Israel's Sixtieth Birthday

Shabbat Tazria Metzora April 20/21 2007

This coming Monday we commemorate the State of Israel's 59th birthday, the beginning of her sixtieth year.

The Talmud tells us that a person's sixtieth year is very significant. If one get's through one's sixtieth year, it's a potent sign that one has faced down the existential threats to one's life and can look forward to a future of joy and happiness. It is for this reason that even those who don't usually celebrate birthdays, should celebrate their sixtieth, as we find in the case of the famous Talmudic Amora, Rav Yosef.

In its sixtieth year, Israel is in mortal danger from a nation that wishes to annihilate it. And as time goes on, it appears that we have less and less "friends" around the world - Australia being a notable exception. Rather than viewing Israel as bulwark against fundamentalist Islamic hegemony - as she most certainly is - most countries view her as anything ranging from a threat to world peace to a nuisance which they would be better off without. They forget the lesson of world history - that the Jews are the proverbial "canary in the mineshaft". That what commences as a threat against the Jewish People very soon escalates into a threat against all humanity.

Still we Jews should not be disheartened. We are today experiencing an unbelievable and miraculous rebirth both in Israel and around the world - both materially and spiritually. This trend shows no sign of abating. It is is true to say that the Jewish People as a whole have not had it so good since the time of King Solomon. And all this after the horrors of the holocaust - also just sixty years ago.

G-d has not forsaken His People. And as we continue to trust in Him and unite with each other, He will certainly continue to show us "His strong hand and His outstretched arm".

So as we commence Israel's sixtieth year, I urge you that while being cognizant of the dangers Israel faces to not forget the profound miracles before our very eyes. And to show your appreciation for them by strengthening one's trust in G-d and one's unity with Jews everywhere.

As I urged you before Rosh HaShana this year, please continue to commence your prayers with a declaration of brotherly love and conclude them with a statement of our trust in G-d. You can find the prayers here.

And let us pray to G-d that by the end of this year, and hopefully much before then, we will have much reason to celebrate a sixtieth birthday which augurs in an era of unprecedented joy and happiness with the coming of Moshiach.