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"I remember when the
State of Israel was declared. At the time, I was already in
Balfour elementary school.
I remember well that
day because I was sent to school in the morning - a new state was
something for grownups, but children had to go to school. But the
school changed its schedule, and after we heard about how
important that day was, and sang 'Hatikvah', we were sent home.
Two drunk men entered the school yard and broke my arm, so I was
busy that day - a Friday - being sent from one place to another,
e.g. for x-rays, and then to the school's clinic. Then a doctor
who put my arm in cast and wrote the date on it, tried his hand in
painting Hertzel's portrait on it. Then I went home, but the
police stopped me because at the Tel Aviv Museum they were
declaring the new state - but I, tired and hungry and with
tears, tried to get through. My attempt ended when, after trying
to going around for a long time from different directions, I
simply raised my hand and hit a policeman with my cast, and ran
through till I was home.
I always wondered why my parents didn't come
for me, but they were busy all morning sewing together our
homemade Israeli flag. Because the new government needed flags,
and flags were hard to get on that day, my parents, like so many
others, bought white and blue material and sewed together a flag.
Of course no one decided what the flag would look like, i.e. the
correct size and proportions, so everyone could choose for
themselves. Actually, no one even decided that the flag will have
the Star of David, or just a star. I think all of us, the people
of the new State of Israel, decided that by hanging the Star of
David. Our homemade flag was hung from our balcony many years on
the anniversary of Independence Day. I have it now, though it has
been torn by winds and soiled beyond cleaning by dust and sand. I
refused to exhibit it for our sixty year anniversary - but it will
be passed on within our family."
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