a nation of hope

(i wrote this on april 2, 2006 just after the israeli elections)

leading up to last tuesday night, i had the honor of working with ari h. on the likud campaign. ari was the likud spokesperson and responsible for the foreign press. although i got involved late in the game, i still enjoyed attending a press conference, and meeting with several diplomats and MK's, including Bibi Netanyahu. the climax of my volunteer work with the likud culminated with the results from the israeli elections on tuesday night of last week.

i was invited to join and assist at likud headquarters in tel aviv, at ganei hatarucha, as election results arrived. the buzz leading up to the first tally was still optimistic. i met with the cnn people and the bbc people and as MK's arrived, i met with their press people. i rushed around the oval-shaped room matchmaking press people with MK's available for interviews. but as the results were announced, the mood quickly devolved into a palpable gloom.

according to initial results, the likud, which had received 38 mandates in the previous election, was slated to receive only 11 seats this time around. as all of the supporters, aides, press people and MK's hovered around the large tv screens to watch the results, we witnessed rejoicing at almost every other campaign headquarters. the mood was quiet and despondent at the ganei hataarucha likud headquarters. eventually, bibi came to make a speech. all of the likud MK's who were present joined him on the dais. (every MK was dressed in suit and tie except for Natan Sharansky, who, at least several inches shorter than the next shortest MK, donned his trademark army green cap and wore a dark colored shirt). netanyahu gave an inspiring speech, given the circumstances. he vowed to remain at the helm and guide the likud forward.

when netanyahu finished his speech, he paused for a moment, and the room became silent. seconds later the opening chords of "hatikva" wafted through the room. every person stood in place and sang loudly and proudly with netanyahu, sharansky and the several other likud MK's who likely will not enjoy a seat in this knesset.

i sang loudly and felt proud to be in israel, a part of this incredible country and people, a part of a democratic process in a democratic country amidst a sea of muslim terrorist countries. i sang loudly because i was inspired by watching the "defeated team" - netanyahu, MK uzi landau (quite an impressive man) who will not make it into the knesset because he was #14 on the likud slate, and others- sing with pride... "od lo avda tikvateinu" ..." we have not yet lost our hope".... "hatikva bat shnot alpayim lihiyot am chofshi b'artzeinu eretz zion yerushalaim"... "the hope of thousands of years, to be a free nation in our land, the land of zion, jerusalem"...

less than a day later, i found myself standing in the cool jerusalem night breeze on a balcony at the king david hotel overlooking the walls of the old city. my sister and i joined eight people who had journeyed to jerusalem from yucaipa and redlands, california. we came together to witness the wedding ceremony of a couple from redlands, california who had just converted to judaism. every guest present participated in the ceremony, whether reciting a bracha, or holding up a corner of the talit to create the chuppa.

it was interesting and almost surreal to participate in such a small jewish wedding and play such an integral role. the symbolic act of the chatan stamping on the glass, commemorating the destruction of the beit hamikdash and expressing our yearning for it to be rebuilt, seemed that much more relevant and potent as the old city walls loomed in the backdrop. the impressive stone structures, lit up at night, exuded an almost magical quality from our vantage point. the walls, built in the 16th by sultan the magnificent of the ottoman empire, surround the remnants of the outer walls of the beit hamikdash.

i've been thinking about how i spent tuesday and wednesday nights last week. at the election headquarters and then at a tiny jerusalem wedding. the events were separated by fewer than 24 hours and a solar eclipse. when i think of those two nights and many other incredible nights that have passed since i first arrived in this country, the words of hatikva pulse through my head.... "od lo avda tikvateinu".. "we still have not lost hope"... the likud, the newly jewish couple, the jewish nation. democracy prevails in the middle east despite our neighbors best efforts. we are not always satisfied with the results, and we continue to hope and pray for a government that will protect its people and its land, and yet, democracy prevails. as do the jewish people. we vote, we rejoice, we live.

the words of jeremiah continue to be fulfilled "od yishama b'arei yehuda u'v'chutzot yerushalaim kol sasson v'kol simcha kol chatan v'kol kallah" (jeremiah 33:10-11) "there will still be heard in the cities of judah and in the streets of jerusalem the sound of gladness, the sound of happiness, the sound of the groom, the sound of the bride." i witnessed the fulfillment of jeremiahs words last week. for these reasons, the words "od lo avda tikvateinu, we have not yet lost hope" are always on my mind in this country. because we are a people of hope.