Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Tuesday 24 April 2018

"In a Very Dangerous Neighbourhood ... Israel Stands Out as an Oasis"

 Brevity of Life
"The days of our years are threescore and ten" - Psalms xc, 10

"Three score and ten," the youth replies,
"How far off seems the day."
"Three score and ten," the old man cries,
"How quickly passed away"....

Those are the opening lines of a poem penned in Victorian times by a British Jew, Philip Abraham (Jewish Chronicle, 2 December 1864).

He was, of course, thinking in terms of end of life, but as we all know, and he could not, 70 epitomises a beginning of life, the period in which the State of Israel has been in existence, and miraculously flourished in so many  ways.

On that note, here's Mark Regev, giving a terrific address at Bnei Akiva's Yom Ha'atzmaut 5778 service at London's Kinloss Synagogue.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnC1ofe4k3s

In Jewish tradition "seventy is a symbol of perfection, of completion" explains Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at the same event, after paying tribute to Regev, Bnei Akiva, and before giving a stirring encomium to Medinat Israel.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Z_QfEXFks

More videos can be seen on Bnei Akiva's YouTube channel, including a Yom Ha'atzmaut tribute to Israel by Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson MP.  (Read snippets here)

Seems there's always a party pooper, though:


Sheer brilliance

2 comments:

  1. All Jews must thank and praise the G*D-of-Israel for giving us our own land -- and our own army.

    This is not a new idea. When we read ancient Jewish prayers, that are still recited today by Orthodox Jews, we see that Jews always thanked G*D for the Land of Israel, even when they were hundreds of miles away from it, and had no chance of living in it, or even visiting it.

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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, Mr Cohen, your other comment was deleted in error. You are, of course, welcome to re-send it.

      Delete

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