Interdependence Day

It is a reasonable assumption to make that Israel is the only country in the world whose day of independence is a political issue. In short, there are those who celebrate, and those who don’t. Those who do greet each other with “chag sameach”, put flags on their cars, and of course barbeque. Those who don’t, don’t do anything. 

The “those who don’t do anything” crowd don’t do anything because the day has no significance for them. The day celebrates the creation of an entity for which they have no affinity, or interest. 

It is not clear to me why this is. Here we are, the People of Israel, expressing our national identity in the Land of Israel. It is by no means perfect, yet here we are. That we are here as sovereign in the land promised to us after all this time is astounding. That we have achieved and accomplished all that we have is astounding. That this has happened in the face of violent hostility is astounding. 

Asserting a national identity in all this is no small feat. Coming together after so long away and apart has allowed for an atmosphere of misunderstanding, disagreement and intolerance. As a nation, we are very old, but as a people charting out our future and destiny, we are adolescent. When we declared independence, there was nothing here. For decades, bread, milk, eggs and flour were rationed. There was not a Jewish child outside of Israel who for a bar/bat mitzva gift did not receive at least one Israel bond, as Israel could not survive without the financial assistance from Jews abroad. Indeed, one of the arguments made by those who chose to not move to Israel was that it is important for Israel to have Jews not there, in order to help raise funds. The economy was top heavy with government involvement. Over time, opening financial opportunities and reducing national control, the economy grew and so did possibilities for growth. In terms of quality of life, it has never been easier to live here than it is now.  

How we deal with peace with our neighbors has been a considerably slower process, but there is movement nonetheless. We are in the grasp of a serious internal conflict regarding how to save those of us held hostage, and how to make ourselves invulnerable to terror. It has become clear to most that what has been tried in the past will not work, and we need to figure out what the best alternative would be. The comfort is in knowing that we will get there; the fear is in how. 

Ah, there’s the rub. How do we come together without tearing each other apart? Simply, it seems that those who do, and those who do not celebrate Independence Day would do well to consider the whys and wherefores of what this land means to us as an existential entity, to take into account the national and religious aspects of our expression as a people, and to try to step away from the fear letting go and the sanctimony of our respective positions. Creating a national identity is no small feat.

We can only do this together.    

Alone, together. 

Maybe we should change the name to Interdependence Day.