Yom Ha’Atzmaut felt different this year as Jews worldwide live through a time of deep devastation, yet are infused with hope and courage. Naaleh’s programming was meticulously designed to reflect these dual realities.The school centered its Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations around the theme of “Al HaMar v’HaMatok, the bitter and the sweet.” A central question of the day was how to possibly celebrate amidst such sorrow. The day began with a beautiful recitation of Hallel, then the students picked from a range of workshops each exploring Israel within various contexts including Tanach, history, tefillah, current events, STEM, Halacha and the arts. Each classroom was divided into two halves, one representing mar and the other matok, allowing the students to explore both the solemn and celebratory aspects of each topic. The day concluded with a festive lunch and chagiga, filled with song and dance, as students accepted that the mar and the matok are both part of the Jewish story, and the lesson is not to disregard the pain, but still celebrate the hope.