Longing for Zion
Jewish identity is more than having a Jewish grandmother. Being Jewish is sharing customs and traditions. Among those is a longing for Zion. Zion is more than a geographic destination. It is a safe place for wandering people and a spiritual homeland. Zion is an emanation of pride in being Jewish.
As we delve into the book of Deuteronomy, Moses desperately wants to enter the Promised Land, but God will only allow Moses to see it from a distance. From Moses’ situation, we learn that no single destination is ever the goal. Rather, the journeying toward a Promised Land is a perpetual exercise. Longing for Zion is a continuous voyage.
Israel is our Promised Land. The cities are miraculous. The people are resilient. The industries are transformative. I have regular contact with Israeli teachers, friends, and clients. Each of them is a beacon of hope for me that Israel will not merely endure but will light the way for other nations.
I did not just stumble upon my love of Israel. Zionism is part of my identity. My first ever trip on a plane was to Israel. Like Moses, I desperately long for the Promised Land. I dream about my next visit to Jerusalem. In my mind, I plan a family outing to the beautiful beach in Tel Aviv or to a restaurant in picturesque Zikhron Yaakov.
When I near the end of my traveling days, like Moses I will still dream of Zion. Israel is an expression of the hopefulness and endurance of being Jewish.
And just like Moses’ successor Joshua, there are battles ahead. How we comport ourselves, even in war, will determine the character of that Promised Land. Despite our disappointments, and even with our anguish, the Jewish soul always yearns for a safe place and a spiritual home.
Rabbi Evan J. Krame