The Message of 5 Iyar

When is Yom Ha’atzmaut?

Like every other Jewish holiday, it has a date on the calendar: 5 Iyar.

As Rabbi Meshulam Roth (1875-1962), one of the prominent rabbinical supporters of celebrating Israel’s independence, noted:

“Indeed, there is no doubt that the 5th of Iyar, which was established by the government and the members of the Parliament, who are the elected representatives of the people, and the majority of the great Rabbis to celebrate through the land, to commemorate our salvation and our freedom – it is a mitzvah to make it a day of happiness and Yom Tov and to recite Hallel.” (Kol Mevaser 1:21)

This year, though, we will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut on 6 Iyar.

The Knesset decided that the national commemoration and celebration of Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut should never begin or end in proximity to Shabbat. This was to ensure no preparations or arrangements would ever take place in a way that would violate Shabbat. In the event that any of these days would fall on Friday or Sunday, then the holidays would be pushed off a day or moved earlier. While the dates are significant, in a Jewish State, Shabbat must come first.

The commemorations of Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron don’t engender any significant discussion of Jewish Law. They’re “easy” to move. Celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, however, involves religious rituals like reciting Hallel as well as festively celebrating during the Omer period, when such celebrating does not take place. Doesn’t the day matter?

Some rabbis say the date matters.

If 5 Iyar is the date of Yom Ha’atzmaut, then that is the only day to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut. This means there are some communities who will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut this year on Monday, while Israel – and most other communities - celebrate on Tuesday. Sounds pretty Jewish, no?

Rabbi Shlomo Goren noted that Yom Ha’atzmaut is bigger than a date on the calendar. We have a religious responsibility to celebrate the miracle of Israel in our time. That’s not about a date. It is about the fact that we have a State of Israel.

What exactly happened on 5 Iyar in 1948?

That is when David Ben-Gurion and the Provisional Council declared a State of Israel. It was an exhilarating moment, but it was immediately followed by war. Why did the Rabbis declare this date the holiday? Why not celebrate the end of the War of Independence?

5 Iyar marks a miraculous moment in Jewish history.

The declaration of the State of Israel was a display of courage that transformed the Jewish people. It was the moment – just three years after the destruction of the Shoah – that facilitated an ingathering of the exiles and triggered the building of a country that boggles the mind to this day. It was also the unleashing of a spirit that we still use today that can never be extinguished.  

Celebrating the events of 5 Iyar - regardless of whether we celebrate on 4 or 6 Iyar – is an annual reminder that we need bravery, perseverance, and faith. Especially after October 7, in the midst of the fighting, pain, heartbreak, and despair, we need to recognize and, yes, celebrate, that the courage needed to declare a state is the courage that will ensure we prevail and always have a state.

Rabbi Yehuda Amital, founder of Yeshivat Har Etzion, would often speak about people’s impatience as reflected in various movements and slogans with the word “Now.” Peace Now. Moshiach Now. He advised some perspective from his own personal experience of surviving the Holocaust and then fighting in Israel’s War of Independence. Have some patience. During the Shoah, he would never even have dreamt he’d be fighting in the army of a Jewish State. That miraculous transformation, that powerful ability to transcend is only possible with 5 Iyar.

On Monday, President Biden gave a strong speech condemning antisemitism and supporting Israel. He decried people forgetting the Holocaust and already even forgetting the horrific events of October 7. Then, on Wednesday, he said he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches a major invasion of Rafah. It’s outrageous and betrays the sentiments of the first speech. Thankfully, many members of Congress have pushed back against the President’s speech, and we must all encourage our leaders to support Israel having what it needs to defeat Hamas.

These days, it can feel like one step forward; two steps back. But nothing can undo what happened on 5 Iyar. Thank God, we have a State of Israel. There is no turning back. There is only going forward.

When we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut on Tuesday, it will feel different. We feel weighed down by the current situation in Israel and by what seems like less support and stability for Israel and Jews here in America. Nevertheless, when we celebrate, we should think back to the incredible courage and strength unleashed on 5 Iyar in 1948. The genie is out of the bottle. We have that power, and, with God’s help, Israel and the Jewish people will keep moving forward to better times and even greater redemption.

Keep Celebrating Israel - Like Chanukah!

Celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut is a mitzvah!  Every Jew should rejoice over the State of Israel.

But we all know Jews.  There are the Zionists, and non-Zionists, and Religious Zionists.  To say Hallel on Yom Ha’Aztmaut or not to say Hallel?  To recite it with a beracha or without the beracha?

Let’s also factor in that Yom Ha’Atzmaut takes place during the period of the Omer, when we limit our rejoicing.  How can we sing and dance to celebrate Israel when we’re supposed to be limiting our happiness?

Celebrating Yom Ha’Atzmaut would seem to be more complicated than we think.

Wrong!

Let’s be clear.  The State of Israel is a miracle.  It behooves us to celebrate the day religiously, and that means Hallel with a beracha.

It’s really very simple.  It is just like Chanukah.

Here is what the Rambam says about Chanukah (Laws of Chanukah 3:1-3):

During the Second Temple Period, when the Greeks ruled, they issued decrees against the Jews, denying their faith, and did not permit them to engage in Torah and the commandments…And the sons of Chashmonai, the Kohanim Gedolim (High Preists), prevailed, and killed them, and saved Israel from them, and appointed a king from among the kohanim.  And Jewish sovereignty was restored for more than two hundred years, until the destruction of the Second Temple.

Chanukah was a political and military victory that restored Jewish sovereignty.  Its celebration is a religious obligation.  We light candles each night and give thanks to God by joyously saying Hallel with a beracha. 

Ba-yamim ha-heim ba-z’man ha-zeh – What happened in those days is being experienced in our own time as well.  We need to learn from the lessons of Jewish history and apply them to our own experiences.  We celebrated the miracle of Chanukah then.  Today, we have just as much of a reason to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

To quote the late, great Rabbi Yehuda Amital of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel:

What better authority could we seek than the Rambam, who views the fact that Jews achieved some level of independence in their own country as one of the reasons for the holiday of Chanukah?…If those two hundred years of Jewish sovereignty give added significance to the miracle of Chanukah, then the ingathering of the exiles, which is taking place before our eyes, is surely of no less significance!

Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrates the restoration of Jewish independence after nearly 2,000 years of exile.  That is reason to celebrate.  It is a reason to party like it’s 165 BCE!  

After the last blue and white cookie or falafel ball is eaten, let’s keep celebrating the miracle of the State of Israel.  With all of its complexity, Israel is a beacon of light illuminating our lives and the lives of Jews everywhere.

Love Israel More!

 

What are your first memories of Yom Ha'Zikaron and Yom Ha' Atzmaut?

As a child, I remember a memorial candle lit in the dining room.  I knew it was not a holiday on which yizkor is recited nor was there a yahrzeit.  My father explained that this candle was to remember Israel's fallen heroes and to participate in Israel's Memorial Day.  The next night, my parents would hang a giant Israeli flag in the den to mark Israel's Independence Day.  I did not go to a Religious Zionist day school, and we had no assembly, special songs, or Hallel.  My Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebration was that giant flag along with falafel for dinner.

My strong childhood memories paved the way for these modern Israeli holidays to mean so much to me.  Yom Ha'Zikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut are sacred days.  When I watch as Israelis stop what they are doing as the siren sounds; or see the images of families remembering loved ones; or watch the videos that tell the inspiring story of Israel, I am filled with awe, joy, reverence, and inspiration.  How fortunate we are to have the State of Israel!  We must commemorate, celebrate, and be grateful to God for this miracle!

There are numerous articles and messages that are written and disseminated in honor of Israel's birthday.  I am sure you have seen plenty, and you can easily find them on the internet or social media.  It is heartening that so many people with so many different perspectives are celebrating Yom Ha'Atzmaut and recognizing all that Israel has accomplished and represents.  

One thing I noticed in a number of messages and articles is that their authors temper the congratulatory spirit by addressing some of the problems Israel faces and acknowledging some of the voices critical of Israel.  We all know that the situation in Israel can be "complicated."  It is a wonderful country, a beacon of freedom in a tyrannical region, a high tech juggernaut, and our homeland.  But...There is always a "but."

It is legitimate to raise the tough issues and engage in self-examination and self-criticism.  (If you read the Israeli press, you'll know how good Israelis are at it!)  When we celebrate Israel, however, the focus should be on the positive.  For one day - or even just the birthday message, let's focus on the greatness of Israel.  Tomorrow, we can get back to addressing any shortcomings.

In today's world, there is concern about the Jewish community's connection to Israel.  It is weakening - especially within the younger generation and those Jews with weaker Jewish identities.  A frank conversation about Israel is needed as is more education.  At the same time, one way to instill pride and strengthen the positive feeling for Israel is love it even more.  Let's identify all the great things Israel has accomplished, is accomplishing, and will accomplish.  Are there problems to address?  Absolutely!  We can better address those with a foundation of a strong love for Israel.

In the early twentieth century someone brought a dilemma to Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook, first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel.  He had given his son a good Jewish education.  He had always kept the mitzvot at home.  Now, however, the son had drifted far from Judaism.  He no longer kept the commandments.  He barely identified as a Jew.  What should the father do?

"Did you love him when he was religious?" asked Rav Kook.  "Of course," replied the father.  "Well then," Rav Kook replied, "Now love him even more.

Israel is only 72 years young.  How can we better connect ourselves and our children to the State of Israel?  How can we properly evaluate, praise, and even critically discuss the Jewish State?  

On Yom Ha'Atzmaut, let's love Israel more.

Love Israel more!

What are your first memories of Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut?

As a child, I remember a yahrzeit candle lit in the dining room.  I knew it was not a holiday on which yizkor is recited nor was there a yahrzeit.  I remember being told that this was to remember Israel’s fallen heroes and to participate in Israel’s Memorial Day.  The next night, my parents would hang a giant Israeli flag in the den to mark Israel’s Independence Day.  (We were quite the patriotic family as my father also flew an American flag outside our front door for Memorial Day, July 4^th, and Labor Day.)  I did not go to a Religious Zionist day school, and we had no assembly, special songs, or Hallel.  My Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration was that giant flag along with my mother making falafel for dinner. 

My strong childhood memories paved the way for these modern Israeli holidays to mean so much to me.  Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut are sacred days.  When I watch as Israelis stop what they are doing as the siren sounds; or see the images of families remembering loved ones; or watch the videos (like this one) that tell the inspiring story of Israel, I am filled with awe, joy, reverence, and inspiration.  How fortunate we are to have the State of Israel!  We must commemorate, celebrate, and be grateful to God for this miracle!

There are all sorts of articles being written and messages sent out in honor of Israel’s 68^th birthday.  I am sure you have received plenty, and you can easily find them on the internet or Facebook.  It is heartening that so many people with so many different perspectives are celebrating Yom Ha’Atzmaut and recognizing all that Israel represents.

One thing I noticed in a number of messages and articles is that their authors temper the congratulatory spirit by addressing some of the problems Israel faces and acknowledging some of the voices critical of Israel.  We all know that the situation in Israel can be “complicated.”  It is a wonderful country, a beacon of freedom in a tyrannical region, a high tech juggernaut, and our homeland.  But…There is always a “but.” 

It is legitimate to raise the tough issues and engage in self-examination and self-criticism.  (If you read the Israeli press, you’ll know how good Israelis are at it!)  When we celebrate Israel, however, the focus should be on the positive.  For one day – or even just the birthday message, let’s focus on the greatness of Israel.  Tomorrow, we can get back to addressing any shortcomings.

In today’s world, there is concern about the Jewish community’s connection to Israel.  It is weakening – especially within the younger generation.  A frank conversation is needed as is more education.  But one way to instill pride and strengthen the positive feeling for Israel is love it even more.  Let’s identify all the great things Israel has accomplished, is accomplishing, and will accomplish.  Are there problems to address? Absolutely!  We can better address those with a foundation of a strong love for Israel. 

In the early twentieth century someone brought to Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook, first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, the following dilemma.  He had given his son a good Jewish education.  He had always kept the commands at home.  Now, however, the son had drifted far from Judaism.  He no longer kept the commandments. He did not even identify as a Jew.  What should the father do?

“Did you love him when he was religious?” asked Rav Kook.  “Of course,” replied the father. 

“Well then,” Rav Kook replied, “Now love him even more.

Israel is only 68 years young.  How can we better connect ourselves and our children to the State of Israel?  How can we properly evaluate, praise, and even critically discuss the Jewish State?

On this Yom Ha’Atzmaut, let’s love Israel more.

We Need Israel: Thoughts from Jerusalem

Israeli and German Air Force planes fly over Knesset on Yom Ha'atzmaut

Why did our generation deserve Israel?

On Yom Ha'atzmaut 1968, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik asked why was it that the generation of 1948 - his generation - merited a State of Israel? Why not the generation of the Rambam or the Vilna Gaon? The Rav answered, "Because we needed it."

The Rav described the dark spiritual mood in the aftermath of World War Two and the Shoah. One-third of World Jewry was murdered. The future of the community looked bleak. Some Christians said to Jews, "See, God is sending you a message." How would Judaism survive?

Then came 1948. Everything changed. Israel saved Judaism. It gave Jews a purpose, a mission, renewed confidence, hope, and optimism. After spending Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut in Israel, it is clear the Rav is still right. We need a State of Israel.

These are turbulent times with hundreds of thousands protesting for and against the government and disagreeing on a host of issues. Nevertheless, being here is a reminder that Israel is the glue that can bind the Jewish people together and serve as an indispensable foundation for Jewish identity. 

As Yom Hazikaron began, I attended the memorial ceremony at Ammunition Hill, the site of a brutal battle in the fight for Jerusalem in 1967. Alon Wald, whose father, Rami, fell in the battle when Alon was just ten months old, spoke movingly to his father during the event. I'll never forget what he said:

"Abba, I forgive you for choosing your country over your family."

While his words were personal, they remind each of us with a reminder that Israel is the most important aspect of our Jewish identity. Whatever our politics may be, the State of Israel matters more. 

Today, I attended the World Orthodox Israel Congress, a gathering of rabbis, educators, and lay leaders from around the world. At a session on Diaspora Jewry's connection to Israel, several leaders noted, "Ein umah Yisrael b'lo Medinat Yisrael - There is no Jewish nation without the State of Israel." With so many Jews not affiliating, and a diminishing consensus on how to be Jewish, Israel represents a point - a place - of convergence. 

Israel is a young country, and it's just getting started. I spent several days participating in the Jewish National Fund - USA's Israel at 75 Mission. We saw the Negev and JNF's efforts to develop the south of Israel and make it a place more people will live and visit. The group brought together Jews from around the country of different backgrounds, denominations, and affiliations. The common denominator is that Israel is the home of the Jewish people, and we can make a difference in making it better. 

Speaking of Israel as a place of convergence, I never visit without a crazy, chance encounter. Today, it was a former colleague who lives near the Windmill. I was coming back to the area by bus and was unsure where to get off. I chose a stop I thought was closest and started heading to my destination. One block later, we meet. Think of all the variables involved - his schedule, my schedule, my timing his timing. Israel is home, so it's the place we can expect to meet the people in our extended family. 

Israel is the place in which being Jewish is natural. That's part of its greatness. Just one month after Israel was created, the Rav spoke at a Mizrachi convention about the spiritual benefits of the Jewish State.

"With regard to redemption...life in Israel will to a certain extent be completely Jewish. I read in the press that the kitchens of the Israeli army are strictly kosher. When, on that fateful Friday, the establishment of the State of Israel was proclaimed, the ceremony was held eight hours early so as not to desecrate the Sabbath...I can assure everyone that Shabbat in Eretz Yisrael will be holier than it was in the Jewish neighborhood in Berlin, in the Frankfurt Ghetto, or even on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn...I also believe that in Israel, Santa Claus will not have as white a beard, and the radio will not play 'Silent Night, Holy Night...'"

There is a unique soul to being in Israel. I can also feel the specialness of Israel in the US, but it's not the same. I get chills watching videos of Yom Hazikaron, but it doesn't compare to being on Har Herzl when the two-minute siren goes off and speaking to bereaved families at the graves of loved ones. A blue and white cookie with some Israeli music and dancing are wonderful ways to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut in America, but it doesn't compare with watching people of all ages celebrate late into the night. These feelings, emotions, and experiences can't be replicated in the diaspora. 

I realize the situation in Israel is complicated. There are internal challenges and external threats. Being here the last few days, though, reminds me that Israel is unstoppable.

I met with a member of Knesset from the Yesh Atid party, Moshe Tur-Paz. He is a Religious Zionist educator turned politician, and we have a lot of mentors in common. He is obviously opposed to the current government. At the same time, he remains optimistic because you can't stop Israel and the Jewish people. 

One has to have heart. 

Rabbi Dov Zinger, a noted educator and spiritual guide, introduced the musical Hallel at the Yom Ha'atzmaut outdoor service attended by 1,000 participants (and interrupted by an Israel Air Force jet flyover) by encouraging everyone to engage with Israel using the heart of Israel. He invoked the words of Yeshaya HaNavi (40:2) "Dabru al lev Yerushalayim" as a call to connect to Israel on a heart and soul level. 

There is the external Israel, and then there is the inner, deeper Israel. On an external level of headlines, politics, and challenges, it is hard to feel secure. From a "lev," internal vantage point, we have nothing to fear and everything to celebrate. 

Yom HaShoah Song Selection & Understanding the Week Ahead

The post-Pesach “Yom”s” are a lot.

Just days after Pesach ends, we observe Yom HaShoah. Just one week later, we commemorate Yom Hazikaron and celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut. First, we try to properly capture the magnitude of the Holocaust – the trauma, horror, and heroism. Then, in what is very different than our American experience, Israel transitions in a mere 24 hours from somberly remembering those killed establishing and defending the State to joyously celebrating her independence. Talk about a busy week!

Each year, I try to find a new insight, a different emotional or spiritual approach to a week of sadness, anger, inspiration, memory, and exultation. This year, I found meaning in the song selection of the Communal Yom HaShoah Commemoration.

The ceremony featured a very familiar structure. There is a candle lighting ceremony by survivors and descendants of survivors. A cantor chants an emotional Memorial Prayer and Tehillim is recited. Of course, the children sing. A choir is key to any commemoration. Music is a powerful tool for remembrance. Plus, the participating children develop a deeper appreciation of the importance of participating in Shoah remembrance. (It also means more people attend.)

As I listened to the songs sung, I felt a range of emotions. First, there was sadness and longing. The opening song was a Yiddish song recounting the past. We were taken back to the Old Country as the horrors of the Holocaust shocked the Jews from their everyday lives. Next was “Ani Ma’amin, which recalled the many who still believed in redemption even as they were about to be murdered. While a testament of faith, those words were, ultimately, a desperate, final, doomed plea.

The next songs transitioned to faith. The choir sang Shlomo Carlebach’s “Gam Ki Eilech” based on Psalm 23. The beautiful melody elevated the classic declaration: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, because You are with me.” For You are with me. We seek comfort and security in the knowledge that God accompanies us even in dark times. God’s presence was also the theme of the next song. It was another “Ani Ma’amin,” but not the one about Moshiach. The words to the lovely tune sung by Dveykus were from Rambam’s first declaration of faith: “I believe with perfect faith that the Creator creates and rules all creatures; and that God alone made, makes, and will make all things.” God is in charge – past, present, and future. We are no longer oppressed and doomed with nothing to look forward to except the Messianic era. We regain our “faith footing” and find comfort in God’s omnipresence and omnipotence. God runs the world.

The children concluded their performance with a version of “Im Eshkacheich Yerushalayim.” No matter what, we carry with us a vision of Jerusalem.

The songs captured the Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut emotional roller coaster. From darkness and desperation to comfort and confidence to restoration and redemption.

Most importantly, the Yom HaShoah commemoration featured a survivor sharing his story. Especially as the number of survivors declines, we must take advantage of every opportunity we can to listen to them in person. Paul Gross was born in 1937 in Hungary. He was 7 years-old when the Jews were rounded up and put on a train. Luckily, his train did not go to Auschwitz. He and his family were taken first to a makeshift camp in Austria before they ended up in Theresienstadt until liberation.

Mr. Gross recounted that when the Jews were being marched to the train, he imagined he was soldier. All the Jews were wearing yellow stars, and he viewed his as a “badge of honor,” a military insignia, and he marched swinging his hands back and forth. Despite the horrors he faced, he remembered the Jewish pride he felt.

On one lapel, Mr. Gross was wearing the yellow “Jude” star that he had worn 80 years ago. On the other, he wore the IDF pin he wore as an Israeli soldier 10 years later. A Holocaust testimony spanning from darkness to determination and, ultimately, defense of the Jewish homeland.

In Parshat Shemini, we read of the tragic death of Aharon’s two sons. Nadav and Avihu. Afterwards, Aharon responds twice. The first is through silence – “Vayidom Aharon.” In the second response, Aharon pushes back against Moshe’s accusation that the Kohanim made a mistake. Aharon progresses from passive acceptance to active engagement. These two responses are two different ways we respond to tragedy. Sometimes, we are silent. We don’t know what to do. Other times, we take a stand. We question, we challenge, or maybe we fight.

During the week of Yom HaShoah through Yom Ha’atzmaut, we go through both responses. We are silent, lost, bewildered, sad and despondent, and then we are transformed through the actions and heroism that created the State of Israel.

On Wednesday night, I experienced this journey through the songs of Jewish children. It’s the Jewish journey past, present, and future. We must encounter the horrors of the Shoah to fortify ourselves against the enemies of today, to feel that God is always with us, and that our future is in Jerusalem.

Paul Gross concluded his remarks with two powerful declarations:

“Netzach Yisrael lo yeshakeir – The glory of Israel endures forever.” (1 Shmuel 15:29)

“Am Yisrael Chai!”

The Everlasting Joy of Jerusalem!

“Har ha-bayit b’yadeinu – the Temple Mount is in our hands!”

Each I time I hear the recording or see the images, I feel something inside.  Jerusalem has a powerful hold on our souls and imaginations.

Today is Yom Yerushalayim, commemorating and celebrating 53 years since the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War.  I think that Yom Yerushalayim has a different feeling than Yom Ha'Atzmaut.  Yom Ha'Atzmaut is the grand moment of national return, the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty in our ancient land.  Yom Yerushalayim is more spiritual, a profound and intimate opportunity to joyously celebrate the reunification of the Jewish soul with the Holy City.

Jerusalem’s unique spiritual role is noted by Isaiah (2:3):

כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה וּדְבַר ה' מִירוּשָׁלִָם

For Torah shall come forth from Zion, The word of God from Jerusalem

What is the difference between Torah from Zion and the word of God from Jerusalem? 

Torah is the Jewish religion.  God established a covenant with the Jewish people of Torah, of Judaism.  The natural home for this covenant, the place for its fullest expression is Zion, Israel. 

Jerusalem has a different message.  The word of God is a spiritual force, an intimate religious feeling.  This feeling is felt most in Jerusalem.

Think of the power of the Kotel to elicit tremendous religious feeling from all who visit.  Jews – and non-Jews – are powerfully moved by the experience.  That is the spiritual power of Jerusalem.  On Yom Yerushalayim, we celebrate the reemergence of this experience.

Think of how the reunification of Jerusalem has impacted Jewish life today!

The reunification of Jerusalem was a powerful moment in history.  The weeks leading up to the Six Day War were fraught with terror.  The Arab armies were gathering, and their statements were threatening.  In Israel, they were digging mass graves for the thousands of anticipated deaths.  Diaspora Jewry was in a state of panic.  People thought it was the end of the State of Israel.

And then….

Yeshuat Hashem k’heref ayin – The salvation of God came in the blink of an eye.  (Midrash Pesikta Zutreta 4:17)

All of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, a victory that was unimaginable.  This is also the dvar Hashem from Jerusalem, a Divine message of redemption, transforming the terror into celebration.  (We can certainly appreciate a reminder about the possibility of redemption today.  It will happen!)

The reunification of Jerusalem transformed Jews forever. 

I have heard Rabbi Lookstein describe on several occasions how the Six Day War transformed the identity and personality of world Jewry.  He describes Jews before 1967 as maintaining a “question mark” posture.  They were stooped, uncertain, tenuous.  After 1967, Jews stood up tall and straight like an exclamation point!  A popular post-Six Day War image was of a Jew transforming into Superman in a phone booth.  (See above.)  Subsequent Jewish involvement in public activities like the Soviet Jewry movement or the rise of pro-Israel activism trace their roots directly back to the 1967 victory. 

Har ha-bayit b’yadeinu!  Our proud Judaism traces itself directly back to these words. That is what we are celebrating when we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim.

I never had to imagine an Israel without a unified Jerusalem.  Today each of us should try to find one way to connect to the eternal legacy and power of Jerusalem to uplift our souls.

"Har ha-bayit b'yadeinu!" was not only the announcement of a military objective in 1967.  It remains a declaration of pride in the Jewish present and hope for the future.

Har ha-bayit b'yadeinu: What does having Jerusalem mean to us?

Every I time I hear the recording or see the images, I feel something inside.  Jerusalem has a powerful hold on our souls and imaginations.

Sunday is Yom Yerushalayim, commemorating and celebrating 49 years since the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War.  I think that Yom Yerushalayim has a different feeling than Yom Ha'Atzmaut.  Yom Ha'Atzmaut is the grand moment of national return, the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty in our ancient land.  Yom Yerushalayim is more spiritual, a profound and intimate opportunity to joyously celebrate the reunification of the Jewish soul with the Holy City.

How does Yom Yerushalayim make you feel?

I never had to imagine an Israel without a unified Jerusalem.  On Sunday, each of us should take one action to show our support for Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people. 

"Har ha-bayit b'yadeinu!" was not only the announcement of a military objective in 1967.  It remains a declaration of pride in the Jewish present and hope for the future.

Then & Now

“14 Million: World Jewry Matches 1925 Numbers”

This is headline of a recent article in the Israeli media.  According to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of Jews in the world currently (14.7 million) matches that of 1925 but is still short of the pre-World War II figure of 16.6 million.

This got me thinking: What was going on in the world in 1925?  What was it like then?  How does that compare to now?  Especially, today on Yom Ha’atzamut – and during a time so full of Jewish memory, we are more aware than usual of the passage of time.  Think of how much has transpired since 1925!  Think about what happened between 1945 and 1948 and since then?  Think about how much has happened since March?  Remember March?

So please indulge me in a little bit of “Then and Now.”

Here are some highlights and firsts from 1925.  The first motel opened.  The Great Gatsby was published.  Mount Rushmore opened to the public.  It was the year of the Scopes Monkey Trial which put the tension between science and religion on display. 

Anyone ever drive a Chrysler automobile?  (Who says automobile anymore??)  The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Chrysler.  Margaret Thatcher and Johnny Carson born.  Mein Kampf was published.

On the Jewish scene, Hebrew University opened, and that year featured a three-day yom tov for the first days of Pesach.  Rabbi Joseph Lookstein preached a sermon on Shabbat Chol Hamoed about Shir HaShirim.  (Check out the Bulletin HERE.)

A lot has transpired since.  I am not thinking about a historical timeline.  I just think it is appropriate to take a look at the headlines today.  As we commemorate and celebrate Pesach, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, and as we grapple with the quarantine and uncertainty of the Coronavirus crisis, what is happening around us that will define “Now.” 

We have heroes whose stories can inspire us.

One of those who connected “then” with “now” is Benjamin Levin, who passed away from Covid-19 over Pesach.  He lived an amazing 93 years.  He was the youngest and last surviving member of the celebrated “Avengers” partisan group, who blew up Nazi trains and bridges, and helped sustain other Jews trapped inside ghettos.  Levin later swam off the destroyed Altalena and smuggled himself into the new Jewish state.  When he told his life-story to Steven Spielberg, the acclaimed director called Levin “the Forrest Gump of Jewish history.” 

Benjamin Levin, like all living survivors, helps us bridge then and now.

While we’re physical apart, some are now feeling more connected. 

An Independence Day survey shows that Israelis have a record-high sense of belonging and that the number of those expressing a shared fate with the State of Israel is surging, especially among ultra-Orthodox and Arab Israelis.  Maybe being stuck inside allows us to better realize that we really are connected.

Today, Israel is an amazing place.  There is no way anyone could have dreamed about the things that take place there today.  There are too many to count, but this image caught my attention.

In Bnei Brak's Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center, Dr. Abed Zahalka, an Arab doctor, entered the hospital’s coronavirus unit in full protective garb, holding a Torah scroll wrapped in a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) for use by the patients there.  Zahalka was moved by the arrival of the Torah.  “I felt like I was making the connection even stronger, that I was a part of the place, of the people, of the tradition,” he said.  “I am a person of faith, and I see a lot of people of faith here and a lot of Bnei Brak’s rabbis.  I also think there’s a connection between faith and successful treatment,” he notes. “You see people who simply give up compared to people who were in very serious condition and are dealing amazingly with the disease and are recovering.”

Then and now.

On Israel’s 72^nd birthday, we are celebrating in a far different fashion than ever before.  (How many Zooms have you attended in the last 24 hours?)  At the same time, one thing remains constant:  Our appreciation and celebration for the role the State of Israel plays in our lives.  It is a spiritual, religious, national, cultural beacon for the Jewish people and the greatest miracle we have experienced.  When we say “Am yisrael chai,” we acknowledge the power of the present while looking back to what was, and having confidence, please God, in our future.

I leave you with a rendition of Hatikvah, which combines “then” and “now” and can give each of us pride, joy, and hope on this special day.

Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach!

I Mourn Among the Joyful & Turn the Beat Around

This week, ahead of Yom Ha’atzmaut, two images of the handwritten diary of David Ben-Gurion from the evening of May 14, 1948 were released. The original diary has not yet been located, but copies exist. The journal is a fascinating insight into the mindset of one of Israel’s founders in “real time” as Israel was created.

Ben-Gurion is far from jubilant:

“We approved the text of the Declaration of Independence. Independence declared at 4 p.m. Across the land, there is joy and profound happiness, and again I mourn among the joyful, as on November 29…”

Ben-Gurion cannot celebrate Israel’s momentous milestones. Similar to his feeling on May 14, 1948, he recalls his reaction to November 29, 1947, when the United Nations approved the Partition Plan that called for a Jewish State to be created in Israel once the British Mandate ended 6 months following. That night, there was rejoicing in the streets of Tel Aviv and throughout the Jewish world. Ben-Gurion, however, could not join in the joy of that night or even after declaring Israel’s independence. As Eitan Donitz, CEO of the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute, put it, “While the country celebrates, he is dealing with the question of the existence of the young state and is very anxious about it.”

It’s understandable.

From its birth as a state and until today, Israel’s existence is marked by joy and pain, celebration and solemnity, confidence and trepidation. We experienced this range of reactions this week in the transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut and have especially felt this whirlwind of emotions more viscerally since October 7.

How do we rejoice while feeling such contradictory emotions? Jews are very good at knowing how to “turn the beat around.” We are good at accentuating the positive. We can be grateful even when we are lacking and can celebrate even when there is also reason to mourn. It’s why God chose us.

The Talmud (Berachot 20b) recounts a conversation between God and the angels. The angels ask how God can favor the Jews if God is described as “showing no favor and taking no bribe” (Devarim 10:17). God responds:

“How can I not show favor to Israel? I wrote for them in the Torah: ‘And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God’ (Deuteronomy 8:10), meaning that there is no obligation to bless the Lord until one is fully satiated. Yet Jews are exacting with themselves to recite Grace after Meals even if they have eaten a smaller amount of food that is only the size of an olive or an egg. Since they go beyond the requirements of the law, they are worthy of My favor.”

God loves us because we thank God for food even when we might still be hungry. We are grateful for what we have even when we don’t have all we want or need. We can rejoice even when the situation is not completely jubilant. We know how to serve God even when things are not perfect. We know how to make the most out of an imperfect world.

Ben-Gurion mourned among the joyful. He was realistic. He bore the heavy responsibility of leadership of a newborn country surrounded by enemies. At the same time, we rejoice. We know how to be grateful for what we have however imperfect it may be. We can celebrate the miracles we experience even with dark clouds surrounding us.

We turn the beat around every Friday night.

There is a widespread custom to change the melody of “Lecha Dodi” midway though the song. There are numerous variations of the custom, but the change involves a shift from a somber, slower tune in the beginning to something festive and joyous for the conclusion of the prayer.

Why? As with many Jewish customs, there are a variety of answers. The renowned musicologist Velvel Pasternak said, “I spent a year researching this … got all kinds of explanations. The only one that was plausible was given to me by the Pittsburgher Rebbe of blessed memory. He said in Yiddish: ‘Shoyn genug genidzet mit dem ershtn nigun - they got tired of the first tune.’ This is most probably the correct reason.”

Classic.

I believe this practice is just one more expression of our ability to “turn the beat around.” God loves us. God chose us because of our ability to be grateful despite what is lacking and to rejoice despite there being reason to mourn. Knowing how to do this gives us the confidence to keep praying, striving, and fighting for a time when we have all we need and only have reason to rejoice.