Weekly Torah Portion

Yehuda Avner was a speechwriter and diplomat in the Israeli government and wrote a book called The Prime Ministers. He describes his experience on Friday afternoon, May 14, 1948. He and 25 of his friends were waiting at the outskirts of Yerushalayim for some news, as all communication was lost. Out of nowhere, someone ran to the group with news. As he caught his breath, they listened intently, anticipating what he was about to say: David Ben Gurion just declared the Jewish State. As of 12:00 tonight the Jews will have an independent state.

As the new reality set in, one of the members asked what the name of the new country would be. The messenger replied, “I have no idea.” They argue over it – Tziyon, Yehuda, and Yisroel. A fourth one said, “Let’s drink a l’chaim to whatever it is called.”

There was a chassid from the Meah Sheraim neighborhood among the group who got up as the sun was setting and the day turned into Friday night: “Before we toast this transformation, we have to make Kiddush.” He declared: this is not the exclusive domain of diplomats and politicians, of soldiers and settlers, but it is Hashem Himself. It is not what have we done, but what Hashem did.

The chassid looked at his fellow Jews and emotionally recited the blessing of shehechiyanu, thanking Hashem for bringing them to this historical day. On that day, he internalized the significance and Divine gift of the moment they experienced, and the manifestation of the Master of the World.

This past week was a very emotional one for many Jews in Israel and abroad. Yom Hazikaron, the day on which we remember the fallen Israeli soldiers, is immediately followed by Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. Miriam Peretz, a national figure in Israel who lost two sons fighting in the army in 1998 and 2010, recently spoke about the significance of these days, for this year specifically.

She described them as days for the entire Jewish people, those living in Israel and those elsewhere, to recognize the sacrifices of our young soldiers and to have gratitude for the gift of Israel, especially during this time of increased antisemitism throughout the world.

Peretz added that since October 7th, she has been traveling throughout Israel to comfort bereaved families. She tells families that the Jewish people and the State are referred to as Am Yisroel and Medinat Yisroel. Where did this name Yisroel originate?

Yaakov, our third forefather, battled with an angel. As he was struggling, he was injured. Prior to the angel’s departure, Yaakov stated, “You cannot leave until I receive a blessing.” The angel blessed him with the name Yisroel, and thus his struggle and pain are followed by significant blessing.

The Jewish people are called by the name Yisroel. We realize there is a long road ahead, but just as we saw the revealed hand of Hashem 76 years ago following years of great pain, so too we pray that we may merit once again to see the clear hand of Hashem over and over again in our time.