Recently I came across this ‘infographic’. I don’t know the source or whether the stats are correct, but it still resonates because we all know what the sky looks like by the time Yom Haatzmaut is over:

The animals. The air. The smell of our hair. Nothing is left untouched when we get excited about something as a nation.
Are there alternatives to a gluttonous meatfest when celebrating the most important event in modern Jewish history?
How about…
- An early hike, before the smoke settles
- A day at the beach – it’s not as crowded as you’d think, and no bbq-ing allowed
- A block party – a group in Efrat puts one on every year – what better way to celebrate community?
I know it’s ‘what’s done’ and I know we as a country love to barbecue in general. But surely we could diversify a little bit.
Maybe an even healthier by-product would be less audible duf duf music.
Whadya got: