(Pictured: Rabbinical and cantorial students attend an educational trip in the West Bank with T’ruah.)
Yom HaAtzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, begins tonight. It is a day of pride for many Jews around the world, as we celebrate the creation of the State of Israel 74 years ago. Yet there is no question that it is also a day of sadness, regret, and frustration, as we lament the ways in which Israel too often falls short of our ideals, including through its decades-long occupation and unjust treatment of Palestinians.
These competing feelings can be overwhelming, and all too often we become lost in ruminations on Israel’s history and frozen by what could have been.
But today, instead of looking backward, I want to invite you to look forward. In another 74 years, what will the Jews of 2096 say about this moment and the choices we made?
Will they remember us as the generation that gave up and walked away, abandoning Israel to the extremists? Or will they remember us as the generation that lived our Jewish values, doubling down on our commitment to human rights and demanding an end to the occupation? Will they feel regret or will they feel pride?
We can’t predict the future, but we do get to choose what we prioritize and where we put our resources today. And T’ruah will never stop prioritizing the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.
With that in mind, I am looking forward to visiting Israel and the West Bank next week. Among other places, I’ll visit al-Walaja, a small Palestinian agricultural town, threatened with demolition but sustained by the passionate efforts of residents and activists. I’ll connect with our human rights partners on the ground, the inspiring Israelis and Palestinians working for a better future together, and discuss how T’ruah can best support them. I’ll meet and teach rabbinical and cantorial students taking part in T’ruah’s year-long program, who thanks to your support are getting on-the-ground experience with human rights issues in the region and learning how to use their moral voices to speak out.
There are so many obstacles to a just and secure future for Israelis and Palestinians, but these leaders give me hope that the Jews of 2096 will have a happy story to tell. Will you join T’ruah in building the future our grandchildren will be proud of?
In gratitude and solidarity,
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
CEO, T’ruah
she/her/hers
