Whether we live "abroad" or in Israel we are united by genes and heritage. Those of us who survived somehow, through the Roman enslavement, the Spanish Inquisition, the Pogroms, and the Holocaust represent the eternal flame of the Judaic values which make us so hauntingly and magnificently unique. A people so dispersed, so persecuted as we have been were united by the beliefs in the purer form of living, celebrating life and peace, family, learning, and charity. The more we were persecuted, the more we believed that evil behavior could not and should not represent humanity in this universe. Jerusalem represented this goodness, Israel represented this place where eternal peace and harmony would thrive.
When we returned to Israel, from all corners of the world, we carried the seeds of these holy and healthy notions and tried to light up Israel with our love. I have spoken to hundreds of Israelis about their feelings for Israel. There is a holistic approach to the land and the people. Both are loved and have to be taken care of. As always there is an intense sense of hope despite the incredible daily hardships.
There are exceptions, of course, and differences of opinion about many issues. But I wanted Voices Celebrating Israel to focus on the core unifying forces, which are clearly still brimming with passion and life. For instance, we are a people who seek no war but it seeks us. We are people with an incredible capacity to compartmentalize the bad in order to give rise to what we think is most vital: thinking skills, problem solving, creativity, spirituality and humanity.
As it turns out Israel has become the laboratry that teaches the world insight into radical Islam, and how to deal with it.
Through Israel’s experiences, the world understands that if peace were to descend on the region it would be due to a fundamental shift in priorities generated by Moderate Arab leaders interested in developing their countries rather than in Jihad against other societies.
Israel has been in the eye of many storms since 1948. Despite fluctuating public opinion about Israel’s right to exist, the world uses many of Israel’s creative solutions to world wide needs in water and energy science technology and more.
We celebrate you The Israelis, for assuming full responsibility for your country. You built it, fought for it, and you continue to develop and to stabilize it.
Yours is a long enduring love story for the Jewish people and the land of Israel. We are a part of you. With you together we will survive.
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I wish to thank Consul General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico, Mr. Ofer Bavly, for his invaluable support and assistance. A heartfelt thanks to all our guests who patiently answered my numerous questions, for the project VOICES CELEBRATING ISRAEL. Without you this project would not be possible. My sincere gratitude to all the support staff of the speakers who helped navigate through their complicated schedules and found the time and heart to permit me access to the guest speakers. A special thanks to Mr. Shlomo Fleischmann and much gratitude to my beloved husband B. Cohen.AND NOW LET’S CELEBRATE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL! SHEHECHEYANU VE KIYEMANU VE HIGIANU LA ZMAN HAZE
SHALOM,
Noemi F. Cohen
Producer
