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A JEWISH BEAT OF THE HEART

At the emotional heart of contemporary Jewish life lies a connection to the State of Israel. This past month, the entire Jewish world, and then some, celebrated the 60th anniversary of the modern miracle called Israel. The annual celebration of Israel's independence, the coupling of Yom Hazikkaron (State of Israel Memorial Day) and Yom Ha'atzma'ut (State of Israel Independence Day), is the great modern addition to the Jewish calendar. Celebrating Israel each year focuses our attention on the roles of very real and very imperfect human beings in the making of Jewish history and Jewish destiny. The celebration of Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut, salutes the acts of people and raises the question of the impact of those acts on God.

This may sound like a radical piece of theology, but in fact Jewish thought has long imagined a divine/human partnership in which the actions of either partner have a real impact on the other partner. From the early Rabbis to the Kabbalists to the Hasidim to the Musar Movement, classical Jewish thinkers have always allowed for a human role in bringing about events of cosmic significance. To my mind, and to the minds of many others, the birth of an independent Jewish state in the land of Israel is the central example of this partnership at work in our time. How fortunate we are to live through this extraordinary moment!

While we know that ordinary people can, at key moments, do extraordinary things, our tradition's theology of divine/human partnership carries significant risks. The efforts of people, however well-intentioned, can certainly distort any reasonable understanding of God's wishes. Human exuberance can, and too often does, yield results that dramatically dishonor God's name. We're all familiar with a history in which religiously motivated human excess has resulted in sheer horror and self-evident profanation of God's honor.

Perhaps celebrating Israel's 60th birthday should have impressed upon us the ease with which much can be accomplished when motivation is tempered by recognition of how important it is to accomplish goals that are consistent with the lofty ideals found in the Torah. To be sure, there is a balance sheet on which the success of Israel may be tempered by missteps and shortsightedness. On balance however, Israel's commitment to democracy and human dignity, scientific and cultural achievements, and determined defense of the Jewish people around the world, bring honor to our tradition, our people, and God. Perhaps because of this miracle's strong human component, we celebrate a work in progress, an ongoing effort to sanctify God's holy name in a deeply unredeemed world.

I invite all who celebrate the miracle at 60, Israel's birthday, to stand guard against the ever-present temptation to dishonor God's creations and maintain the focus that we will engage endlessly and eternally in actions that bring honor to God's name.

- Rabbi Jonathan A. Panitz

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