Fourth of July: Judean gratitude
It’s high time we pay attention to those who support Israel.
There are many who detract from our right to exist, who challenge the morals of our small, dear country. With antisemitism on the rise around the world, and anti-Israel sentiment expanding from Europe to the US and beyond, we Jews have much to defend.
Our right to our homeland. To our one single Jewish country among those who’d rather see us dead, or at least gone from the map of history. Our right to our opinions. To our ability to defend ourselves pragmatically and virtually.
It’s natural to get caught up with the naysayers, to use our organizational skills and public platforms to defy those who deny Israel’s basic rights, who attack Jews for simply being Jewish. And that is to be commended.
I’d like to break that trend and say thank you. Thanks to those who attack us, for making us stronger and better. You’ve pushed us to our limits and now the Jewish people are more united than ever. We fight back against evil, against warmongers and naysayers who would rather see us go down. But we have more work to do.
We have to say thank you, to those who step up and defend the people of Israel. To those who protect our precious state of Israel. Some are Jewish, most are not. Some act out of a sense of religion, while others simply want to do the right thing. To all of you, I say loud and clear: Thank you.
Giving thanks is in the very name of the Jewish people. Yehudi – Judahites, Judeans, Judah – the Hebrew is based on the word for thank you – l’hodot, hodaya. Gratitude and thanks are abundant in our culture. The first words a Jew is told to say each morning when we open our eyes is ‘Modeh Ani’: I give thanks before you, our God.
On this American Independence Day, a simple message of gratitude is offered. We are thankful for this great country, for liberty and justice for all. And for standing with Israel, forging a friendship that may be the strongest two allied forces on the international stage.
Biblically, the prophets warn those who seek to do the right thing – those who bless will be blessed, and you know the down side to this. Militarily, the US now has leadership that understands the integrity of our relationship and the joint interests that strengthen our bond. Morally – and I’m biased – it’s Israel that ultimately showcases western values while our neighbors overwhelmingly fail to emulate the tenets of US and Jewish forefathers and mothers.
Here’s an exercise in gratitude: Congressmen Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), thank you for your persistence in supporting Israel, working to legislate much-needed weaponry in a war that must be won for all of us. If you are a constituent, from NY or NJ, raise your voices, tell these brave leaders that they have your support. Remind them that we are the good guys, fighting the fight against evil together. This is enough, but make it worth their while with a tangible thank you.
We know how to kvetch. Complaints are abundant. But when something good happens, when someone steps up to honor Israel or defend the Jewish people, let’s make sure that our voices are raised on their behalf, loud and clear.
It’s in our DNA.
