Israel at Sixty: The Persistence of Vision

Why I am a Zionist

by Gil Troy

Was Carter Right to Talk to Hamas?

by Neil Lazarus

This Year in Jerusalem

by Barry Leff

Every year we close our seder with the words “L’shana haba’ah birushalayim,” “next year in Jerusalem.” Unlike the requirement to mention the Passover offering, maror, and matzah this phrase is not found in the Mishnah or even in the Talmud.  But the roots of the saying are found in the Mishnah, which is to say from about 1,800 years ago.  In Mishnah Pesachim we are told that Rabbi Akiva would conclude his seder with the following: “SO MAY THE LORD OUR GOD AND THE GOD OF OUR FATHER SUFFER US TO REACH OTHER SEASONS AND FESTIVALS WHICH COME TOWARDS US FOR PEACE, REJOICING IN THE REBUILDING OF THY CITY AND GLAD IN THY SERVICE, AND THERE WE WILL PARTAKE OF THE SACRIFICES AND THE PASSOVER-OFFERINGS.”  These sentiments are brought into the final bracha of the seder…”and rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city, speedily in our days, and bring us up into it.  Let us rejoice in it, and bless you in holiness and purity…”  It’s pretty easy to see how we naturally go from that blessing to a call for “next year in Jerusalem!”  And I did find a reference to saying “l’shana haba’ah birushalayim” in Minhagim Yisrael, from the early 1600s, so the custom is at least that old.

“Next year in Jerusalem” was clearly a cry from a people living in exile.

The Word from Sderot: Zionism is Alive and Well

by David Breakstone

The verdict is in. I am pleased to be able to report that as we prepare to celebrate 60 years of Israeli independence, Zionism is alive and well and – surprisingly, perhaps -  living in Sderot.

Last week, the Zionist Executive met in special session in the beleaguered town during a day on which we also toured the region bordering Gaza. We met with residents of the area, with officials responsible for settlement efforts, and with representatives of a wide range of institutions and service organizations in the district, including the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization. We heard about the severe difficulties of living for seven years under the constant barrage of rocket fire. We heard about what it was like to be injured in such an attack, and about the protracted process of recovery. We heard about the long-term effects of trauma and stress on children growing up under such circumstances. We heard about the efforts being made to counsel and assist individuals and families in need of support. The narrative was compelling.

What we didn't hear, however, was every bit as fascinating, perhaps even more so.

Taking Offence -- by Neil Lazarus

A Zionist Seder

by Gil Troy

This year’s seder should launch the big buildup to Israel’s 60th anniversary celebration. Just as in my youth we had a “matzah of hope” to carve out time from the historic ritual to remember the contemporary challenges of Soviet Jewry, we need to use this most popular Jewish ritual to delight in the miracle of Israel’s surviving – and thriving.

The power of the seder - which remains one of the most popular of Jewish ceremonies in Israel and abroad - comes from its ritualization of memory, and its dramatization of history. It is a most primal, most sensual, most literal, of services. The seder plate - with its representations of the mortar used in building, the charoset, and of the tears shed by the slaves, the salt water - helps us visualize the trauma of slavery.  The joy of Dayenu – and the building toward the festive meal – helps us feel the redemption of freedom.

Competing narratives

by Barry Leff

One of the things that is fascinating about living in Israel is the way that myth informs reality, and how sometimes it's hard to separate myth FROM reality -- with consequences that are profound.

Last year, when I was still living the life of a congregational rabbi in the US, I gave a sermon on the topic of these "conflicting narratives," and how the stories that the Israelis tell and the stories that the Palestinians tell about the founding of Israel are widly different, and how those different narratives are a real barrier to peace and understanding; you can read the sermon by clicking here .  In recent weeks we've seen the depth of competing narratives WITHIN the Israeli population.

The terrorist who killed 8 students at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva was not picking a random target. 

No Monopoly on Antisemitism

David Breakstone

Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to state that there is no antisemitism in Monopoly. For those who are not au courant, Hasbro, the toy company that produces this board game, just conducted an on-line survey to determine which cities to include in its soon-to-be released World Edition. Each metropolis in the running appeared on the list together with the country in which it is located, including Jerusalem – until an Arab protest succeeded in wiping Israel off the site. We Jews, of course, were outraged, and not to be outdone, managed to eliminate all the countries of the world from the internet ballot. It was a Solomonic act of revenge that left every urban sprawl stateless, allowing Hasbro to deny any antisemitic tendencies, thereby averting a call for a boycott that would have left Jewish players everywhere buying up Boardwalk and Park Place at the risk of being accused of self-hatred. 

What I want to know, however, is whether this affront to Israel has already been included in the various tallies of antisemitic incidents around the world of which we are regularly apprised here in Israel.

Three questions about Hamas

by Neil Lazarus

What the Zionist Movement Could Learn From Obama

by Gil Troy
            Obamania has swept the United States. Whether or not Barack Obama ultimately wins the Democratic nomination or the presidency, he has triggered a surge of excitement, especially among young voters. As Obama – and millions of enthusiastic supporters – sing, shout, and proclaim, “YES WE CAN” – it would behoove us in the Zionist movement to pick up a few tips from this master of the zeitgeist.
            Note that “Yes We Can” is a positive, affirmative message – not a defensive, reactive one.
            Note that “Yes We Can” may be vague, but it resonates with America’s needs at this moment, in the wake of the George W. Bush presidency, to hope, to dream, to unite behind a broad optimistic platform of uplift.
            Note that “Yes We Can” has been embraced by celebrities, in that now-famous video produced by Jesse Dylan and the rapper Will.i.am, putting Obama’s concession speech in New Hampshire to music, and being echoed by others (including a young Israeli actress who said “Ken Anu Yecholim”).
            Wouldn’t it be great to sing a new song of Zion, proud and patriotic, affirmative and altruistic.
Wouldn’t it be great to trigger a broad celebration of Israel’s 60th birthday throughout the Jewish world, simply saying, in honor of this great milestone: “I Am A Zionist,” and “todah rabah, Israel, thanks for fulfilling our dreams.”
            Wouldn’t it be great - -given our culture of celebrity – if we could collect some famous, young, hip people, to say this in their own compelling, hip video – inviting others through the Web 2.0 to spread the message and share the hope.
            The time has come to be upbeat not defensive, to be savvy in our marketing, and to harness the miracles of modern technology to trumpet one of the great miracles of the twentieth century: the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in the Jewish homeland.