Whose plan is it?

Boy what one day can do. I know I have a lot to catch you up on, but I figured I will start with today and work my way backwards. There is a saying Man Plans and G-d Laughs.

You probably know by now that there is a big volcanic ash cloud over most of Europe, since last week. We had planned on leaving Budapest early this morning for a flight to Israel. However, due to the cloud, Europe Air Space is closed for business, which means we can not get a flight out of Budapest. This morning I came down to breakfast at 9:30 am to hear that we are not sure how we are going to get to Israel, if we are going to get there at all, and that we will know more at 1pm. The only thing we did know for sure, was that we would not be making our flight to Israel today and thus we will not be in Israel to commemorate Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) there.

This change of plan had me quite agitated. I go to Israel practically every summer, but it has been 19 years since I was there to commemorate Yom HaZikaron and then celebrate the next day Yom Ha'Atzmaut. I have been looking forward to this for the entire trip. This was the climax and now I am going to miss it because of some volcanic ash cloud? Seriously?

We were asked to make committees to create a ceremony for Yom HaZikaron, that we were to put on tonight for the rest of the participants of the program. I went to help out (I have had a few years experience in organizing such an event), and while we were talking it hit me. I will not be in Israel for Yom HaZikaron.

I started to cry. All around me, my fellow program participants, asked me if I was ok. I couldn't describe to them how I felt. I wasn't crying because we weren't going to Israel - as we will - soon (I hope), and even if we didn't get to Israel and I had to fly back to Maryland from here, I was ok - because I know I am going to be in Israel in July for 6 weeks!

So why was I crying? Because there is nothing like being part of the country, part of the nation as they go from mourning our loved ones who have been killed in battle, terrorist attacks, training excercises and the like to celebrating the birth and survival of the country and nation. I missed that feeling and was so looking forward to being a part of it again. I was looking forward to sharing that with you.

I tired to see the reason why this happened - but couldn't see one. A wise person on the program said she believes its because we probably needed to spend this holiday together here - and as much as I did agree with what she said, I just couldn't quite feel it.


At 1pm, we were told we would be taking a 30 hour bus ride to Athens Greece, (you read right), and from there on Tuesday morning we would get an ElAl flight to Tel Aviv. We were to meet in the lobby at 4 pm with our bags, and we would do our ceremony at 7pm and leave by 10pm. I rushed to finish packing my bags and ran out to find some water and snacks to bring for what was to be a long ride. When we got back to the hotel at 3:30 we were told - another change come back at 6. At 6 we were told let's go to the ceremony we are staying here tonight. To make a long story shorter - we are supposed to be flying from Budapest this morning - but its been delayed twice already so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I went to the ceremony and it was really special. After the ceremony we broke up into groups and discussed what does Yom HaZikaron mean to me (not me myself, but me as in everyone). Then when we came back together we heard from a Commander in the army. He told us the story of Uri Grossman, the son of Michal and David Grossman (the author). This commander is friends with the Grossmans, their son, Uri, was in a tank unit when his unit was attacked and he died in the Lebanon War in 2006. After hearing his touching story, the Bostoner Rebbe came by. He happened to be visitng Hungary and wanted to meet us and give us a message on this auspicious day. This is the Bostoner Rebbe who live in Har Nof, Jerusalem. I must say he spoke really well - his message was one of loving and accepting each Jew for who they are. Being thankful for having our soldiers and reminding us that anyone who has died for our country is Kadosh, holy.

It is now 2:30 am. I am beat. It's been a long day - who would have thought I would ever have celebrated Yom HaZikaron in Budapest, Hungary, with the Bostoner Rebbe? Go figure! Hashem Plans and I laugh.