Dear Shaare Family,
Today is the fifth of Iyar, the actual calendar date of Yom Haatzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel moved up celebrations of the event to yesterday, so that celebrations would not take place at the expense of Shabbos. Of all the holidays on the Jewish calendar, I think Yom Ha’atzmaut has become the most heavily politicized, for obvious reasons. Of course, we are familiar with the vehement opposition to the State of Israel by such leaders as the Satmar Rav (Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, 1887-1979) and the Munkatcher Rebbe (Rav Chaim Elazar Shapira, 1868-1937) and by such groups as the Eidah Hachareidis in Jerusalem. For them, the establishment of a Jewish state is a development to be mourned, an unforgivable display of hubris and an inappropriate display of false messianism. For the spiritual leaders of the Religious Zionist movement, led by Rav Zvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook (1891-1982), a Jewish state represents the beginning of the redemptive process- atchalta dege’ulah- and should be celebrated religiously for the miracle it is. Because there are such stark differences of opinion, every religious aspect of the day is intensely debated and takes on meaning writ large. Festive Maariv with additions on the night before Yom Haatzmaut, or regular Maariv? Hallel or no Hallel at Shacharit, and if there is Hallel, is it recited with a berachah or without one? People feel passionately about these issues, even if they are not regular minyan attendees, and even if they don’t attend a minyan on Yom Ha’atzmaut. And while these discussions are important, I’d like to suggest that, aside from the beautiful way we celebrate in our community, there is a terrific way to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut that does not involve any controversial prayers or calendrical innovations. There are several prayers we recite regularly that are full of Zionist feeling:
1. Birkat Hamazon
The second paragraph of the bentching begins with an expression of Thanksgiving- נודה לך, which immediately pivots to acknowledge the land of Israel, and the Torah-
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַֽלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֶֽרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה
We thank you, Hashem, for apportioning as a heritage to our fathers, a land which is desirable, good, and spacious. Indeed, Rav S.R. Hirsch explained that the land is mentioned first in this blessing because God promised our forefathers the land before he redeemed them from Egypt.
The theme of the Land of Israel continues into the next paragraph, רחם, where we beseech God to have mercy on the Jewish people, on the city of Jerusalem and on the holy site of the Beit Hamikdash.
1. Al Hamichyah
This abridgemabridgmentent of Birkat Hamazon, recited upon partaking of grain-based products that aren’t bread (another version is recited after wine or fruits from the seven species) also makes reference to the land of Israel:
רַחֵם (נָא) ה אֱלֹקינוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ, וְעַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ, וְעַל הֵיכָלֶךָ. וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְהַעֲלֵנוּ לְתוֹכָהּ וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנָהּ, וְנֹאכַל מִפִּרְיָּהּ וְנִשְׂבַּע מִטּוּבָהּ וּנְבָרֶכְךָ עָלֶיהָ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה.
Have mercy, Hashem our God, on Israel Your people, on Jerusalem Your city, on Zion the abode of Your glory, on Your altar, and on Your Temple. Rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city, speedily in our days, and bring us up to it and make us rejoice in it, and we will bless You in holiness and purity.
Of course, we make reference to the land of Israel and to Jerusalem every day, three times a day, in Shemoneh Esrei. Under the Chuppah, we invoke Jerusalem by name and through imagery as part of the sheva berachot. Every Shabbat and Yom Tov, we begin Birkat Hamazon with Psalm 126, Shir Hama’alot, and we conclude every Haftarah with the prayer that God should
רַחֵם עַל צִיּון כִּי הִיא בֵּית חַיֵּינוּ וְלַעֲלוּבַת נֶפֶשׁ תּושִׁיעַ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ
Have compassion upon Zion, for it is the house of our lives. And save the poor of spirit swiftly in our days.
But the above two blessings- common ones that could be recited every day- are ways to sustain our bodies and also our souls, while giving thanks in our own Hakarat HaTov Corner for the miracle that is the modern State of Israel.
Rabbi’s Recommendations
1.Thehe great Israeli Chazzan and singer Dudu Fisher singing Moshe “Mona” Rosenblum’s very catchy setting of the above-mentioned words from Birkat Hamazon.
2.Yossele Rosenblatt’s poignant setting of the same text
3.Levy Falkowitz and the Shira Choir singing Yossi Green’s setting of Psalm 126
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
