifa with my family and neighbors. I was visiting their home for the Seder, not fully knowing what to expect, but open to the experience. The table was beautifully set. There was matzah, wine, hard-boiled eggs and symbols I was just beginning to understand. We sang songs that felt ancient and alive at the same time. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming - filled with tradition, laughter, and something deeper I couldn’t quite name. But even in this moment of togetherness, there was also silence - not from lack of words, but from what everyone was holding in their hearts. Pesach is called the holiday of freedom. Yet, as we celebrated, I couldn’t stop thinking about those who are not free. The hostages still being held in Gaza. The families who couldn’t celebrate properly, who left chairs empty at their tables, still waiting, still hoping. It felt strange - to celebrate freedom while knowing others are still in captivity. But maybe ...

  Russia’s reaction to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel has been complex and strategic. At first, some Russian state media showed a surprisingly cold response. Well-known TV hosts close to the government mocked Israel’s intelligence failure and even suggested - without proof - that Ukraine may have helped supply weapons to Hamas. This fit into Russia’s usual narrative of blaming the West and its allies. However, official Russian statements were more balanced. President Putin condemned the terrorist attack but also criticized Israel’s strong response in Gaza. Russia has called for a two-state solution and tried to present itself as a neutral country that can help with peace talks. At the same time, it hosted Hamas representatives in Moscow, which raised questions about its real intentions. There have also been reports of Russian-linked disinformation aimed at Israeli audiences. These include fake news websites and misleading posts on social media, possibly trying to create confu...

  On October 7, 2023, the world changed for many people. While horrifying acts of violence were taking place in Israel, I was far away, in Moscow. I was living my usual life - going to my Lyceum, solving math problems, attending lessons  and preparing for exams. It was just another busy day in my routine as a student. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the scale or the horror of what was happening. But in the days that followed, as the news and images reached us, I felt a deep sadness and shock. It’s difficult to grasp how, in one part of the world, people were fighting for their lives, grieving and terrified - while in another part, life continued almost as normal. That contrast has stayed with me. I keep thinking about the families who lost their loved ones, about the children who woke up to fear instead of safety, and about how fragile peace can be. No one should have to go through what so many experienced that day. Even though I was far away, my heart aches for the vic...