In 1986 I spent my junior year of college studying in England. I used one of the vacation breaks to visit my friend who was spending the year in Israel and we had a wonderful time. On the way back to the airport, I listened to the cab driver complain incessantly about living in Israel. He expressed frustration with the government, the cost of living, the high level of stress. You name a topic and he complained about it. As we were pulling up to the airport, he asked me, “So when are you going to make aliya?”
I was a little surprised. I said to him, “You spent the last hour complaining about everything having to do with Israel and you want me to come live here?” I’ll never forget his answer. “Forget all that. Israel is the best place in the world.”
Israel was ranked 11th in the most recent Global Happiness Index, an annual ranking which measures well-being in areas that include education, environment, emotions and citizens engagement. Israel scored higher than the United States and the United Kingdom. Considering all of the internal and external challenges that Israel faces, this is truly remarkable.
As Israel prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary since her establishment as a modern state, we at Temple Israel are doing a number of things to mark the occasion. On the evenings of April 16, 23 and 30, Rabbi Schweber and I will be a teaching a mini-series entitled “Israel at 70,” focusing on some of the major milestones in Israel’s history.
On Thursday evening, April 19, Cantor Frieder will present an extraordinary concert in honor of Israel. He will be joined by Cantor Elizabeth Shamash, Shireinu Choir of Long Island, Temple Israel's Children's Choir, and Voices of Virtue, a Hempstead-based gospel choir for teens and young adults. The concert, sponsored by members of our congregation, will be free of charge and open to the community. It promises to be a joyous, uplifting celebration.
We are thrilled to be hosting award-winning journalist Bret Stephens in conversation with National Director and CEO of the ADL Jonathan Greenblatt on Sunday evening, April 29. Bret Stephens, currently on the staff of the New York Times, previously wrote for the Wall Street Journal and served as editor in chief of the Jerusalem Post. A gifted speaker and writer with a wide range of expertise in foreign and domestic issues, he will be addressing topics that include the Israel-U.S. relationship, the Republican-Democrat divide, the Iran nuclear threat, and prospects for peace in the Middle East. Due to the gracious sponsorship of Rabbi Abraham Eckstein, in memory of his beloved wife Adele, the program is free and open to the community. Tickets are required, however, and Temple Israel members have been given the first opportunity to obtain them before we open the event to the community at large.
As always, we will be marching in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade on June 3. This year's theme, most fittingly, is "70 and Sababa," which means "70 and Awesome."
In David Grossman’s novel, “To the End of the Land,” the protagonist, a woman named Ora, embarks on a long, complicated journey in order to try to avoid receiving bad news about the fate of her soldier son. At one point, beset by anxiety, she refers to Israel as “this impossible country” and wonders aloud how much longer things can go on as they are.
Israel is, in many ways, an impossible country. The countries that scored higher than Israel on the Happiness Index are not surrounded by enemies, not beset by trenchant conflict, not racked with deep questions about identity. Israelis, despite all of these challenges and more, have a deep sense of well-being that defies odds and expectations.
Israel’s challenges cannot be ignored, but they shouldn’t be allowed to eclipse her many accomplishments in so many realms, accomplishments that are disproportionate to Israel's size and a model and inspiration for the rest of the world.
Please join us as we learn about and celebrate Israel, a very real place and an absolute miracle. Impossible in so many ways and yet, in so many ways, the best place in the world.
I was a little surprised. I said to him, “You spent the last hour complaining about everything having to do with Israel and you want me to come live here?” I’ll never forget his answer. “Forget all that. Israel is the best place in the world.”
Israel was ranked 11th in the most recent Global Happiness Index, an annual ranking which measures well-being in areas that include education, environment, emotions and citizens engagement. Israel scored higher than the United States and the United Kingdom. Considering all of the internal and external challenges that Israel faces, this is truly remarkable.
As Israel prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary since her establishment as a modern state, we at Temple Israel are doing a number of things to mark the occasion. On the evenings of April 16, 23 and 30, Rabbi Schweber and I will be a teaching a mini-series entitled “Israel at 70,” focusing on some of the major milestones in Israel’s history.
On Thursday evening, April 19, Cantor Frieder will present an extraordinary concert in honor of Israel. He will be joined by Cantor Elizabeth Shamash, Shireinu Choir of Long Island, Temple Israel's Children's Choir, and Voices of Virtue, a Hempstead-based gospel choir for teens and young adults. The concert, sponsored by members of our congregation, will be free of charge and open to the community. It promises to be a joyous, uplifting celebration.
We are thrilled to be hosting award-winning journalist Bret Stephens in conversation with National Director and CEO of the ADL Jonathan Greenblatt on Sunday evening, April 29. Bret Stephens, currently on the staff of the New York Times, previously wrote for the Wall Street Journal and served as editor in chief of the Jerusalem Post. A gifted speaker and writer with a wide range of expertise in foreign and domestic issues, he will be addressing topics that include the Israel-U.S. relationship, the Republican-Democrat divide, the Iran nuclear threat, and prospects for peace in the Middle East. Due to the gracious sponsorship of Rabbi Abraham Eckstein, in memory of his beloved wife Adele, the program is free and open to the community. Tickets are required, however, and Temple Israel members have been given the first opportunity to obtain them before we open the event to the community at large.
As always, we will be marching in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade on June 3. This year's theme, most fittingly, is "70 and Sababa," which means "70 and Awesome."
In David Grossman’s novel, “To the End of the Land,” the protagonist, a woman named Ora, embarks on a long, complicated journey in order to try to avoid receiving bad news about the fate of her soldier son. At one point, beset by anxiety, she refers to Israel as “this impossible country” and wonders aloud how much longer things can go on as they are.
Israel is, in many ways, an impossible country. The countries that scored higher than Israel on the Happiness Index are not surrounded by enemies, not beset by trenchant conflict, not racked with deep questions about identity. Israelis, despite all of these challenges and more, have a deep sense of well-being that defies odds and expectations.
Israel’s challenges cannot be ignored, but they shouldn’t be allowed to eclipse her many accomplishments in so many realms, accomplishments that are disproportionate to Israel's size and a model and inspiration for the rest of the world.
Please join us as we learn about and celebrate Israel, a very real place and an absolute miracle. Impossible in so many ways and yet, in so many ways, the best place in the world.
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