Israel's Historic Achievement

From Israel's Historic Achievement:

To think of Israel as 60 years old may be wrong when its enemies seek to portray it as an alien usurper. In fact, the Jews have lived in the Land of Israel for over 3,300 years, since 1312 BCE. They had lived there at least 1,800 years before the Arab conquest of 635 CE, which lasted only 22 years. Jerusalem was the Jewish capital for over 3,300 years and never was the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. King David founded Jerusalem; Muhammad never set foot in it. Jews pray facing Jerusalem, and Muslims face Mecca. Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in the Old Testament and not once in the Koran. The Jews have never had any other national homeland.

The Jews who became Israelis have cultivated desolate lands with one of the world's most innovative agricultural economies; they have established legal systems that protect civil liberties against the backdrop of the most lethal security threats. They have made a home for the world's largest Jewish population, passing America. The realization of the dream that Israel represents with its rebirth has evoked the spirit of kinship and emotional association with those who share the Judeo-Christian community throughout the world.

A Reality Check as Israel Turns 60

An excellent article, A Reality Check as Israel Turns 60, by Fouad Ajami:

The Arab imagination could never reconcile itself to the permanence of the Jewish state. No victories could secure this state the acceptance of its neighbors. It was a fluke of history, they believed. Modern-day Arabs took to the history of the Crusader Kingdom that had lasted for two centuries (1099-1291), then pulled up stakes and left its castles and ruins. This, too, shall pass, it was believed.

In its short history, Israel has held up a mirror for the Arabs, who have not liked what they have seen. Although outgunned and outnumbered, a mere 650,000 Jews prevailed over 40 million Arabs. In their fantasy, the Arabs were a martial people, while the Jews had been timid souls. These were different Jews, the Zionists, steeled by the horror of the Holocaust, who would hold their own in the field of battle. On a barren, small piece of land, the Zionists built a durable state. It was military but not militaristic. Under conditions of a long siege, it maintained a deep and abiding democratic ethos.

Israel's 60th anniversary suggests what might have been. The Zionists opted for moderation and rescue; they would take a state, said their legendary leader Chaim Weizmann, even if it were the size of a tablecloth. The Palestinians held out for the whole thing. This month's festivities marking the return of the Jews to the world of nations should be an occasion for some honest Palestinian (and Arab) retrospection on how Arab history has played out in the intervening decades.

Israel Should Be the Plaintiff, Not the Defendant, in the Court of Public Opinion

From Israel Should Be the Plaintiff, Not the Defendant, in the Court of Public Opinion:

It is not about land. Israel is a hangnail-sized piece of land with no oil and no resources other than those produced by the sweat and brains of its inhabitants. Surrounding this minuscule plot, demonstrably the Jews' ancient homeland, are 22 Arab countries covering a tenth of the world's land mass, 640 times more land than Israel occupies. It is about Arabs' intolerance for any other people in their midst. In particular Jews. Instead of defending Israel's right to exist, the court of public opinion should be prosecuting the Arabs' crime of relentless hate speech and incitement to violence.

Israel Then and Now

Check out this video, sponsored by Aish.com, entitled "Israel Then and Now" in recognition and celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary: 60 Years in 60 Seconds

Few Nations Can Claim the Same Legitimacy as Israel

From Few Nations Can Claim the Same Legitimacy as Israel:

For some in academia, the media and even the UN, Israel's very "Right to Exist" is considered a subject for legitimate debate. It's ironic, since few nations can claim the kind of historic legitimacy and connection to a place as can the Jewish people. For more than 3,000 years, Jews have been spiritually as well as corporeally bonded to the Land of Israel. In 1921, Winston Churchill proclaimed, "It is manifestly right that the Jews, who are scattered all over the world, should have a national center and a national home. And where else could that be but in this land of Palestine, with which for more than 3,000 years they have been intimately and profoundly associated?"

Israel has said yes to virtually every partition plan put forth in modern times while the Palestinians have said no. In 2000 Israel offered the Palestinians more than 96% of the West Bank and all of Gaza; the Palestinian response was a terror war unleashed against the Jewish state. The world might better applaud the miracle of Israel's rebirth in its tiny ancestral land as a model of decency, tolerance and intellectual vibrancy, for these are the true criteria of legitimacy.

Israel's Gift to the World

From Israel's Gift to the World:

As Israel celebrates its 60th birthday, the world should recognize the enormous gifts the Jewish state has given the world. Israel has exported more lifesaving medical technology to the far-flung corners of the earth than any nation of comparable size. It has done more to protect the environment, to promote literature, music, the arts and sciences, to spread agricultural advances and to fight terrorism within the rule of law. Yet despite these disproportionate contributions to the world, Israel has proportionally more enemies than any nation on earth. Moreover, the intensity of the enmity directed against the Mideast's only democracy is unexplainable on any rational basis.

President Truman's Decision to Recognize Israel

Israel at 60. The charge that domestic politics determined US policy on Palestine angered President Truman for the rest of his life. In fact, the President's policy rested on the realities of the situation in the region, on America's moral, ethical, and humanitarian values, on the costs and risks inherent in any other course, and on America's national interests. Israel was going to come into existence whether or not Washington recognized it. But without American support from the very beginning, Israel's survival would have been at even greater risk. Truman's decision, although opposed by almost the entire foreign policy establishment, was the right one - and despite complicated consequences that continue to this day, it is a decision all Americans should recognize and admire.

Israel at 60: Population 7.282 Million

On the eve of Israel's 60th Independence Day, the country's population stands at 7,282,000, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

5,499,000 (75.5%) are Jews and 1,461,000 (20.1%) are Arabs.

May the Jews continue to be fruitful and multiply, healthy and prosperous, protected and faithful.

U.S. recognizes Jewish State

Sunday May 16, 1948

WASHINGTON (May 16) -- Ten minutes after the termination of the British Mandate on Friday, the White House released a formal statement by President Truman that the U.S. Government intended to recognize the Provisional Jewish Government as the de facto authority representing the Jewish State.

The U.S. is also considering lifting the arms embargo but it is not known whether to Palestine only or to the entire Middle East, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Jewish Provisional Government.

The White House press secretary, Mr. Charles Ross, told correspondents today that reaction so far to the recognition had been overwhelmingly favorable. He said this step had been discussed with Mr. Marshall and Mr. Lovett before action was taken, and it had their complete support.

Mr. Ross said that the President had decided several days ago to grant American recognition to the Jewish State, but due to protocol regulations he could not announce his policy until a formal letter arrived. "We were able to move very quickly when the messenger brought the letter," he said, "because the President had already determined the course of action to be taken."

Seder Yom Ha'atzmaut A Yom Ha'atzmaut Haggadah

Israel's Independence Day - Yom Ha'atzmaut - is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the state, when members of the "provisional government" read and signed a Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv. The original date corresponded to May 14, 1948.

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) received several queries about a Haggadah and Seder for Yom Ha'atzmaut. There are a few of these on the market, but none online so JAFI decided to bring you their compilation ideas. JAFI requests that you please feel free to adapt these ideas to your own needs and setting.

What you will need:

A festive table, to be set with a Megillat Ha'atzmaut [Israel Declaration of Independence] runner tablecloth and items from the Yom Ha'atzmaut Kit, after opening the kit and doing one or two ice-breaker activities; preferably, also, a home-made Israeli flag for every participant on their plate!

The entire table will be your "Seder plate", consisting of items from the kit and special items of food*.

*Pitta bread, humus, tehina; items of Israeli cuisine, wine or grape juice from Israel for 4 cups of wine / juice; your Festive Seder meal; decorations, wineglasses for everyone; Herzl cup of wine; An empty place for Israel's missing and captive soldiers; Your home-made Haggadah - please see below! Please treat it with respect, because it contains blessings
…
Haggadah Compilation Notes:

Prepare the titles of each section, for the outline order [adapt from the chart below];
Copy the related texts to be read aloud for everyone, in the correct order.
Hebrew-English texts that have been linked should be downloaded, too; attached files [e.g.: 12 honorees for torchlighting; tefillot].

* Background texts for participants to read should be distributed ahead of time, as specified below.
* Participants who are to take roles will require advance print copies of the resources / linked texts and some time to think about them.

You may also prefer to compose your own Dayeinu prior to the event…

Music Notes:

Downloads of audio files, preferably to CD and CD player.

For more information about songs:

www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Jewish+Time/Festivals+and+Memorial+Days/Independence+Day/Israeli+Song+Finder+Index.htm

www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Israel+at+50/50+Years+of+Hebrew+Song.htm

Please download pages Birkat Hamazon, Hallel pages and other readings from the links provided.