Dear Friends of a Jewish State of Israel,
Yesterday I spent the greater part of the day in Park HaShluliite in Netanya. I arrived there relatively early, about 9:00 am. My plan was to arrive before most people, pick an ideal spot to set up our grills for a long bbq, and have grass and trees around us. I had figured that arriving at 9:00 in the morning was smart, as they say in America, the early bird gets the worm. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
When I arrived, the parking lot was already full!
I learned a new trick I doubt most people will ever see in the Diaspora: A member of a family arrives very early, puts down a picnic table and a few chairs, then takes red and white tape and encloses the area. At this point he/she goes home to gather the family and the day’s supplies. What I find so unique and wonderful is that everyone else who comes respects the self reserved areas. No one removes the tape, table, and chairs. The new people just find a new area from what remains.
Of course, watching some of these families come to these National holiday locations sort of reminds me of the Exodus from Egypt. Whole familes carrying picnic chairs and tables, water bottles, large plastic coolers with food, portable bbqs, etc. Some of them even carry on their shoulders for great distances. All this for a day of grilling meat! But there is more.
Someone runs out of charcoal? No problem, another family, complete strangers, give them some charcoal. A group next to us ran out of matches, so we gave them a box of matches. Someone came and asked if we could spare a few pitas? Why not? A small child was crying so a caring stranger calmed her down and asked where her family was sitting. They walked from one group to another until they found her family.
Friends, this is the Nation of Israel at home in our Land. Do we see this in the Diaspora? From to time to time in very heavily populated traditional Jewish neighborhoods, but not as a rule with the general public. Why? Because here in Eretz Yisrael, we are the public!
The greatness of this Nation in our Land includes so many who lost loved ones to terror and war. It includes an even greater amount who were seriously injured and permanently maimed. We share in the tragedies. We share in the sorrow. We share in the suffering from the evil propaganda against us. We share in the axieties of “What will be?” Ma Yihiye? Most of all we share in the brotherhood and sisterhood of sharing great celebratory days with our giant extended family.
Bowed but unbroken.
They couldn’t finish us off in ancient times, medieval times, and modern times.
Out of the ashes of Aushwitz was born a new Jew who had the blood of the Macabees and was inspired by the Partisans and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Today, Jews can hit back if necessary. We will not walk to our slaughter.
There should be much greater emphasis on days like yesterday. Show the world. Show those who respect us. Show those who hate us and work towards our destruction. Show them that the People who were promised to be G-d’s People in his Chosen Land will never, ever, be broken.
Listen Tucker. Listen Candace. Listen AOC. Listen Hizbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and the rest of you haters: “Am Yisrael Chai!” We won’t let you forget it. Amen.
