Love of the Land: The historical Jewish Dream

The historical Jewish Dream

Rafi G.
Life In Israel
04 May '10

I was at a bris this morning and the baal simcha (the father, not the baby) said something very poignant. Afterwords, as I was saying mazel tov before leaving, someone else pointed out how that same line had struck him as very powerful, so I have decided to share it with you.

The father was explaining how they had chosen the name. He said, and I am not quoting precisely because I do not remember the exact words he used, that they looked back on all the branches of their family trees, and as far as they could figure out, this is the first baby born in their families in Israel in at least 1800 years.

That one line expresses everything about Jews, our desire to return to Zion, and our ability to return to Zion today. People have good reasons for not coming, there are delays, life gets in the way, and all that. But at the end of the day it is so much easier today to fulfill this dream, the dream that Jews for centuries have held and largely were unable to achieve, today it is possible.

After 1800 years, the children are finally able to return. The dream was kept alive, and the dream stays alive. It is upon us to seize the day, seize the opportunity, and finally fulfill the Jewish dream that stayed with us through the centuries of exile. We are able to, and we are doing it.

Love of the Land: The historical Jewish Dream