What Isreal's Greatest Accomplishments Mean for You

Today I read this:

Maybe worse are others who are content to wear “I love Israel” t-shirts, and are driven to write letters “defending Israel” to their local papers, but are either unable or unwilling to see the imperfections of our home–thereby retarding efforts to fix and mend, to build a healthy nest for our People. The ‘love’ these organizations teach is the love of romantic comedies or fantasy romances — a drunken, vertigo inducing love that covers all flaws and produces little for the long-term benefit of the relationship.

As love goes, however, as my fear grows, so does my obligation to my People, and my desire to participate in the next sixty years–at least–of the building of a home that will provide my People a model of commitment-despite-imperfection, loyalty-through-action. And I am encouraged by the fact that I am not alone in this: despite the cynicism of the average Israeli, they, too, are committed to building such a home - to defending, growing and developing a place to which our People can always return and participate in, no matter the disagreement, the disillusionment, the anger and the tears.

(from 60bloggers.com: “Love is not a Crush: Israel and Obligation” by Ariel Beery-that same one, by the way, that co-launched Creative Zionism)

And then I thought this:

This Yom Ha’atzmaut Project is a great initiative. It’s novel; reveals subtleties; creates awareness; allows for expressed diversity yet retains solidarity; and fosters an environment of positivism.

We’re basically extracting all the darn good things place has got to give.

But let’s not forget why this place has got all those darn good things to give: because of a great number of people who considered their existence and considered Israel’s existence and realized that the two are a proportionally related.

Cause, apparently, they love Israel.

But what really is love?

Do we love Israel just like we love to hang out with friends; and love to watch a great movie; and love to walk on a breezy day; and love our parents?

Or do we just love loving?

And so I truly hope this:

That all this talk of Israel's greatest accomplishments will bring about a genuine love: a love that appreciates the good and recognizes the not-so-good; a love that enraptures all its beloveds with the thrill and delight of an intimate relationship; and a love that desires reform.

Then we can really work on building our country so we can brag about her for another sixty years.

How’s that for real love?