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April 2010 |
As Jews, we are privileged to celebrate many holidays throughout the course of the year. Each holiday helps us remember the powerful, overt miracles that God has performed for the Jewish people throughout history. Passover commemorates our triumphant exodus from slavery in Egypt. Chanuka reminds us of our victory over the Syrian Greeks in the time of the holy temple. Purim celebrates the success of Mordechai and Esther in overturning Haman’s plan to eliminate every Jewish man, woman and child.
In other words…”They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.”
You may be thinking, “but all that happened thousands of years ago. If God was willing to perform miracles for us back then, why not now?”
My friends, if you’re looking for a modern-day miracle, look no further than the birth of the State of Israel. The Jewish people will come together to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of that miracle on April 19th, Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day).
I have been fortunate to visit Israel a number of times, and I am filled with pride whenever I visit. It is a magical place…a fantastic fusion of ancient history and modern technology at every turn. There is no place on earth where one can feel more comfortable – and more proud – to practice Judaism. Even the most secular Jew will wish you a “Shabbat Shalom” on Saturday. On Yom Kippur, there is an unwritten rule that all Israelis - religious AND secular - must leave their cars at home to preserve the sanctity of the day (in fact, among those who are not religious, Yom Kippur is often referred to as Chag Ha’ofanaim – the bicycle holiday). Checking for a Kosher symbol at the supermarket becomes a thing of the past. And if you thought Great Neck had a lot of Kosher restaurants, well, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
One of my true passions in life is the weekly radio show I’ve been hosting for the past fifteen years. When I joined “The Israel Hour” back in 1994, I knew very little about contemporary Israeli music – I just really wanted to be on the radio. In the years that followed, however, I became a bit of an expert on popular Israeli music. I’ve since interviewed most of Israel’s top musical celebrities, amassed an impressive collection of Israeli CDs, and seen dozens of Israeli concerts, both in the US and in Israel.
At the same time, though, something unexpected happened. From 5,000 miles
away, I fell in love with the land of Israel. Sure, I had visited Israel
before, and it was a very nice place to visit. But once I immersed myself
in Israeli culture, the land became so much more real, so much more vivid.
I was no longer a tourist, I was an “insider”. I became passionate
about Israel, and now have the chance to communicate my passion to others
each week on the radio (you can tune in at www.IsraelHour.com).
But enough about me. If you’ve never been to Israel, now is the time.
The land of Israel IS a modern day miracle, and you must see it to believe
it. So skip the trip to Bermuda, Cancun or the Bahamas and take your
family to Israel this year. Israel has it all…gorgeous beaches, water
sports, a thriving culture, the best food in the world (and it’s
kosher!), phenomenal tourist sites and some of the warmest people you’ll
ever meet. Well, at least most of the time.
Don’t believe me? Ask any college student who has had the privilege to
participate in “Birthright Israel”, a free trip to Israel for young
adults. They leave for Israel very skeptical, even nervous to travel to
such a “war zone” (which is simply NOT the case, despite what you may
see on CNN), and EACH ONE OF THEM returns inspired, many ready to make
aliyah, with a renewed, unbreakable bond with the land of Israel and the
Jewish people.
I assure you, a trip to Israel will be your family’s most memorable trip
ever. THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM!
Cantor Joshua J. Shron
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