What Israel Means to Me: Mitchell Kaye
Here’s what the former state legislator from East Cobb has to say as we celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday.
Im eshkachech Yerushalayim tishkach yemini! Jerusalem, indivisible, eternal capital of the Jewish people. Heart and soul of Israel, center of the universe. Apple of G-d’s eye! It speaks to us Jews from our inner core, our kishkas. It is the essence of who we are. Mama, we’re home! We are a unique people bonded together for a divine mission. A nation before a homeland! B’nei Yisrael, children of Jacob, children of Israel, inseparable from Eretz Yisrael, given by G-d over 3,300 years ago.
Mahane Yehuda, Shabbat dinner in the Old City with Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, Mayanot, Ben Yehuda motzei Shabbat, Adam’s bar mitzvah at Yochanan ben Zakkai shul with Rabbi Ephraim Silverman, Mendel, Ellen and Elliott Kaye, and Don Lind. Eicha in the Hurva and a march around the walls on Tisha B’Av, Birchat Kohanim on Chol Hamoed Pesach at the Kotel, Ir Dovid, Har Zeitim and the Valley of Dry Bones. Tvarya and kivrei tzadikim, Rabbi Akiva, Rambam and Meir Baal HaNes. Tzfat, Kabbalah, ascent, Jared’s bar mitzvah at the Holy Arizal’s shul with Rabbi Silverman and Kaye grandparents, Ruth Rimonim and Nachum Ish Gamzu. Hevron with Rabbi Danny Cohen, Machpelah and our patriarchs. Shabbat with Rabbi Yosef and Esther Piekarski on Nittel night in Tel Aviv.
Maccabiah at Ramat Gan, Amy’s silver in tennis, Jenna’s gold (shopping) in Mamila and Cardo, shawarma in Kfar Saba, horseback riding on a beach near Havatzelet HaShoron, golf at Gaash and Caesarea, Hamat Gader, Masada, Gamla, the Dead Sea and Eilat. Cousins in Beit Shemesh, Kohav Yair, Zichron Yaakov, Kibbutz Lavi, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem. Weddings: Eyal and Naomi; Sivan and Tal in June; Topaz and Matan in August. Recently departed cousins Hemda and Avi Kreiser, may their memories be for a blessing! Am Yisrael chai!
See all the reflections on Israel’s meaning on this special anniversary.
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