Haifa's enormous heart

...I will never forget my elderly neighbors (many of whom had moved to Haifa from Germany during the 1930s), who volunteered, without hesitation, for Haganah missions ahead of the establishment of the state. Their generous hearts and their willingness to give to others, even during a time of austerity, will remain forever seared in my memory. That time may have long since faded into oblivion, but it left its mark on Haifa, helping shape its modest nature, as well as its ability to face any challenge and its willingness to pay the necessary price for defending the homeland.

Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi..
Israel Hayom..
23 July '14..

During his life, Nissim Sean Carmeli was not a familiar figure to the Israeli public. He moved to Israel at the age of 16, completed high school, and enlisted in the IDF, serving in the Golani Brigade. On Sunday, Carmeli fell in battle in the Gaza Strip.

Despite his anonymity in life, Carmeli's death turned him into the focus of a huge wave of love, warmth and
solidarity from the residents of Haifa, who identified with his spirit of volunteerism and self-sacrifice, as well the righteousness of the nation to which he decided to tie his fate. Tens of thousands of people attended Carmeli's funeral, demonstrating that underneath Haifa's quiet and sleepy facade lies a layer of perseverance and moral commitment, which burst out in an impressive and powerful display of unity and cohesion.

Even though the call for the public to attend Carmeli's funeral was initiated by Maccabi Haifa soccer fans, the mass event had a clear collective nature, with no sectorial context. The many Israeli flags brought to the funeral attested to this. For me, a native resident of Haifa, the mass mobilization for Carmeli's funeral proved that the basic character of Haifa has not changed since my long-ago childhood. I will never forget my elderly neighbors (many of whom had moved to Haifa from Germany during the 1930s), who volunteered, without hesitation, for Haganah missions ahead of the establishment of the state. Their generous hearts and their willingness to give to others, even during a time of austerity, will remain forever seared in my memory.

That time may have long since faded into oblivion, but it left its mark on Haifa, helping shape its modest nature, as well as its ability to face any challenge and its willingness to pay the necessary price for defending the homeland.

The seasons may change, but Haifa remains a city of innocence, guided by a spirit of self-sacrifice and concern for others.

Link: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=9265

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