Passover And The Declaration of Independence

What appears no different is the widespread development of an anti-Israel sentiment which is currently the more-politic face of a continued flush of antisemitic feeling. In some measure it is the product of pan-Arabism cum Islamism carried into the west on the back of Islamic integration. It feeds and rejuvenates the imbedded historic religious origins of anti-Jewish feeling going back centuries. It has made a marriage with the white-supremacist movements in many countries.

We are yet witnessing the growth pangs of this democracy in Israel in its early stages. It is confronting so many of the challenges it was born with. It is absorbing the twenty percent of its population that have been raised on a diet of rejection and hated, and coming to the realization that their lives are better here than the experience of their co-religionists. This is the realization that has just struck the Arab Christians in Israel. They are re-defining themselves as Arameans rather than Arabs.*

It has to deal with Orthodox Judaism which finds it difficult to co-exist with a secular government. It has to deal with a political system almost designed for impasse. And yet, they have created a nation whose accomplishments astound the world. They will solve these problems as well.

While Jews everywhere have always obeyed the biblical injunction toward loyalty and devotion to the countries of their refuge, they have never ceased “to weep by the rivers of Babylon”. That sentiment ultimately led to a “return” by some of our brothers and sisters. And as they are our brothers and sisters, we cannot fail to be concerned with their welfare. These days, more and more, however, the shoe is on the other foot.

With the rising prominence, even relevance, of Israel, it is we Jews in THE diaspora that will be receiving warmth from the reflected glory of that declaration of independence.

*The Head Prelate of Arab Christians, who, Arab-speaking, used to identify with the Arab Palestinian cause, has issued a call to his followers to become supporters of Israel, including volunteering for the IDF, recognizing that their origins pre-date Palestinian residency, and include the Jewish followers of Jesus, and Aramaic-speaking residents of the area. The Jewish state recognizes Aramaic as an ethic group in Israel. Arab Christians can now register themselves as Aramains instead of Arabs. They are now volunteering for national service in the hundreds. The IDF is not compulsory for them as it is for Jews. Christianity under the Palestinian Authority has been decimated.