Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, was celebrated a few days ago. Jews in Israel and around the world took stock of the previous year and sought to make right any outstanding grievances in order to secure God’s blessing for the new year.
It was a difficult year for Israel, full of challenges both at home and abroad. But it was also a year of many miracles, as God protected His people from hundreds of attempts to harm them by enemies bent on Israel’s destruction. Some lives were lost, but many more were saved.
To live in Israel, you must be a realist. But you must also be an optimist! In honor of Rosh Hashanah, we look back on the events of 5775 (2014/2015) and thank God for His mercy and blessing on Israel.
Isi Leibler, one of Israel’s best known journalists, writes eloquently of this phenomenon:
For some, the external threats and the internal problems confronting us are considered a depressing background to Rosh Hashanah. But truth be told, the Almighty must be watching over us, because despite our internal divisions and ongoing external challenges, decade after decade, we seem blessed to prosper and grow from strength to strength. Polls show that despite the stresses, we Israelis are among the happiest nations in the world.
As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah in a turbulent world, those like myself who believe that our continued survival is due to a Divine presence, should give thanks to the Almighty that despite the enormous hatred surrounding us and contrary to all historic precedents and reason, we have never been as powerful as we are today.
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We must never take for granted that our generation is blessed to have a Jewish state. It requires little imagination to visualize what horrific conditions would face us in the absence of the state, which has empowered Jews for the first time since our dispersion. Any Jew is assured of a haven in the Jewish homeland and we hope many more will make aliyah in the years to come. We pray that increasing numbers will do so out of a desire to live in their Jewish homeland rather than escaping persecution and discrimination.
So despite the fierce challenges confronting us, we should look to the future with optimism. Without detracting from the necessity of remaining alert and strong, we should dismiss the prophets of doom. We must continue to remind ourselves of the reality that we are indeed the most blessed generation of Jews since our exile 2,000 years ago. Much as we seek the friendship and support of other nations, we are fortified in the knowledge that today we independently determine our own future.
Shanah tovah and Am Yisrael chai!
