5763

By Richard S. Moline
Director of College Outreach (KOACH)
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The approach of a new year often brings hope - - hope of conquering new horizons, of attaining a particular goal, of achieving personal fulfillment. As a long-suffering Chicago White Sox fan, a new baseball season always provides me with thoughts of an actual pennant race, a playoff berth and dare I say, a World Series (yes, I know, l’shanah haba’ah - - "wait ‘till next year"). Somehow, hope always springs eternal.

Such has been the case in our tradition. Od lo avdah tikvateinu, we proclaim as we sing Israel’s national anthem (HaTikvah), "we have yet to lose our hope." "Next year in Jerusalem" is more than just a longing to be in a physical location; its meaning is far deeper than that. Twice a year (three times for the those of us in the Diaspora), at the end of Yom Kippur and at the conclusion of the sedarim on Pesah, we recite these words in hopes of finding a complete Jerusalem wherever we are. After self-examination on Yom Kippur, we hope for a Jerusalem of the soul. After telling the story of our transition from slavery to freedom on Pesah, we strive for a Jerusalem which can be shared with humanity, a Jerusalem which stands for peace, liberation and fulfillment (the word shalom or shalem – complete, whole – is found within the Hebrew word Yerushalayim ).

So here we are at the start of a new year. To be sure, there are hopes and dreams we all have for 5763. Yet the reality of the world today is tempering those dreams this year, and at times can seem tremendously overwhelming. Our world was shattered in so many ways this past year. It’s too easy to fall into a trap of despair and cynicism. The attack on America, the "matzav" (situation) in Israel, the corporate scandals which shake our confidence - - all of these things certainly take their toll. Yet throughout our history as a people, even in the darkest of days, od lo avdah tikvateinu, we have yet to lose our hope.

This is one of my dreams this year - - not to lose that hope. We have the collective strength and power to make this world a better place in which to live. The challenges we will face on campuses throughout North America this year can provide us with the incentive. A few suggestions:

1. Israel stands for peace. We have proven time and time again that we stand for peace - - we must not relinquish that word.

2. Israel never sought domination over another people. It is abhorrent and not part of our tradition (remember the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt). If there were a reputable peace partner, things could be a lot different.

3. Israel is a democracy. It is the only democracy in that part of the world. While we may not always like the outcome, it is the only country in the region where discussions on civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, etc. can take place. It is the only society in the area with a free press. It is the only country in the Middle East where all Arab citizens (including women) have the right to vote.

4. Israel has a right to defend itself. Plain and simple.

To build our identities only on our "problems" is a huge mistake. We have a strong, vibrant heritage, which can provide us with vigor and hope. It need not be a year of despair, of hand-wringing and despondency. Od lo avdah tikvateinu. We have yet to lose our hope. HaTikvah, bat shnot alpayim - - it is a hope which is thousands of years old. It is a hope which led us from slavery to freedom. From Aushwitz to Jerusalem. And it is a hope which will provide us with the strength to renew our commitments in the year ahead.

L’Shanah HaZot B’Yirushalyim - - This year in Jerusalem.

Richard S. Moline

Contact Rich Moline at moline@uscj.org.

[Posted 8/12/02]