On Herzl’s 150th birthday, we explore the modern relevance of Zionism after his dream of a Jewish state has been fulfilled

By ALISA WARSHAVSKY

(Author’s note: Three days after I finished writing this article, Israel was condemned around the world for exercising its right to self-defense. Yet again the international media portrayed Israel as a country that would attack innocent people — as if those armed with knives and clubs were peaceful activists on a humanitarian mission. Aside from this introduction, I have decided to leave my article just as it was because nothing proves how one-sided the court of world opinion is better than watching today’s news about Israel.)

Only a vision makes people’s hearts beat. One who doesn’t have it, even as intelligent as he would be, he couldn’t lead people, and after he’s gone, no impression would stay in the world. — Theodor Herzl

Growing up in Israel you are taught at a very young age who Theodor Herzl is, or as we say in Hebrew, ha-aish ve hagade (the man and the legend). A tour of Israel will give you an understanding of the importance of Herzl to Israel as a state — every city has a Herzl Street, and the city of Herzliya and Mount Herzl in Jerusalem are named for Herzl. The list goes on.

I will start at the end: Herzl is entombed at Mount Herzl. Forty-five years after he died, and one-and-a-half years after the state of Israel was established, the first Knesset (Israeli parliament) decided to fulfill his will and return his remains to Israel. Mount Herzl became the official state cemetery, where all the great leaders and soldiers are buried.

When you see Herzl’s grave, you notice a very simple monument adorned with a single word: Herzl. Nothing else needs to be said about the man.

Every day, Mount Herzl is visited by hundreds of soldiers, teenagers and tourists, who come to sit on the grass and learn about the history of Israel. Once a year, on Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day), there is a ceremony to remember all those who have died during service to the State of Israel, and it ends with the opening of Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebrations.

As an IDF education officer, it was my responsibility to ensure that every single soldier and officer in my unit would visit Mount Herzl to learn the history of the great people who are buried there.

As we celebrate Herzl’s 150th birthday, questions arise that must not be ignored. If the meaning of Zionism is, as Herzl said, a “policy for establishing and developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine,” then what happens to Zionism 62 years after the formation of that state? What is the modern relevance of Zionism after Herzl’s dream has been fulfilled?

I believe Zionism is alive and essential to the survival of Israel. We have established a state, but the road is still long and many challenges exist to protect that state.

Two months before his death, Herzl wrote, “I strongly believe that even after our land, the land of Israel, would be established, Zionism will not stop being an ideal. Zionism does not only include the will to the Promised Land, but also the strong yearning to spiritual fulfillment.” More than 100 years after Herzl’s death, we are still far from answering all of the questions about our Jewish identity and how that identity relates to Israel.

As the years pass, the gap between the Zionist dream and reality grows. Young Jews in the Diaspora see Israel through the mass media as a modern Jewish state beset by problems. Israeli teens now are very critical; they explore and judge the actions of their nation. Nowadays, Zionism requires learning about the obstacles that Judaism faces; these questions have taken on a very different shape from the ones we have dealt with in the past.

Taking my soldiers to Mount Herzl enabled me to learn what Zionism means to the young soldiers in the IDF. It’s in that place that some of their friends who died in Israeli wars are buried next to the leaders of our nation. Also, you can see Yitzhak Rabin’s grave, and a memorial containing the names of those murdered in terrorist attacks.

Every time I took soldiers to visit Mount Herzl, I would see them moved to tears by the meaning of Herzl’s ideal, of Zionism and what it means to them. Every visit to Mount Herzl made them stronger, and made them believe and understand that Herzl’s dream to establish a Jewish state has been fulfilled. But the vitality, direction and the protection of that state is still very much a work in progress.

Happy birthday, Theodor Herzl. We admire you, we teach about you in schools; and I’m sure that if you could see us now, you would smile and feel proud. And we continue to ask challenging questions and build the State of Israel. After all, you told us: “If you will it, it is no dream.”

·         Last night, IDF forces took control over the flotilla bound for Gaza, in contravention of the blockade.

·         The IDF action was authorized by the Security Cabinet, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense.

·         Passengers on one of the six boats initiated violent clashes.

·         Israel regrets that people have been injured, but responsibility lies with the organizers and participants of the flotilla who initiated the violence.

·         The State of Israel approached the organizers of the flotilla – prior to their departure and late, while at sea – and invited them to dock at the Port of Ashdod for the sake of transferring their cargo to Gaza, subject to security inspection.  The organizers refused.

·         While boarding on of the vessels, IDF soldiers were physically attacked with live ammunition and other weapons, including knives and clubs, which had been prepared in advance.  A weapon belonging to one of soldiers was snatched and, apparently, fired on IDF forces.

·         During the course of the incident, when their lives were put in danger, IDF soldiers were compelled to employ means to disperse demonstrations, including live weapons.

·         Initial reports indicate that about 10 flotilla participants were killed, and others injured, during the course of events.  Seven Israeli naval officers were also wounded.  All the injured were evacuated to hospitals.

·         There is no famine or humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  The area is under the control of Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to arm itself with weapons and rockets for the purpose of attacking Israelis – as it has done in the past.  Hamas continues to hold captive an Israeli soldier, in contravention of international law.  Accordingly, Israel stands on its natural right to inspect all cargo entering Gaza.

·         The entire flotilla was designed as a media stunt and political provocation by elements that are hostile to Israel, primarily the IHH – a violent, extremist group which supports terrorist organizations under the guise of humanitarian activity.  Israelis are being encouraged to exercise restraint and not allow radicals to exploit this incident for the sake of igniting violence.

·         Israel will continue to express its desire for peace and extend its hand to all those who are willing to engage.

Ask 10 Israelis what is most “Israeli” to them and nine will tell you that it is the abrupt transition from Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day) to Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). In 24 hours we move from tears of pain and longing to tears of joy. We mourn the fallen soldiers of Israel aware of the promise which the following day brings with it, and we celebrate our state having just being reminded of the price we pay for our sovereignty. It is an impossible transition, yet we do it, year after year, as this is what Israel is all about.

They say that 60 is the new 50, but even if not, modern Israel is a baby compared to other countries. At 62 Israel is a young state with the baggage of thousands of years of history and chapters filled with so many events that it makes your head spin. Cynics who tend to see the glass as half-empty would look at today’s Israel and comment on its flaws: the unstable coalition, the chaotic political system, the corruption, the brain drain, the bureaucracy. Some would say we reach out too much, others that we don’t reach out as much as we should. Some will complain that we are not Jewish enough; others that we are too Jewish. They all have a point. Israel is far from being perfect. But let us take a break from self-criticism and the urge to be so hard on ourselves, if only for a while, and be proud of what we have achieved so far.

I am a Sabra who was born and raised in Israel, yet I never took it for granted. I look around and see a vivid, thriving country with warm people who have no doubt in its right to exist. I see the Hebrew language, spoken and written as if it wasn’t dead for thousands of years; I see the kibbutzim, which almost went bankrupt, both financially and ideologically, reinventing themselves as flourishing communities. I see the vision of the gathering of the exiles in our schools and army bases; culture, which is so dynamic and surprising that you can hardly believe that we are a nation of only 7.5 million people; I see young Israelis enlisting to the army not just because they have to but because they want to. In fact, the number of young men seeking to serve as combat soldiers has recently reached an all-time record (this March 76 percent of recruits with high medical profiles asked to serve in combat units). I see an amazing bond between Jews who made Israel their home and Jews who made Israel their spiritual homeland; I see innovation, originality and directness, often combined with lots of chutzpa and some disrespect to authority and procedure. Most of all, I see what I consider as Israel’s greatest creation, a new type of Judaism, the one which is commonly defined as “Secular Judaism.” It is a fascinating phenomenon, one that combines Jewish values and traditions, Hebrew, and “Israeliness.” It is not comprehensive, far from it and I will be the first to admit that its Jewish components need to be further explored and appreciated; yet, it is a unique Israeli creature, one that could have only been invented in Israel.

Hatikvah, our national anthem, articulated our hope to be AM CHOFSHY B’ARTZENU - a free people in our land. Let me assure you: even at times where simple tasks like going on a bus were practically life threatening; even through the  dreadful moments  of the Second Lebanon War where our might seemed to be not as mighty; never, ever, did I feel anything but free to create, dream and be. We have achieved this precious freedom; it is upon all of us to protect and maintain it and moreover, to appreciate it.

I have no better way of concluding, but quoting a line from the personal reflections delivered by Captain Nadav, an IDF officer from an elite unit, who spoke to us when we gathered to commemorate Yom Hazikaron a couple of weeks ago. “I believe that no outside force can triumph over Israel as long as we protect our inner strength, the Strength of the Jewish people with its thousands of years of determination.” We are blessed to have people like Nadav. We are blessed to have thousands of years of determination. We are blessed to have Israel.

As the day turns to evening and the shadows loom large, we begin the commemoration of Israel’s Memorial Day  -- Yom Hazikaron  -- for those who fell in Israel's wars. On this special day the entire nation of Israel and Jewish communities around the world stand together along side of the families who lost their sons and daughters. Their pain is our pain;` their grief is our grief- because those soldiers who fell in battle – are connected to us all. They sacrificed their lives for us.  Israel – now celebrating 62 years of independence and unprecedented achievements, owes a tremendous debt to those who bravely sacrificed their lives for our freedom and security. Soldiers who returned from the Israel’s battlefields endure the painful separation from friends they lost. I, like others carry pictures in my memory of unforgettable battles. I see my friends’ faces, commanders and soldiers I led. I see familiar dust covered faces showing signs of their strain. I see Michael, Tom and Malko. I hear voices cut off by exploding, metallic noises. I smell the sweat and the fire from the battleground.In the heart and soul of every soldier and commander there is a special place for these friends. Like a page in a picture album faded with time that brings back fresh memories --  of those who were there in the line of  fire.  Of those who carried in their arms wounded comrades and felt their warm blood and heard their last breath. We who have experienced the terrible price of war vow to spare the next generation of Israel’s children and soldiers from having to pay the price of war as we strive towards a future of peace and security. 13 years ago we lost our commander Major Nadav Milo ZL in a battle with Hezbollah. Before he was killed Nadav wrote a letter to his soldiers in which he pointed out the principles of his commandership. First of all, he said, make excellence your habit – results will follow; this is how we try to operate and the motto that leads us. I believe that No outside force can triumph over Israel as long as we protect our inner strength, the Strength of the Jewish people with its thousands of years of determination. This determination to protect our lives and understanding the reality of our existence must never sway us in our hope for peace -- even when it seems distant. Today there is a real threat to our existence.  We are threatened from close and from afar. We are not intimidated and we are unwavering in our commitments. We do not want war, but if it is forced upon us, we will respond appropriately and we will be victorious. May the memory of the fallen be blessed and be forever bound in the lives of the people of the State of Israel and of the Jewish People.

In Israel, Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) is a sacred day. The names of Israel’s fallen soldiers are aired on TV for 24 hours in what seems to be an endless list that grows every year. When the siren goes off for two long minutes the whole country stands still, paying respect to those who paid the highest price for its existence. It is a day of  mourning and awe, a day like no other.

This coming Sunday (April 18th), we will be part of the millions in Israel and around the world who will come together to commemorate the brave men and women to whom we owe so much. Please join the Israel Program Center of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation at the Sabes JCC at 7:00 pm . Click here for more information on the program.

Thank you.