Bastille Day

Twenty-two years ago today, I found myself in Jerusalem on my first trip to Israel as a part of the USY Israel Pilgrimage Program. I can remember going to bed early that evening as we had to be up at 5:00 a.m. the next morning to set out southward toward the Negev Desert. As we lay sleeping, we were awoken by what we thought may have been gunfire or bombs, but what was in reality fireworks going off in recognition of Bastille Day. I had never heard of this French holiday until our madrichim (counselors) came through the rooms and explained what was going on. Ever since then, this French holiday has been a little nostalgic for me. As today, July 14 is Bastille Day I thought that I would explain to you that this is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France itself, it is called "Fête Nationale" ("National Holiday"), in official parlance, or more commonly "quatorze juillet" ("14th of July"). Similar to Canada Day and the 4th of July, it commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789. This action commemorates the storming of the Bastille which at the time was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French "nation", and of the reconciliation of all the French people who were living inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. For a great depiction of the French Revolution, be sure to see the Mel Brooks movie "History of the World." My best wishes to the people of France for a most meaningful and joyous national holiday.