Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron

I've recently taken part in remembrance ceremonies for two very important days in Israel: Yom Hashoah (Holocaust remembrance day) and Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance day for the fallen soldiers and victims of terror).  I've always known that these days existed, yet in the states it seems that we just never got around to doing something special to remember all of the people who have sacrificed and suffered in the name of Judaism and Israel.  During all of the speeches and ceremonies for both days I found myself as emotional and moved as I've ever been.  All of the songs, speeches, slideshows, and testimonials of those who have suffered have struck something deep inside me, and it feels so amazing to finally have an emotional connection to a land and people.

In the states I've experienced plenty of Independence days, Veterans Days, Memorial days, and other similar American traditions and remembrance days without ever feeling a deep emotional reaction or connection.  For a while I thought that there was something fundamentally wrong with me; like I didn't have the ability to feel pain or empathy for others.  I even joked at times that I no longer had the ability to feel, and that I lost my soul somewhere along the way.  Now that I'm in Israel I don't worry about a lack of emotion or a  connection to something larger than myself.  I feel something here that I could never feel in the states; an absolute love for my nation, people, and culture.  These remembrance days are difficult for every Israeli, but for me they represent a realization that I'm finally connected to a place and people and that I'm finally home.