PRIDE

     To take pride in something one has to feel good about it. Hopefully, that pride will be a positive pride, a feeling earned through good points, strengthening ties and positive achievements. When pride comes only from power, greed, the use of might - well, then it is not so good.
     Yesterday, I watched two streamings. One was of the march in Jerusalem for the commemoration and celebration of Yom Yerushalayim or Jerusalem Day. The other took place in New York City on Fifth Avenue, an event that takes place every year, the Israel Day Parade.
     In neither of these parades was there a celebration of force. There were no soldiers. There were no missiles on parade or tanks or planes or powerful space age weaponry. All that one saw were huge and peaceful and happy crowds in Jerusalem, marking the ability to walk to their holiest shrine, the Western Wall and dance and sing as they approached. Between June, 1967 and after the establishment of the State of Israel when the Jews were thrown out of the Old City, the Jewish Quarter - and no one seems to remember that - Jews were not allowed entry, despite the fact that the Old City was declared an international site with free access to all. So much for the world and the UN!
      So now there is a peaceful march with thousands celebrating the freedom to sing, dance, pray and weep at the last remnant of the huge Temple site. And here, all over America, there are celebrations with parades and gatherings to celebrate the State of Israel. Who comes? Who marches on Fifth Avenue? Mostly schoolgroups, excited to be there, to shout and sing and wave their flags, wave to friends asnd family members standing on the sidewalks. There are organizations with connections to Israel. There are, unfortunately, floats and marchers from entities engaged deeply in fighting anti Semitism and its poisonous growth of late. There are politicians - mainly Democrats - who march and have done so for decades - who spoke up loudly and clearly about the support for Israel.
     And as I watched both streams, as I recognized some people in both, including a shoutout from my sister in Jerusalem and my kids and grandkids in NY, as I remembered the decades of my participation in it, from bystander and viewer to organizer and marcher with my schools of employment, I felt pride, a good, sweet pride. Here were Jews from all over the country, from around the world, a contingent of EL Al, Israel's airline that flies to Israel when all others chicken out, balloons, candy flying thru the air, discs, even books from a literacy program! It was fun and yet it was serious.
     The media delights in chewing over the Jewish connection, meaning the connection between groups of Jews. They highlight the dirty linen, the spats, the public differences and yet, here were all groups of Jews, from secular to Orthodox, from Reform to business and NGOs, from straights to gays, the largest group ever of gays to march in  the parade. In fact, I have never seen such a variety and such sizes of groups. The bands were awesome, their costumes amazing. How they did not pass out in the heat was amazing! But one could see people along the sides passing them bottles of water, asking if they needed anything. The atmosphere was amazing, joyous and celebratory. No martial nonsense. Even the bikers were beeping away, with C'hai - or life - being their theme.
     Yes, I took pride in it all. I took pride in hearing the news that Israel bombed a rocket warehouse in Syria after Syria sent over two missiles into Israel. I take pride in the fact that one float held the Holocaust Survivor's Band - and imagine the age of these band members. Imagine, if you can, the experiences of their lifetimes, the losses of their lifetimes, and their determination to partake. Think of the huge growth of the Russian speaking communities who had to find their way back to Judaism and have done so with a huge determination to be part of the Jewish nation.
     Yes,I took great pride and I wish all the world would take pride in the positive aspects of their peoplehood. No, Trump, we do not need militaristic parades or bombastic talk, only happiness, glee, the laughter of children, the determination of adults and a positive approach. And we need to remind the world - the Jews are a family. When one is pushed, another feels that and falls and then they both get up, hold hands and remember they are family. Yesterday's march down Fifth Avenue showed that to a tee!!!
     Am Yisroel Chai!! The people, the nation, of Israel lives - forever!!