April 28, 2017 | 2 Iyar 5777
Parashat Tazaria-Metzora –
YOM: HaZikaron and Ha’Atzmaut

 

Sunday through Tuesday in Israel marks the High Holiday season of our Peoplehood: The day of remembrance for fallen Israeli soldiers immediately followed by Israel’s Independence Day. The events bleed one into the next to prove the concept that were it not for sacrifice, we would have nothing to celebrate.

69 years ago, Israel was declared a state in a clandestine meeting in Tel Aviv at what was the converted home of Meyer Dizengoff, that he donated to the first art museum of the country. In that space – now consecrated as a hall to the momentous day – Ben Gurion declared the State, its name and its leaders and vision, just hours before Shabbat started.

Then, the chief rabbi of Israel choking back tears, recited the Shehichiaynu prayer. Undoubtedly, he thought of the 2,000 year old dream that was being realized and the millions of souls that suffered persecution, as recently as WWII, that would have been saved form such a state.

Then, the group joined in the new, national anthem, HaTikvah.

Here is an excerpt of the moment that Ben Gurion arrived and declared a state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDSBF5xtoo

May this birthday bring Israel peace and security. Next year in Jerusalem. Make that more than a dream. You can make that a reality!!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner