As the final
Shabbat of CSL 2013 begins in several hours, we remember last week’s riveting
CSL in Israel Shabbat. Countless campers recounted their life changing
experiences in Israel. From religious awakenings to secular experiences, the
camper’s trip to Israel affected their lives in many ways perceivable and certainly
in areas yet unknown.
In
conjunction with the imminent arrival of the CSL in Israel campers, Judaica
classes discussed the essential connection between the State of Israel and
Judaism. With Hatikvah (Israeli national anthem) as a launching point, we
discussed how Israel must mean something to Jews. Caution: we did not say that
unilateral, unquestioned support of Israel was essential. Rather, we discussed
that Israel must occupy a portion, however large or minute, of one’s
consciousness. Those who refuse to participate in reciting Hatikvah fueled our
discussion. All students agreed, when they say the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ in
school they are not condoning the imprisonment of Japanese during World War II
or tacitly supporting all American policies like the manifest destiny practices
employed towards Native Americans. Similarly, when one stands and recites
Hatikvah, one is not condoning all the policies or even the current government
of Israel: respect, knowledge of Israel’s critical importance to Jews and the
World, those are reasons to stand. Not standing, failure to show the same respect
one employs for the Star Spangled Banner is the first step towards a
self-hating Jew. Judaism does not benefit from vocal Jewish anti-Semites like
Bobby Fisher or Roy Cohen.
Next week,
you will read the final Judaica blog post of the summer.
HOWEVER, if you enjoy what you were reading, please feel free to visit a blog I’m certain would challenge, stimulate, and hopefully activate your mind: the linguistic musings of H.D. Levy on his blog Urban Drash which can be found in two digital locales:
Shabbat
Shalom,
David
David
