If you pick up a copy of almost any newspaper, online or in print, on almost any day there will be an article about events in Israel. Nine times out of ten the article will be about how Israel did something wrong, or an existential threat to Israel or some other negative event or problem. It's like having a member of your family who is always in trouble, always faced with a crisis, anytime you talk about this family member it always leaves you disheartened to the point of throwing your hands up in resignation. “What can I do?” or even worse, "Why should I care?" It is mired in this type of thinking and apathy that we need to step back and take a deep breathe to gain some perspective. Israel was and is a miracle unfolding. No it is not perfect. But perfection is not the goal – rather it is perfecting. The work is never finished but everyone adds their efforts to the dream. This is what the Jewish people have always striven for – Jews living in the land of our ancestors determining our own destiny. I believe more than ever as we celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday we must reclaim and redefine the miracle of Israel for ourselves.
To be clear, reclaiming the miracle of Israel is not only for those with little or no connection to Israel, but maybe even more importantly, is crucial for those of us who are passionate supporters of Israel, who have traveled to Israel, 1, 2, a dozen times, and who see both Israel's importance in the fate of our world, and who place it at the very heart of our people, our faith, and our future. We must remember that Israel is not an abstract place or a pundit driven debate, but instead is a member of the family, with a seat always set at the table. I believe that our love for Israel challenges us to continually ask ourselves, “What do I believe Israel’s place is in my life? What is the miracle for me? Why is Israel not like any other place? And what can I do to be part of the building, creating, and perfecting of Israel?”
For me the miracle of Israel is that the state of Israel with the largest majority of the Jewish people in the world, whether religious, secular, Zionist, post-Zionist, young, old, wealthy, poor, kibbutznik, settler, left wing, right wing, acts as the canvas for creating, building, wrestling, and redefining a nation based on the values of our unique Jewish history and tradition. It was one miracle to bring the state into being, and to defend her, it is another miracle to see what in 65 years Israelis have done to build our homeland and make it flourish. For all we have accomplished and for all we have yet to accomplish we should celebrate together on Yom Ha’aztmaut April 16th. In the process we can rededicate ourselves to first reclaiming the miracle, and then to taking our place as an active part of it.
Chag Sameach! Happy 65th Birthday to Israel!
