“PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE “ROCK OF ISRAEL,” WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY,1948).” ~ Israel’s Declaration of Independence Yesterday, Israel celebrated its 77th year of independence. This remains one of the greatest achievements of Jewish history—to have a sovereign Jewish entity, to fulfill our self-determination as a people, and to create a public Jewish culture, living in Jewish space and time. It is truly a modern miracle worth celebrating and admiring. The two-day emotional roller coaster of mourning and celebrating on Yom Zikaron and Yom Haatzmaut gives us pause for reflection. We should look around, take a deep breath, and remind ourselves what having a Jewish State is all about and, specifically, what that means for us as North American Jews. For some, Yom Haatzmaut this year was an escape from the challenging reality in which we find ourselves: Over a year and a half of an unending war in Gaza, 59 hostages remaining in captivity with 24 assumed to be alive still languishing in torturous conditions, wildfires raging out of control, and severe threats to democracy amidst increased polarization and fractures in society. For some, this day was a welcome respite from the news. A time to reflect on the miracle of the State of Israel and all the ways in which we can and should celebrate it. For one day a year, to refrain from critique and commentary. For others, however, today’s reality inhibits their celebrations. Celebration is not really an option, so long as there are those who have no independence and who remain in captivity and who were attacked for choosing to commemorate innocent victims of this conflict. Let’s imagine for a moment that on the sacrosanct eve of memorial for Israel’s fallen, an angry mob of neo-Nazis and far-right wing extremists surrounded a synagogue in North America, chanted threatening slogans. Then, let’s imagine, they began to hurl rocks at the building and windows, blocking the exit doors for those inside. Then, one threw a rock through a car window, injuring its driver attempting to flee the scene.  Or let’s imagine that instead of far-right-wing extremists, the mob was keffiyeh-clad masked protesters chanting anti-Israel and anti-Zionist slogans, akin to some cases at encampments and protests on college campuses this past year. I imagine that this would ignite a flurry of condemnations from across the Jewish world. The ADL would be up in arms, the Federations, Conference of Presidents, Israeli Consulates and Embassies – all would rise to the moment to condemn such a Charlottesville-esque “pogrom”. Sadly, this hypothetical scenario did happen. But instead of neo-Nazis or anti-Israel protesters, it was a Jewish mob attacking other Jews choosing to commemorate victims in a Reform synagogue in the Jewish State. The driver of said car was none other than Orly Erez-Likhovsky, the director of the Israel Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She has dedicated her life and work to ensuring equal rights for all citizens and preventing acts of incitement, violence, and extreme intolerance. Orly Erez-Likhovsky writes: “The rock that hit me was aimed at my body and at the bodies of many others who were present. But above all, it was aimed at the spirit: the spirit of democracy, pluralism, an open and inclusive Judaism, and Jewish-Arab partnership. It was aimed at the ability of every person to live safely in a free country that respects their beliefs and choices, one that respects the way each person chooses to mark this painful day in a way that reflects their values. … The hundreds of rioting extremists weren’t there just because of the ceremony. They were there because, like the inciters who sent them on their violent mission, they oppose the basic values of a democratic state that allows all its citizens to pray according to their own beliefs, to mourn in their own way and to believe in human rights. They didn’t attack us just because of the joint Memorial Day ceremony. They attacked democracy, pluralism and every person’s ability to observe the Judaism in which they believe without fear or threat.” Amidst our celebrations of all that Israel has achieved, this year we cannot ignore the threats and challenges that we face. Sadly, this was not the only case of anti-Reform incidents. Earlier this week anti-Reform graffiti was sprayed on our congregation in Netanya, Kehilat Netan-ya, as a stark reminder of the intolerance and hatred felt from some in our midst. Let’s be clear. This is not just a case of one or two lone actors. The flames of hatred are being fanned by those at the highest level of government in the Jewish state. Not one government official has shown up to condemn or to stand in solidarity with our congregations who have been attacked. If this makes you angry, then make sure you and everyone you know (who is eligible) to VOTE REFORM in the World Zionist Congress elections. This is your last chance to impact Israeli society and support our Reform Movement. (Voting ends on Sunday, May 4th) For me, the challenge of Yom Haatzmaut is to hold it all together: to embrace a wide spectrum of feelings, thoughts, and reactions to the current moment, and to embrace multiple truths, narratives and even opposing binaries. Every year on Yom Haatzmaut, I read the text of Megilat Haatzmaut (Israel’s Declaration of Independence) – often with commentary. It was the text that Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, envisioned would be the “megillah” or scroll that complements this holiday, just like we read Megillat Esther on Purim, Lamentations on Tisha B’Av, and Ecclesiastes on Sukkot. It is a text full of binaries. It tells who we are and where we came from with an abbreviated master story of the Jewish people leading up to the moment of establishing a modern Jewish state, and it offers a vision of what we aspire to become. It is particular and universal. And like the State that followed, it celebrates the contributions of the Jewish people while also mourning the tragedies that befell us.  It is a staunch reminder to us that we can both celebrate this moment and not give up on our fight for what Israel should and can be. As Professor and Author Susie Linfield recently wrote: “The [Israeli] protestors knew how to simultaneously loathe their government and love their country, something that the left in the U.S. has not managed since the Vietnam War. Hamas’ October 7 massacres changed that, as it did much else. Still, Israelis seem to be resisting their government amid war more than we Americans are in peace. There is no American corollary to the thousands of Israeli reservists, teachers, academics, scientists and literary figures who have demanded an end to the war and the return of the hostages.” Prof. Linfield captures another binary: “Israel, however, is the only country in the world faced with an array of terrorist groups – Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi militias – and one big state, Iran, that is obsessively dedicated to its eradication. It’s hard to maintain a healthy democracy and a healthy democratic culture in the light of sustained attacks. This does not mean Israel has a carte blanche to do anything it pleases: The crux of self-determination, and Zionism, the movement for the self-determination of the Jewish people, is that one is responsible for the world one makes. Yet, as Karl Marx pointed out, we do not make our world under the conditions that we choose. This is truer for Israel than for any other nation I can think of.” This is a moment to celebrate, and it is a moment to ask what each of us can do right now for Israel. The one thing each of us can do now is to vote. VOTE REFORM to push back against extremism. This is to show solidarity with our Movement, which is attacked day in and day out. Let us turn the Rock hurled through that window into the ‘Rock of Israel’ laid out by Israel’s founding visionaries. Rather than a rock aimed at harm and destruction, ours will be a “rock” of solidarity and foundation for the values of Justice, Freedom, and Peace as envisioned by our Prophets and those who established this miraculous Jewish State. 77 in gematria is ע”ז, which means power or strength. As Israel has now completed its year of עֹז (“Year of Strength”), strength and power are at the heart of what I wish for Israel on this anniversary of its independence. The strength to exist, to defend its borders, and the inner strength to overcome its divisions and fight against those who threaten its very foundation. יְהֹוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְהֹוָה  יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם׃ (תהילים כ”ט) May יְהֹוָה grant strength to God’s people; may יְהֹוָה bestow on God’s people peace. (Psalm 29)