Here we examine the ‘People of Israel’ (in Israel and outside of Israel) — as we continue to take a closer look at the (long and arduous journey) of the Jewish people, “homeward bound”
Jarring notation on the words bound and bond: or perhaps we could also understand this as “to be bound up in the bonds of life eternal” (both a theological and literary allusion to death, (even perhaps the very focus during of this time of ‘the ‘Counting of the Omer.’
A new take on ‘The Graveyard Shift’
And now this below, from Theodore Herzl — speaking to us from the grave . . .
“I truly believe that even after we possess our land, Zionism will not cease to be an ideal. For Zionism, as I understand it, includes not only the yearning for a plot of the Promised Land legally acquired for our weary people, but also the yearning for moral and spiritual fulfillment.” – Theodore Herzl (from one of his last essays, published in Hatikvah, a journal of European Zionist youth, bequeathing them his ethical will)
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This is a report from yesterday re Ben Gvir — (incident pictured above)
In Beersheba, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was disqualified from serving in the military because of his activism in a racist, anti-Arab organization, was met by mourning families who demanded that he leave.
“You don’t deserve to be here!” and “You’re not a fighter, you’re a fascist!” some shouted at Ben Gvir, (while others applauded him). The politician then departed as scuffles broke out among bereaved families.
Similarly painful scenes unfolded throughout Israel, where a majority of 18-year-olds are required to serve in the armed forces and virtually everyone has been touched by war.
Graveside gatherings on Memorial Day have, for decades, stood outside the country’s often bitter divisions, a rare opportunity for Israelis to unite over collective loss.
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