On Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israeli Independence Day.
The Jewish people – with roots in the land going back more than 3,000 years – declared independence as the modern state of Israel 76 years ago.
I feel immeasurable gratitude for the existence of Israel and for the fact that I am Israeli.
These are incredibly difficult days. But the difficulties do not mitigate the blessings of our state, nor the specialness of Am Yisrael – the people of Israel. If anything, the contrary is true.
We have a very unusual custom – I suspect it is unique in the world: Our Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) is followed immediately by Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day). This requires an enormous emotional shift in the blink of an eye.
Yet there is a reason for this swift transition: Before we can celebrate our independence, we must recognize the sacrifice of the many who fought and died in order to secure and protect our independence. This link conveys a powerful message.
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When I first made aliyah almost 23 years ago, I was taken with the people of Israel for many reasons. For their diversity (from seventy nations of the world), their informality, and their readiness to be of assistance. For the cultural embrace of values that I relate to – closeness of family, for example, and love of nature.
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Over the years, I learned to appreciate a great deal more, as I saw that Israel, indeed, was or l’goyim, a light unto the nations.
In spite of struggling in the early years, our nation has become an incredible leader in technology and medical advancement. There is no question but that the world has benefited immeasurably from what we have shared. We have had Israeli doctors train doctors in places such as Africa in new techniques, and specialized technicians who have helped to develop water sources in places of draught or taught farmers in these regions how to grow food that requires less water.
And always, Israel has been quick to reach out and provide assistance to other nations in times of emergency.
We have frequently been the first on the scene, setting up field hospitals or doing rescue work with collapsed buildings.
See this brief video for more about how we have reached out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZqoE2n1Rds
During Syria’s civil war, we slipped wounded children surreptitiously through a border gate at night to treat them and then get them back into Syria. We bring in children from around the world with serious cardiac conditions, saving lives at the Save-A-Child’s-Heart facility in Holon, here in Israel.
We are, I believe, the only country in the world with a program to allow individuals with autism to serve in the army, in special programs that give them meaning and a sense of belonging.
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I have been immensely proud of who we are for a very long time.
And now there is a new sort of giving in the land. And there are new reasons for pride.
We are at war and for seven months we have seen hardships and suffering. But we have been reaching out to one another with a host of volunteer projects. There are farms where agricultural work was halted because the farmers had to serve in the reserves and field workers had left. Volunteers went in to sow and weed and pick produce before it rotted.
There were thousands of families that had to flee their homes because they were in range of rocket fire. (In the south this is today much less the case, but there is still a severe problem in the north.) They were/and are staying in a variety of temporary situations. In facilities of organizations such as Chabad and One Family, volunteers gather to put together meals needed by these displaced families and to help in other respects.
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This volunteerism is a source of much pride. Yet we can see something far greater, as well. The spirit of our fighting forces has been awesome:
Young men who had already served in the IDF and were abroad when Hamas attacked rushed home, eager to serve again even if the rules did not require this of them.
Soldiers who were injured protested that they were being kept on recuperation leave too long. They itched, they begged to go back to the battle. I know the story of one soldier who was wounded and given a paper that said he had to rest for 14 days. He eradicated the number 1 and went back to his unit after 4 days. Subsequently, he died in battle – but he was in that battle by choice.
Awesome is, indeed, the word for the dedication of these soldiers. It is why I know we will prevail in the war.
A high percentage of the reservists who are serving, I will add, want to go into Rafah and finish the job.
Bless all of them.
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Another factor about our fighting forces gives me hope: Our soldiers are seeking increased religious connections. Early in the war, thousands of soldiers wanted to begin wearing tzitzit (ritual fringes), even though they had not before.
There was a special volunteer project for people to properly tie and knot these fringes for soldiers.
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And here we see special prayers recited for the troops before going into war in Gaza. “God protect us, God help us to succeed.”
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-idf-forces-praying-for-a-safe-return-before-entering-rafah/
There is evil rising in the world, but we will be stronger.
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On this Yom Ha’atzmaut I hold fast to my firm belief that we will succeed in this battle against evil.
For perspective, we need only look at the history of modern Israel.
In 1948, when we declared independence, our numbers were few and our weapons were meager. The entire Arab League declared war upon us, determined to wipe out the Jewish state at the beginning. But we won. As we won again and again.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu went to visit wounded soldiers in Sheba hospital today.
“[He] was impressed by the soldiers’ determination and desire to engage the enemy in combat. Several of the soldiers told the Prime Minister: ‘Continue until the end – until a decisive victory over Hamas.’ The Prime Minister assured them that this would be the case.
“[He] said, ‘It is a privilege to visit our heroic fighters on Independence Day and hear about the strength of spirit of the wounded who greatly inspire the entire people of Israel to continue fighting until victory.’” (Emphasis added)
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/389934
The same message is delivered to the prime minister by parents whose sons have died in combat. Finish the war, they tell him, so that our sons will not have died in vain.
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I close with a marvelous video about the bravery of Israelis, who are an exceptional people. See it to be uplifted and share it.
https://arlenefromisrael.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VID-20240514-WA00051.mp4
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This Yom Ha’atzmaut was subdued because of the war, which was proper. May we see a full a joyous celebration next year.
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, and for the rescue of our hostages. Pray with a heart filled with hope.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
