This past Tuesday, Jews around the world marked Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day. This holiday was established by the Israeli government, and is observed by Jews worldwide. Imagine any other country declaring a holiday commemorating an event that did not take place there. That is exactly what Israel did – it established a day of mourning for the six million who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis in Europe. 

Our eighth graders arrived in Israel right in time to observe Yom HaShoah in Israel. Schechter’s Eighth Grade Israel Encounter is the capstone of the Schechter Bergen experience.  While our students can write persuasive essays, analyze novels, solve math problems, and devise scientific formulations, - everything an eighth grader needs in order to do well academically in high school;  Schechter Bergen students and graduates also know who they are as Jews – and they care.  

The annual Israel Encounter experience helps to solidify our students’ connection to Israel and their connection to the Jewish people. For many, it brings them closer to God and the religious aspects of Judaism. The power of walking in the places that our ancestors walked, Jerusalem, Masada, the Negev,  and the Galil, brings into focus the essential roles Judaism and Israel play in their lives. They better understand that they are inextricably connected to Israel, the Jewish people and our religion. And there is something uniquely special doing it with your friends and classmates that you have gone to school with since childhood - no matter how many other times they may have been to Israel.

This coming week  we will observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Unlike Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron is particular to Israel, as it is a day of mourning for Israeli soldiers who have fought, been injured, and who have died in the establishment and defense of the State of Israel. However, it too, impacts all Jews inside and outside of Israel, as it leads the very next day to Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israel Independence Day!  On Yom Ha’Atzma’ut we celebrate the establishment and independence of the State of Israel in 1948, and the power we have as a people to govern ourselves.

The State of Israel is a celebration of our peoplehood. We commemorate Yom HaZikaron to acknowledge and memorialize the meaningful sacrifices made to establish the State of Israel so that we never again have to endure horrific events that could lead us to commemorate another Yom HaShoah. This is how Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzma’ut all connect to one another, and to all Jews in Israel and around the world.  And imagine, our eighth graders have the z’chut (merit) to be there for all three significant and profoundly meaningful days.

Next week, when we celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary, even in this time of turmoil and unrest, we must remember that the State of Israel continues to make all of the difference for each one of us, whether we realize this regularly or not, we have a home, where our people are protected, where we can live freely as Jews, and where our traditions represent the majority culture. Whether we choose to live there, visit, or support it from afar, Israel belongs to each of us.  We must never give up on Israel as it connects us to Jews around the world and in Israel, reminding us that we are essentially mishpahah – family – and first and foremost, we love family. And when we feel that love and recognize that love for Israel, then we can analyze its merits and faults, such as we all have, while our support is unwavering. This idea is more important than ever as many of us struggle with its current political realities.

As for our eighth graders who are having an amazing time is Israel, they are also aware that Israel often stands almost completely alone in the world; that many people and governments are still committed to the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people; and they also understand the lasting impact the Holocaust has had on the psyche of the Jewish people. These insights, perhaps, help them to understand better than many Jews, of all ages, the unwavering need to stand up for the legitimacy of Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.  Our students understand that Jewish people, no matter where they live in the world, need a strong Israel, for history has taught us well the consequences of what happens when the Jewish people do not have a homeland.  Commemorating Yom Hazikaron and then enthusiastically celebrating Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, along with visiting Yad Vashem in Israel, makes this all very real for them.

As a result of their journey through Schechter and ultimately the Israel Encounter, our eighth graders are beginning to realize why this all matters.  Pride in being Jewish does not come from the knowledge that anti-Semitism still exists or that so many are still committed to the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. The pride comes from what it means to be Jewish and to have the land of Israel.  

A deep sense of pride in being Jewish comes from the knowledge that we introduced civilization to ethical monotheism, to the God-given right to freedom, democracy and justice. As a people we have contributed, in disproportionate numbers, in the areas of science, medicine, technology, literature and more.  We are a people who cherish life and celebrate all that is good, while ensuring that we work to make the world a better place. Israel is often among the first nations in the world to come to another country’s aide when disaster strikes. We most recently witnessed this after the earthquakes in Turkey.  

We are a purposeful religion and a people who have given much to the world, and we have more to give.  That is why it all matters – it matters to be Jewish.  It can be a source of pride and a shining guide for living a just and ethical life. Knowing how to be Jewish, living as a Jew and understanding and appreciating our rich and meaningful culture, stories, history, and traditions enrich us, our families and the world. 

Schechter Bergen students are learning this. The trip to Israel helps to solidify this. It provides the rationale for why it is worth fighting anti-Semitism and defending Israel – because it matters. All the good that comes with being Jewish – and knowing what that means in a meaningful and substantive way – makes the struggle worth it. 

Our fourteen-year-olds at Schechter Bergen are ready for high school, like most fourteen-year-olds. Unlike most Jewish fourteen-year-olds, they also know what it means to be Jewish and what Israel means to us as a Jewish people. Their knowledge, interest and commitment are the best hope for a bright future for the Jewish people.