Some Israel Independence Day thoughts I sent out yesterday.
For 2,000 years prior to 1948, despite centuries of Jewish longing and ambition, the State of Israel was an unattainable dream. We are the generation that, thank God, witnessed the establishment of a Jewish homeland, and tangibly expressing solidarity with Israel is a mitzvah. (Here are several inspiring videos to set the mood.)
Jews pray for Zion three times a day every day, and many Jews feel a strong attachment to our homeland. We all have our own connection to Israel. It may be a visit, a relative, a friend who made aliya, or even watching a Jerusalem documentary or attending the Celebrate Israel Parade. Today and tomorrow – Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmut (Israel Independence Day) – are days that cannot just pass us by. We are obligated to recognize the sacrifice of so many to establish and maintain the State of Israel and give thanks to God and celebrate this miracle in our time.
Dr. Daniel Gordis wrote an article that made me think about what Israel means to me. He mentioned Yuli Kosharovsky, a Soviet refusenik who died in a tragic accident on the first day of Pesach. Kosharovsky had little patience for hypocrisy. When asked why he never became religious, he was said to have replied that nothing turned him off to religion more than watching observant American Jews pray three times daily for God to restore Jews to Zion - while they stayed right where they were in the United States. He believed people should either mean things, or they shouldn't say them.
Ouch.
I do not plan to stop praying these words nor is my aliya imminent. At the same time, though, these words should give us all pause for reflection on these days of commemoration and celebration of the State of Israel.
Moadim l’simcha li’geuah shleimah - Let our celebration of this day be a harbinger for the future complete redemption of the Jewish people!
