During the whole of Jewish history, from Joshua to the current State of Israel, the Jewish people showed some of the greatest courage any people has ever shown in history.
They showed the courage to be willing to die, but to fight for the right to live as Jews without fear – beginning with the Warsaw Ghetto and culminating in the wars fought by Medinat Yisrael, for which the people and State of Israel still have to fight today under a shadow that no other nation in the world has to live under.
And if only Israel's neighbours would emulate Israel instead of condemning Israel, then there would be peace and hope in the Middle East, instead of strife and violence and fear.
Jews fought with the courage that you find only in those whose ultimate aim is not victory, but peace, not triumph, but life.
Let us this year meditate on the courage of the heroes of Medinat Yisrael who are willing to die so that we can live.
They lit a flame in the Jewish heart that will never die.
And looking today at the Israel they have built, a land of freedom and energy and creativity and liberty and light.
And thank God that we have lived to witness this day. And let us pray for shalom al Yisrael (peace upon Israel), bimheira b’yameinu (speedily in our days). Amen.
