What Independence?
In the 59 short years since the creation of the State we have seen miraculous development and growth in the country. In terms of population, infrastructure, science and technology, culture and of course its world-beating economy.
But for all this exponential growth in every conceivable area that we happily record on this 59th Independence Day, there is one vital feature of statehood that has failed to make the grade and has eroded significantly in real terms.
It is hard to see
But whilst true independence continues to elude the State, the Jewish people have never really lost it.
Our people achieved their independence at
That was the time and place where they were chosen by the Almighty in preference to all the other nations on the planet.
Chosen to be different, to hold to a higher set of morals and standards.
Chosen to be the people of the book – the nation of Torah.
And this independence – ‘la différence’ - is what has singled out the Jews in every generation for envy and hatred by virtually every country and creed you could care to name.
Traditionally the greatest hate had been reserved for the more religious who wore strange hats and clothing – those who so blatantly failed to assimilate in the ways and appearance of their host countries. A people apart. They who clung jealously to their traditions of Sabbath observance and observance of torah and mitzvot.
Those Jews who have assimilated, have lost their identity as Jews and – in the process – have lost that spiritual independence among nations that was gifted at Sinai. If they look, act, eat and behave like gentiles – what will ever make them special other than the purely material standards of wealth and power? What is there left to fight for … or to hand over to the next generation?
Such is the unfortunate predicament of the State of Israel. Its secular leaders crave assimilation amongst the nations of the world. For people like Shimon Peres and Avigdor Lieberman – two coalition members at extreme opposites of the political divide – their most prized ambition is for
In Jewish terms this would be a disaster!
Peres and Lieberman are savvy enough to know that – for all the extra trade and development grants that would spring from EU membership – there is an awful sting in the tail. The free movement of labor. That, in effect,
On an individual scale, Jews who assimilated have given up the Torah and their special lineage.
Similarly on the national scale, if
Like the ordinary Jew clinging to his traditions,
This is why I personally don’t make much ado of Yom Ha-Atzmaut.
For me, Yom Yerushalayim has by far the greater significance.
And there lies the essential difference in hashkafah:
Those that cleave to
And those that yearn for
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