Weekly D'var Torah

It is very rare to see positive coverage of Israel in the world press.  There are too many examples and too much explanation is required to expose how profound the distortion is for this short message.  But as one who has been to Israel thirty times (at least) for extended periods of time, who has spoken at length and depth with people in the region and who has, I hope, a more than passing knowledge of Israel’s history - the real history, not the infographics which inundate social media - I can say that any resemblance between Israel’s reality and the way it is presented in world media is purely accidental.

The uncomplicated reality is that Israel is the improbable, miraculous and amazing project of the Jewish people. As imperfect as any other country - I am reminded of Churchill’s saying that democracy is the worst form of government, apart from all the other forms of government- Israel has managed to create a dynamic, inclusive and progressive society out of prayers, dreams and longings, out of ideals and ingenuity and out of necessity. 

A Jewish state comprised of religious, secular, non-Jewish and other sectors, Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Edot HaMizrach and every possible combination, a state that has had to and continues to fight for its security and at times for its very existence, Israel continues to be a thriving democracy guaranteeing full and equal rights to all of its citizens.

The challenges remain great and read like a laundry list of the impossible: peace with Israel’s neighbors, ending terrorism, territorial issues, internal divides, geopolitics and more. But through it all, the energy, the optimism, the youthfulness and the enduring hope of Israel shows, just as the miracle of Jewish survival in the face of all odds down the centuries has shown, that, as Prime Minister and secular Jew Ben Gurion said, when it comes to Israel, those who don’t believe in miracles aren’t being realists. 

Let’s join our brothers and sisters in Israel celebrating Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel’s 75th Independence day as a day of miracles; and as a day of ongoing triumph for democracy; a country that, despite generations of conflict, seeks peace, provides humanitarian aid and always strives to serve humanity. 

Chag Ha’atzma’ut Sameach! - Happy Israel Independence Day!