Israel In Our Lives...
Here is what Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism shared last year, as Israel approached its 60th year as a modern state. (Excerpted from Reform Judaism, spring 2008)
We live at an extraordinary moment in the history of the Jewish people. After 2,000 years, we have once again established a sovereign Jewish nation in the Land of Israel—the one place in the world where Shabbat and the festivals provide the rhythm of the calendar and where Jews can apply Jewish values and the Jewish spirit to every aspect of life. We are blessed to do what Moses was not permitted to do: to set foot on the soil of the Jewish State. And not only can we walk on her soil; we can build on it. We can watch children grow up on it, speaking the language of the Bible, revived at last as a spoken tongue. This precious moment of renewal, rebirth, and possibility is ours. Will we seize it, or will we squander it?
Let us not allow our dissatisfaction with this or that government policy to dampen our support for Israel. Yes, Israeli politicians can be every bit as incompetent as our own. Yet politics has nothing whatever to do with our connection to the Zionist idea—an idea which lives in the soul, in the words of the Psalmist, and in the prayers we say every day. Our connection to Israel is not rooted in ideology, but in a religious vision and in a dream of what Israel can become. Israel needs us now as never before. It requires our political activism, our financial support, and our frequent visits. And it requires us to answer the lies and distortions of Israel haters, including those self-haters in our midst who uphold the rights of every group except their own.
And just as much as Israel needs us, we need Israel—the place that inspires us and pumps the dynamism of Jewish life through our veins. For Reform Jews the stakes are especially high. If we fail to establish a significant presence on Israeli soil and do not become a powerful force in the next generation, we will have consigned ourselves to the margins of Jewish history. While Reform successes in Israel give me confidence that this will not happen, it is for this reason that our support of Reform Judaism in Israel is so vitally important.
Whether your reaction is “how can I celebrate” or “how can I keep current on the daily news?” you will find something that connects you to Israel in the links below.
Let's learn about Israel! A site with all sorts of information, from film archives to history, to student friendly learning aids
A fun, child's virtual tour of Israel
Great games, music and more for older elementary and middle schoolers
Live shots of the Kotel (Western Wall), leave a note to be placed in the Kotel and more
Tourism information, virtual tours and more
Recipes from the Land
What Does It Mean to Be a Reform Zionist?
Association of Reform Zionists of America; URJ's partner in Israel
The Jerusalem Post online
HaAretz Online
