Sacred Hope

Throughout Jewish history, The Jewish people have always believed and hoped for miracles and a better life.

When the Jews were slaves in Egypt, they longed for freedom and redemption.

When the Jews were crossing the desert into the promised land, they yearned for food, sustenance, and their chosen land.

When the Jews were exiled by the Babylonians and Romans, they wished for the speedy return to the holy land and the Messiah who would gather the Jews from around the world and rebuild the holy temple.

Following the Roman expulsion, The Jews yearned to live in peace with their neighbors while living on foreign soil.

During the various catastrophes that befell the Jewish people such as the Inquisition and the pogroms, Jews had hoped for security and an end to their oppression.

During the horrors of the Holocaust and the modern rebirth of the Jewish state, the Jews prayed for survival and victory.

The idea of Hope has always been engraved into the Jewish Psyche, so much so that it became the name of the national anthem of the state of Israel, “Hatikva” , which recalls the 2,000 year old desire to live freely within the ancestral Jewish homeland.

Present day, Israelis and Jews around the world are hoping for peace and quiet in Israel. Israelis are hoping to live without fear of terrorism and rockets. Israelis are hoping to live a normal life and to give their children a future free of terrorism and hatred.

Today it is my turn to hope. Today is my 27th birthday and all I want to wish is that Israel will live quietly and in peace and the Hamas terror movement be eradicated. I hope that the Jewish people will be able to live without fear and persecution caused by anti-Semitic acts of violence and terrorism. I wish that Israel will win this war in Gaza speedily and soon. I also hope for the families who lost their children peace and comfort knowing their child helped to defend the only Jewish state and their death will not be in vain. Israel always yearned for peace and Israel will fight, if it must, in order to bring a just and lasting peace. Amen.