“The days of our lives are 70 years….” (Psalms 90) And what a remarkable 70 years it has been!
It began with the emaciated faces of those fortunate enough to have escaped Hitler’s crematorium. The future looked grim... Most of our scholars and teachers, our parents and grandparents were no longer here to guide us... Like orphans we sang the song, “ViA’heen Zol Ich Gayn” (Where shall I go?)
And then it began -- first in the DP Camps, “We want to return to our historic homeland in Eretz Yisroel.”
So they came by the tens of thousands aboard the ship Exodus... They published a newspaper, Baderich (On the Way)... On the way with what? They had nofurniture, or suitcases... they lost their families and friends... they came only with their dreams and their new song – Hatikvah!
And then it happened... First the UN partition vote... then the declaration of statehood... just like in the time of Esther or in the time of the Maccabees...
So, here we are 70 years later. Looking out at this land from the Negev to the Galilee; from the modern metropolis of Tel Aviv to the Holy City of Jerusalem. If only ourancestors could walk beside us through the old city toward the Kotel. Yes! “Blessed art thou…for having granted us the privilege to live in such times!”
Celebrate Israel's 70th by sharing this with your family and friends!
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