Sam Vinokor

aimeeweiss:

Rachel Sales

The story of Chanukah is one that relates to the Zionist movement in a very profound way. It is the story of Jewish nationalism and the ongoing connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. It also highlights the continuing battle for the Jewish right to self-determination in the land of Israel. As we light the Chanukah candles every night, publicizing the miracle of the oil, my thoughts go to the ongoing miracles of the State of Israel. So, here are my eight miracles of Israel this holiday season:

1. For thousands of years, there has always been a Jewish presence in our ancient homeland, Israel, and in 1948 the eternal dream of the Jewish people was fulfilled as Israel became the modern Jewish State.

2. Israel is a champion of humanity. After five years of his captivity and countless hours of effort, Gilad Shalit was returned to his family and to Israel. Gilad Shalit’s freedom and rehabilitation is a miracle, and is testament to Israel’s commitment to the safety and security of its people.

3. The social protests that marked this past summer in Israel were conducted in a peaceful manner. Unlike the violence of the Arab Spring, the social protests in Israel were calm and the protesters were able to express their feelings in productive ways.

4. Israel has one of the most moral and just armies in the world. The Israel Defense Force is committed to the principles of security, defense, loyalty, and human dignity.

5. Israeli society is diverse in terms of the ethnic and religious backgrounds of its citizens. Arabs, Jews, Christians, Bahai, and many others live together in a country that protects all of their rights and respects their individuals beliefs.

6. Israel is a haven for individuals who seek refuge from around the world. African refugees from Eritrea and the Darfur region come to Israel seeking asylum. Jews from Ethiopia and the FSU journeyed to Israel for religious freedom. People from around the world know Israel to be a champion of human rights and equality.

7. Israel is a pioneer in medical and environmental technology. In addition to the many new technologies that Israelis produce annually, Israel also has the distinction of being the only country in the world to leave the 20th century with an increase in its number of trees.

8. Israel is the product of thousands of years of Jewish longing, of efforts to return, and of an ongoing national connection to a shared destiny. It is the home of the Hebrew language, which was revitalized and transformed into a modern language, and to the Jewish people.

Thanksgiving is the day on the American calendar set aside for watching football, eating copious amounts of food while surrounded by family and friends, gearing up for Black Friday, and, most importantly, reflecting on the many things that each of us has to be thankful for and the countless blessings in our lives.

As I look over the numerous things in my own life that I am grateful for, many things come to mind. Family, friends, health. But as always in my life, the overarching theme that permeates all is Israel and Zionism. I, and my contemporaries, am lucky enough to have been born in a time when Israel exists as a free and independent Jewish State. We are unique in this: generations of Jews have spent thousands of years praying to return to Israel and establish a modern Jewish state, but only for the past sixty-three years has that become the reality of the Jewish people.

I am thankful to have been born in a time when the State of Israel exists. Having Israel has transformed what it means to be Jewish, and has given the Jewish people around the world the confidence that comes with the knowledge that we have a home of our own, a place we can call ours, a tangible location that gives us status as a nation, on par with the rest of the world. No longer are the Jewish people the eternal wanderers, with no permanent place: we have our ancestral homeland back. We have the rights and privileges that come with having independence, including an army and the right to self-defense and self-determination. I am thankful for the strength of Israel, and the knowledge that Israel will defend itself, its people, and Jewish people around the world if outside enemies force it to do so.

I am thankful that Israel is a free and democratic state, where individuals of all races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations are able to live together. I am proud that Israel is a pioneer in areas ranging from water technology to “green” startups and innovations, and am thankful that Israel is a champion of human rights, and is a place where gays, women, and religious minorities enjoy rights that are unparalleled throughout the rest of the Middle East. I am thankful for the diversity of Israel, and the unique culture that has been created by all of the different people who call Israel “home.”

I am thankful that Israel puts such a high value on human rights. For too many years, my thoughts on Thanksgiving turned to Gilad Shalit, hoping that each year would be his last one in captivity. Now, thanks to the efforts of his family, the Israeli government, and supporters from around the world, that dream has become a reality. I am thankful that Gilad Shalit is home safe and that Israel has proven to the world once again the value that it places on the lives of its citizens, particularly its soldiers. The whole country embraced Gilad as a part of their families, praying for him and rejoicing with his family when they were finally successful in their quest for his release.

I am thankful that the Zionist movement continues to flourish, inspiring Jews around the world and continuing to connect them with Israel. Above all, I know that I am lucky to live in a time when Israel exists, and despite the problems that it faces, flourishes. I am thankful to be a part of this unique time period in history when Israel is easily accessible to me, and I know that it will remain, as my refuge, my inspiration, my history, my future, my home.