Page 16 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Chief Rabbi David Lau

From Yom HaShoah to Yom HaAtzmaut:

Appreciating our Abilities

very year, upon the completion of You’ve returned us, and malchut Yis- praise G-d who has stood and stands
Ma’ariv on Yom HaAtzmaut eve, rael has returned to its rightful place. by us. We praise G-d who returned
Ea moment before the celebrations We’ve merited to return to the Land us to the Land of our forefathers, and
and performances, I rush up onto the and institute a government, establish we pray and ask: “Until now You have
stage and say the Prayer for the Welfare Beit Yisrael. There are many things still helped us and You have not relinquished
of the State of Israel and a few personal to correct. For example, many Jews do us, our G-d. But now our request, our
words of my own on the importance not yet recognize the Hand of G-d that prayer, is before You.” We praise Him
of the day. I am always moved to hear returned us to our Land. But for one day for what we have. We express so much
40,000 participants answer “Amen!” a year, we can stop and see the light. It’s gratitude because there is so much to be
Many of them would not otherwise be not a cup half-full – it’s much more than thankful for. But we also ask G-d: “We
exposed to this prayer and to the reli- that! Let us see the bigger picture, and want to praise You from Har HaBayit.
gious meaning of this day. We all sing say two precious, heartfelt words to G-d: We want to praise You from the rebuilt
Hatikvah and only afterwards do the “Thank You.” Beit HaMikdash.” Just as we have been
performances begin. fortunate to reach these moments, so
As a child in Tel Aviv, I remember The Jewish nation has too may we merit a full redemption and
asking my father, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, “” a rebuilt Beit HaMikdash speedily in our
“What does Yom HaAtzmaut mean to gone through difficult days, Amen.
you? What do you feel on this day?” My times... On our way Let us pray that G-d will give Israel’s
father answered, “I know that people to independence, leaders guidance; that He aid all the
are busy with the question: Hallel with we have passed IDF soldiers, the security forces, and the
a bracha or Hallel without a bracha – medical personnel - that they should
but it’s not relevant. Of course this is through all of these succeed in their endeavors and return
a halachic question that needs to be trials and more healthy and safely to their families. Let
dealt with, but when they focus solely us pray that we should feel the Jewish
on this, the askers are mistaken and lose atmosphere in our Jewish country, and
the neshama of Yom HaAtzmaut and the The Jewish nation has gone through experience and appreciate the Divine
reason for giving thanks.” difficult times. Times of imprisonment.
Times of suffering. Times Jews were gift of allowing us to return home to
The fact that Yom HaShoah is a week expelled from their homes and into the the Land of our forefathers in our gen-
before Yom HaAtzmaut adds so much desert. Only 73 years ago, the Altalena eration. May Israel grow and succeed,
meaning and value to both of those days. approached the Israeli coast and was may the current situation only get better
Because when one knows where one refused entry. On our way to indepen- soon and may there be goodness, joy and
comes from, one knows how to appre- dence, we have passed through all of peace for all the inhabitants of this Land.
ciate one’s abilities, and with them, to these trials and more. Am Yisrael Chai!
forge the path ahead.
Besha’a tova, we have merited that we
This is a day of thanksgiving. This is a are now here, in our Land, in our home. Rabbi David Lau is the Ashkenazi Chief
day when we stand up and say to G-d: We are here in our country, and we Rabbi of Israel.

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