Israeli Give and Take

There is a spark of Hashem in everyone, but in Israelis one can easily identify it. It comes out all the time. It shows in their deep connection to Eretz Yisrael, which I see often in my work as a tour guide here. Although the only reason an Israeli takes a tour guide is to show that he knows more: “I fought here, I planted here… Give me the mic…” This is Hashem’s favorite country, and theirs as well.

That spark of Hashem in them is also telling them not to be satisfied with their political leaders, an ancient Jewish custom since Shlomo Hamelech died. Ergo Election Number III next month. Their neshamos know that really no one should be in charge besides Mashiach ben David.

That divine spark reveals itself in a more tragic way through the many Israeli yordim who, when the going gets tough, leave Israel and join the Shechinah in galus. Unlike their assimilated American-born counterparts, who are quite comfortable where they are, Israeli expats seem to know they are not really home. (Not a problem for us frum people, right?) Their holy neshamos, privileged to have been born and raised in Eretz Yisrael, understand that they are not at their final destination. In their homes they all have a picture of the Kosel hanging on the wall. That divine spark wants to return.

As we enter the month of Adar, we begin reading the parshiyos about the building of Hashem’s first home, the Mishkan. It should not be lost on us that it was built outside of Eretz Israel, in the wilderness. The building materials, though, were “made in Israel.” Chazal tell us, for example, that the wood came from trees planted centuries before in Eretz Yisrael by Yaakov Avinu, brought down to Egypt with them. (The gold, silver, and copper were Egyptian, of course, but we never had a problem accepting non-Jewish money.)