That Blank Space...

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Judy Lash Balint

Judy Lash Balintis a Jerusalem-based journalist and writer and author of Jerusalem Diaries: In Tense Times. (Gefen) andJerusalem Diaries II: What's Really Happening in Israel (Xulon Press 2007) She is a contributor to Fodor's Israel Guide (6th & 7th editions)as well as the Peace Fire anthology (Free Association Books) andT he Expulsion from Gush Katif (Southern Hills Press).

She currently serves as communications and digital media coordinator for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (www.jcpa.org) and blogs at http://jerusalemdiaries.blogspot.com

In 2003, Ms Balint received the Mosaic Award for Excellence in Feature Writing about Israeli Peoplehood, Culture and Society and took second place in the Jerusalem Foundation's Excellence in Jerusalem Reporting contest. Ms Balint's work has appeared in the N.Y Post, Christian Science Monitor, Bookmarks Magazine, Jerusalem Post, Ha'aretz Magazine, The Forward, Seattle Times, Seattle P-I, Montreal Suburban, Moment Magazine, Jerusalem Report, World Jewish Digest, Whistleblower Magazine, Midstream, Bnai Brith International Jewish Monthly, London Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jewish Action, Emunah Magazine, Amit Magazine and numerous US Jewish weeklies.

Ms Balintprovides occasional commentary from Jerusalem for New Zealand Public Radio; the Dave Ross Show on Seattle's CBS affiliate, KIRO Radio, 710AM; KOMO NewsRadio, Seattle's ABC affiliate; the Lee Rodgers Show on KSFO/ABC Radio in San Francisco and ClareFM in Shannon, Ireland.

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Thursday

Jan072010

Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 08:29AM

A relatively recent addition to the landscape at Har Herzl is the Monument to the Memory of the Victims of Terrorism that lies at the western edge of Israel's national cemetery. The stark stone walls surrounding an empty plaza are marked by granite plaques listing Jews who have died in the Holy Land in terror attacks between 1860-2009. A bevvy of Israeli flags flutter over the site that boasts a magnificent view of the Jerusalem hills.

What is most remarkable is the blank wall that continues on from the 2009 plaque. It's just a given that the space will be filled--the next terror victims are walking among us today. There's no doubt that if we return a year from now, that space will be filled with the names of additional Jews. Who knows: if the Shalit-Hamas prisoner deal is struck we may need quite a bit more space on that wall.

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This is so true and causes my heart to ache. Surely i'm not the only one to feel this way?

January 7, 2010 |

ruth taylor