"WE DON'T HAVE"

  Always and forever, even if quite comfortable in a country apparently open to their presence, there has always been an underlying sense of insecurity. Always a fear of a new expulsion or of a life too difficult to live in the face of rampant hatred. How shocked some were when the most 'civilized' countries of the world reverted to vicious canards of the Middle Ages and killed and expelled Jewry from within their borders, as that nation's population participated in the egregious robbery of their belongings - and of their lives. 

Always and forever, we remembered the times when we had our own land, where we could fight with each other but always then be able to break bread with each other. To talk ourselves down from the ledge and do the sensible thing, behave like thinking adults who understand consequences and come to an agreement which all can live with. When we didn't, when we refused to be sensible, we suffered grievously for that intransigence, that mortally faulty thinking and behavior.  

Somehow, in the hearts of all, when Israel was established, perhaps out of guilt of the world as nations had stood by silently as the Jews of the world, their neighbors, were systematically slaughtered. We had hope. For whatever reason, for historical imperative, we were home. A land of our own. Where we would not be pushed aside and out, where we would not be termed the enemy.

 A land which even in the midst of a very unequal war welcomed the traumatized remnants of European and North African Jewry. Of refugees from Arab lands which expelled them as 'the enemy'. That rescue, that return and welcome home has continued: Jews of the Iron Curtain nations were welcomed, as Jews of other ethnicities, of different skin color, of a Jewish tradition vastly different yet the same, as people claimed to be Jewish, from lands where they had been hidden for centuries, and now, Ukrainians.   

And sad to say, it has become a growing place of refuge, of a place to turn to when America turns totally renegade upon us.  American Jews are feeling evermore uncertain of continued welcome or permission to remain as trusted and valued citizens of this country. The venom level has reached high levels and are frightening, very much so, especially if one knows history. 

There is no 'job security' for us - anywhere. Except at home. Where a welcome is assured, if not always smooth. Despite the difficulty and the strain. We are Jews and we are home, welcome mat and all. Along with the knowledge that "we have no other land, no other country". That no matter the degree of disagreement, the degree of estrangement we must, must, work together. If we lose our land to our own intransigence, to our won stiff necks, once again, we will be forced to reside in a world which does not accept us, once again, left to uncertainty, always the other, perhaps tolerated, but always the sotto voce comments re the 'Jewishness' of a person.

A popular song of long duration, "Ayn Li Eretz Acheret" - "I Have No Other Land", says it all. Even if she is burning, we cannot leave, for we have no other land, no other country. Yesterday a top Health Ministry official reiterated that with this statement - " ... everyone also knows that we don’t have another country."

We must look in the mirror of history and see the reflection. We must pull back from the brink and NOW! There is not a second to wait or waste, for we are already late to dance properly at the ball.

I am a proud American. Though not proud of what it sems to be becoming. It frightens me. It worries me. I am also proud of my other land, Israel. I am always and forever, a Jewish woman proud of my heritage and the strength and courage of my ancestors. Why are so many challenged to accept that, finding it anathema to think or tolerate. When we have the answer to that, perhaps we can then understand why so many Jews are buying a place to live in Israel -"just in case". Scary. Especially as Israel is a roil and a boil. We hope sense prevails and this precept is upheld - " ... nobody among us has the privilege to give up, not on the country..."  

And again - the idea, concept and desperate necessity of togetherness. How else are we to fix this besieged world of ours where every nation is   struggling with ideas that should   have died long ago, with an internal viciousness precluding any chance of a positive compromise.

Why? Why and how and when have we lost sight of the truth: we are all in this together. The same leaky lifeboat and if all aboard cannot agree on who is to bail and who to row, how to organize, well, then we will all go asunder and under together.

Yes, together. I have been banging away at this idea for so long and at least and at last there are presently others of higher positions banging along. Hopefully, we will all be hearing that banging and joining in. 

I hope.

There is no other way. None.

Together.

It is our moment or moments in history. Let us rise to the standards and place where we belong, where we must be.

That is only done together.

Or we will destroy ourselves and have only ourselves to blame.

In the meanwhile - Together. B'yachad.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can heal the nation.

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

 AMEN. AMEN.