From sorrow to joy in the Holy Land.

The days of Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day) and Yom Haazmaut (Independence Day) which fall back to back are two of the most powerful days of the year in Israel.

The first 24 hours finds an entire nation in mourning. And I truly mean an entire nation. Every single one of us has known someone killed in this conflict and every one of us lives with that pain.

The minute Yom Hazikaron ends, Yom Haazmaut begins and the mood changes in an instant. The despair turns into elation as people take to the streets in celebration. It is said that these two days were connected for a reason. That the only way to snap out of the sorrow around our losses is to celebrate our independence.

Yesterday I attended a very special, heart opening, Yom Hazikaron service. It was organized by the families of both Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones in this conflict. Organized by people who have let their loss bring them together rather than divide them.

My hope for the future is that this becomes the norm. That more and more Israelis and Palestinians will come to understand that our pain and suffering is collective. And that our joy and celebration can be collective as well.

I hope to see the day when we and our brothers and sisters on the "other side" mourn our loss together and then go on to celebrate our independence together. Side by side as it's meant to be.