There is a pasuk in Tehillim, Chapter 87:5 that states:
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And to Zion it will
be said, "Man and man was born in her," and He will establish it on
high.
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וּלְצִיּוֹן יֵאָמַר אִישׁ וְאִישׁ יֻלַּד בָּהּ וְהוּא יְכוֹנְנֶהָ
עֶלְיוֹן:
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The Talmud in Ketuvot explains as follows:
Echad Hanolad Bah, V’echad Hametzapeh Lirotah
Two times Ish in the verse refer to both those
actually born in Israel as well as those “Who yearn to see her”.
Some of us here tonight were actually born in Israel. Other people
remember a time when there was no State of Israel and understand from living
that history what it means to yearn to see Israel.
But there are many others today, including our youth, who
don’t know of a world without Medinat Yisrael. I would go even further: there
are many today that only know Israel as a developed country, as strong and advanced.
The notion of Israel
as a struggling developing fragile country is not part of their/ our
experience.
And all of these groups celebrate Yom Haatzmaut in order to
strengthen our commitment as Metzapim Lirotah, to count ourselves among
those who proudly yearn for Israel and appreciate the significance of the State
of Israel.
We do so in 2 ways:
First through our Yom Hazikaron commemoration we remember
the sacrifices that were involved in Hakamat Hamedinah. In so doing we
remember the significance of a State of Israel and why people were- and are-
willing to sacrifice their lives on behalf of that state.
And second, we shift gears and celebrate on Yom Haatzmaut
the technologically and spiritually rich country that Israel has developed into
in 69 short years.
If we take advantage of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut to
fortify ourselves as Metzapim Lirotah, those that yearn for and
appreciate Eretz Yisrael, then may Hashem fulfill the end of that pasuk in
Tehillim:
וְהוּא יְכוֹנְנֶהָ עֶלְיוֹן:
and He will establish
it on high.
May Hashem establish Medinat Yisrael above all other lands, as a light
for all nations and a source of inspiration for us all.
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