5) Israel: More than anything else, Israel needs us – not our money, not our support, not our tourism. Whenever Israel is in crisis – I feel I should be there together with my brothers and sisters. Despite our unwavering commitment to Eres Yisrael how many of us truly believe Israel is home. Have we become complacent and comfortable in our homes in New York? Do we realize how unique this period of time is in Jewish history? How often do we speak with our children about “Libi Ba’Mizrah” and Aliyah to Israel? The Rishon LeZion, HaHam Rav Ovadia Yosef (ZT”L) said the following on the subject of Aliya:
“all those who are deeply concerned with the fulfillment of the Word of G-d and His commandments should make every effort to make their home in Israel, especially in these days when assimilation raises its ugly head in the Diaspora and when there are all the means of obtaining a decent livelihood. Now, it is a paramount duty to make the “land of our fathers” the “land of our descendants.” (http://www.ahavat-israel.com/eretz/aliya)
6) Legacy: When we send our children off to school or to camp and say goodbye, we expect them to return with smiles and excitement at the end of the day or the summer. That is what the mothers of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal expected. And when parents send their sons and daughters in uniform to defend their country, they too expect them to return. Those parents are more apprehensive and their anxiety is constant until their children return. They are aware of the fragility of life and that it can change forever in a moment. Though it is difficult to confront, we must contemplate how we want our children to remember us as we prepare them for school, camp or the army and eventually adulthood. What are the life lessons and values we want to transmit to our sons and daughters. Time moves fleetingly and we cannot afford to miss an opportunity to communicate our love and essential messages. Think about these questions every time you say goodbye. These are among the most important communications we will have with our children. 7) Resilience: Resilience is the ability to recover from adversity and it is an essential element of emotional health. Resiliency has been the hallmark of Jewish life throughout our history. In Israel, during the months of June thru August, we have witnessed incredible personal and communal resiliency. The parents, the soldiers, the children, the citizens in the south, the entire Israeli population have all served as models of strength, courage and determination. We need to be proud of this uniquely Jewish trait and communicate this resiliency to our children. Resiliency builds hope and optimism. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (ZT”L) once remarked that while the general world studies history from the perspective of the past, we view history in the context of yearning for the future. Finding meaning during difficult times and having a positive perspective in the midst of adversity helps one build for a brighter tomorrow. No-one demonstrated this incredible trait better that the mothers of the three kidnapped teenage boys. To facilitate emotional resiliency we need to encourage two major attributes: problem solving skills and realistic optimism. Our children must be reassured that they can handle problems and pressures without panic or surrender. They have the innate ability to overcome negative emotions and to rebound from disappointment or misfortune without being overwhelmed. Through discussion, role playing and modeling we can teach kids how to discount or ignore hurtful words, to lose without being defeated, to fail and not become failures, and to deal with rejection without becoming hopelessly dejected. We can also instill a sense of realistic optimism by giving them confidence in their capacity to endure, knowing that tough times are temporary. This is accomplished by imparting the morals, values and beliefs of our Torah. Faith in G-d and the motivation to persevere are summarized in the words of the Psalmist “They kneel and fall, but we rise and gain strength” (Tehillim 20:9). This theme is succinctly encapsulated in the name of Israel’s national anthem – Hatikvah!