When Israel celebrates 71 years of restored Jewish national independence, it bows its head to the 23,741 Israelis who have been killed in action defending the national freedom of the Jewish people. While the price is high, the price of lacking Jewish national freedom was always incomparably higher.
Before the establishment of Israel, the destiny of millions of Jews was decided by the whims of Christian Europe and the Muslim world. What has changed dramatically is that today there is a powerful Jewish state.
Soon after the establishment of UNRWA, the US decided to aid the rehabilitation of Jewish refugees from Arab countries in Israel. What transpired is the story of the entire conflict.
Unique copper built homes in Haifa and Safed are a silent testament to a little known event in the history of pre-state Israel and the effort by the Yishuv to save Jewish lives in Nazi Germany.
By making aliyah to Israel we find meaning and purpose. We find that we are part of something greater than ourselves. Just as Abraham did when commanded to "Lech lecha"