Appreciating Israel at 75

Several years ago, I was leading a trip to Israel for 40 college students–Jewish and non-Jewish student leaders of dozens of student communities across campus. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Forsan Hussein, the (now former) CEO of the YMCA in Jerusalem. He relished in telling us that he was an Arab Muslim leading a Christian organization in the heart of Jewish Jerusalem. 

One of the things that I remember the most from Hussein's talk was when he told us why he was proud to call himself Israeli. He fully believed in the values that Israel was founded upon–the Jewish values of welcoming, brotherhood, and acceptance that are so well articulated in Israel's Declaration of Independence:

“THE STATE OF ISRAEL will [. . .] will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Hussein felt like his mission as a Zionist, one that I have since adopted as well, meant believing in the values that Israel was founded upon, and working to help Israel live up to those values the best it can. I loved that, and when I think of myself as someone passionate about Israel, that is how I define my Zionism. I want to help Israel be the best it can be. 

Every year that passes brings different challenges. Despite these challenges, or maybe because of them, I choose to stay connected and to continue to learn about Israel with the mission of wanting to understand Israel the best I can and helping it live up to its values as a Jewish-American ally. 

Last Sunday, we gathered as a community to celebrate and appreciate Israel on its 75th anniversary as a modern state. To celebrate the vibrant culture, the amazing Israeli people we have in our community, and the fact that we are to live in a time in which Israel exists alongside the Jewish people around the world.

Phil