The “I” In Israel
Yom Ha-Atzma’ut 2020
By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
For the Jewish People, without a doubt, the two most important—even cataclysmic—events of the last 100 years would have to be the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.
Each has its own lengthy story. Like waves in the ocean, we only see the crests, while the actual beginning of the wave, the trough, is barely perceptible. The Shoah—or, as much of the world knows it, the Holocaust—is the culmination of two thousand years of destruction and persecution. And so is the story of Israel. Though our history as a people begins more than three thousand years ago with our first appearance in the land that now bears our name, a new volume began with the destruction of ancient Israel (then known as Judea) by the Romans in the first century of the Common Era.
Exiled from our land, our people never lost the hope of return. Through the centuries, many did return, but by and large the Land remained desolate. Jewish life—impoverished, dependent on contributions from communities in the Diaspora—centered in the Four Holy Cities of Jerusalem, Tiberias, Hebron and Safed.
For two thousand years, Zionism remained a spiritual vision and dream.
It was in the mid-1800’s, with the awakening of nationalism in Europe, along with the parallel rise of racial anti-Semitism, that Zionism took new life as a political movement.
Some would say that the creation of the State of Israel is the result of the Shoah. They are wrong; it isn’t. Though the events are interwoven—as are all strands of Jewish history—the Shoah merely proved the crucial need for a Jewish state. Israel was created to be a place where Jews could live in freedom and security, free to define and express their identity without fear of bigotry and persecution. Through the many wars Israel has fought, Jews have defended our right to live in our own homeland. Though Diaspora Jews do not always understand or agree with all domestic or foreign policies of Israel’s government (nor do many Israeli Jews, as proven by the recent political impasse and recurrent elections there), the very existence of the State of Israel has given Jews everywhere new impetus and renewed energy.
Israel has redefined the way we Jews see ourselves.
In the 72 years since the declaration of Israel’s independence, Israel has proven its worth to us and to the rest of the world a hundred-fold. Its cultural, agricultural, scientific, medical and hi-tech innovations have authenticated the Prophetic vision of “a light unto the nations.” Created to provide a haven for our people, safe-harbor to the persecuted millions of Russian Jews, Jews from Arab lands, Jews from every part of the world, the State of Israel has given new life to, and instilled new pride in, the eternal principle that Am Yisrael Chai—the People of Israel lives.
If there can be any consolation for the immense tragedy of the Shoah, it is in the fact that the State of Israel today is alive and thriving.
But Israel doesn’t live only for the sake of our people and history. Israel provides inspiration and global philanthropic aid to all peoples in need. Its institutions teach self-empowerment to women (including women from Gaza, the Palestinian Authority and countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Syria and Jordan). It teaches innovative agricultural methods, water conservation and soil preservation to underdeveloped nations in Africa. It is building an infrastructure of solar power all over the world. And it does all that and more while constantly shielding its citizens from countries and organizations that threaten its very existence on a daily basis, fending off acts of terror, and defending itself on the social media, on college and university campuses, and in international courts of law.
It’s important that, especially in these unprecedented times, we realize how important and relevant Israel is to our existence as American Jews. Despite the health challenges, despite the social, economic and political disruption that COVID-19 has caused in our lives, we must not lose sight of the larger perspective. We represent the latest and most recent chapter in Jewish history. We play an essential role in stories that have been unfolding for thousands of years.
Today, more than ever, our fate is in our own hands. And much of that is due to the existence of the modern State of Israel.
As we approach Israel’s Day of Independence, we need to bow our head in sorrow and gratitude for the many sacrifices that our people have had to make to reach this day. Since 1860, when Jewish settlers first began building new neighborhoods outside the secure walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem, close to 25,000 men, women and children have fallen in defense of our right to live in our own homeland.
Freedom and security are not a given, and they should never be taken for granted. We must never forget that.
“Never Again” isn’t merely a slogan.
“Never Again” is a verb.
“Never Again” is a call to action in defense of Israel and the entire Jewish People. It’s a reminder that we can never rest or hide.
Am Yisrael Chai—the People of Israel lives, and it is us.
© 2020 by Boaz D. Heilman
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