In the year of 2014, Israelis have been through a lot. From the war in Gaza through multiple terror attacks and people turning against each other based on political views, through the announcement of going to a second election in four years. Those difficult times drained our strength and, at times, brought us down to the point of frustration. Luckily, one of the things about our Israel, is that with all the complaining, we all know there's no other place for us, and that after every slippery slope comes a climb back to the top. Here are eight beautiful moments of kindness and solidarity, which gave us hope for 2015:
1. Supporting the troops: The people of Israel join forces to life the soldiers' spirits during the war: In the summer of 2014, operation Protective Edge launched, as thousands of young soldiers kissed their parents goodbye and left for Gaza. Others were sent to Israel's northern borders to protect the citizens from there.
To show their support and appreciation to the brave men and women at the front, the people of Israel donated food, clothes and other supplies through organizations and independent groups of people, who brought constant deliveries to the borders. As the war prolonged, people went out on the streets and waved Israel flags to the enthusiasm of the public. Following those improvised shows of support, people started hanging flags on their porches and cars.
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<strong>2.</strong> <strong>Saying “thank you” to a lone soldier who fell in combat: </strong>On July 22, occurred a truly beautiful moment of unity in solidarity at a heartbreaking time: more than 40,000 people attended the funeral of Nissim Sean Carmeli, who was killed in Gaza.<br />
Carmeli was a “lone soldier,” meaning in this case that his parents live abroad and that he came to Israel by himself to serve in the military. That's what drove 40,000 Israelis to the cemetery in Haifa, to stand with his parents who flew all the way from Texas, and show that even if most of his friends and family are far away, he has the people of Israel as his brothers and sisters.</p>
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6. Celebrating with Israel's national soccer team: On November 17, the Israeli national soccer team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 Sunday as part of the 2016 Euro qualifiers. This win was an historic moment for the team and a moment of joy for all Israelis, since this is a big step towards its first ever participation in the Euro. Should the team qualify, it will be its first participation in a major tournament since 1970. 30,000 Israeli fans arrived at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa to cheer for their team!
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<strong>7. Watching (and loving) Israeli cinema:</strong> Usually, what gets Israelis out of their houses and into the cinema is a good American- Hollywood blockbuster. Israeli movies, on the other hand, never really flourished in Israel. Surprisingly and happily, 2014 was an amazing year for Israeli cinema, with more than 1.8 million people purchasing tickets. Amongst them, near 500,000 people watched the major hit, “Zero Motivation.”</p>
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