When one thinks of the early days of Israel and Zionism, the images that typically come to mind are those of agriculture, of pioneers working the land and kibbutzniks struggling to make the desert bloom. Planting trees has been a way for Diaspora Jews to feel a part of the building of the State of Israel, by contributing to the growth and development of the country. The bond created when one plants a tree is a physical one that is seemingly permanent, as though the planter leaves behind a bit of themselves along with the new tree.

Today is Tu B’shevat, the “New Year of the Trees.” Often referred to as “Jewish Arbor Day,” this minor holiday on the Jewish calendar is a major one in terms of its relationship to Israel and Zionism. In Israel, large-scale tree planting efforts and ceremonies take place across the country, with children and families alike taking part in the continuing effort to build the State. In North America, in addition to Tu B’shevat seders and tree-planting events, Tu B’shevat is the flagship of the Green Zionist movement.

Evoking the image of pioneers and the physical transformation of the land of Israel from desert and swamp into a viable agricultural environment. It is this pioneering spirit that has lead to Israel’s place as a leader in the field of agricultural technology and particularly drip irrigation. Tu B’shevat is representative of the emphasis that Israel has placed on agriculture, and its key place in the development of Israeli society and culture. The kibbutzim, although in a period of transition, still remain an enduring image of Israel to Diaspora Jews. For many the image of Israelis working the land is representative of the new kind of Jew that emerged with the Zionist movement, of a Jew who is strong and self-sufficient, and capable of taking on the world.

Tu B’shevat, the day that Jews around the world take the time to celebrate and appreciate nature, should be used as a time to reflect as well on the tremendous impact that trees and environmentalism have had on the shaping of the modern State of Israel. Such things have been integral to Israel’s development into its current society, and will only continue to serve as such in the future.

Image by goldberg

A Zionist Perspective on Tu B’shevat is a post from: The Israel Situation

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Welcome to the newest edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish and Israel blog carnival. In this carnival, we highlight some great Jewish and Israel blog posts from the recent weeks from great blogs around the web. If you are interested in participating, be sure to visit our group on Facebook.

Putting this carnival together, I kept thinking about the importance of community. While I have made attempts in the past to create a more formal community structure through the Kehila, Haveil Havalim is the one steadfast place to visit for a weekly round up of the top Israel and Jewish focused blogs. Through Haveil Havalim, I met friends like Ya’akov Ben Yehuda from Esser Agaroth and Benji Lovit from What War Zone. I have been encouraged when in a blogging rut and been able to encourage when I saw other writers struggling.

Most bloggers would tell you that writing online can occasionally feel very solitary. In the years of writing my finance blog, Narrow Bridge Finance, I often struggled to find new readers and define myself as a writer online. It was not until I found a community at the Yakezie that my site really took off and turned from a fledgling hobby into a viable business.

Blogging and Judaism are very similar that way. In the time that I have spent alone, away from a community, my participation and activity has often waned. However, when I am surrounded by a vibrant and supportive community like that at the Denver Kollel, my past university Chabad houses, or my wonderful friends from my time at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, I found my religious involvement blossoming and inspiring me in my everyday day life.

Those who participate in Haveil Havalim are like my synagogue community for my Israel blog. Thanks for being a part of it for over five years.

Here is some history about the carnival:

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It’s hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term’Haveil Havalim,’ which means”Vanity of Vanities,”is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other ‘excesses’ and realized that it was nothing but’hevel,’ or in English, ’vanity.’

Israel

Samantha wrote about Israel’s first astronaut Remembering Ilan Ramon at The Israel Situation.

Betya gives us her view on Obama’s friendship with Israel at Shiloh Musings. She also discusses an Israeli court’s decision to prevent blowing the shofar at the Kotel.

The Real Jerusalem Streets presents a unique photo essay of an IDF swearing-in ceremony in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Ya’aqov Ben-Yehudah gives his Ten Agarot about bringing religion back into the IDF at Esser Agaroth.

Judaism

Miriam shares her thoughts on welcoming Shabbos each week at Miriam’s Words.

Ariel Ben Yochanan ponders following military orders that break halacha at The Torah Revolution.

The food pyramid is now a thing of the past and we have other suggestions for a healthy, balanced diet. Find a Kosher version at Beneath the Wings.

Wrap Up

Hosting and participating in Haveil Havalim can be rewarding for bloggers and hosts. It gives you a chance to show off your best writing and make new friends in the blogosphere. Please be sure to submit your best posts in the future and consider hosting it on your blog. Next week, Haveil Havalim will be hosted by Ya’aqov Ben Yehuda at Esser Agaroth, be sure to stop by for a visit.

Photo by RonAlmog

Haveil Havalim #346: The Community Edition is a post from: The Israel Situation

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Some of the most frequently used party lines of Israel advocates are words that highlight Israel’s diversity. Supporters and defenders of Israel, and Israelis themselves, constantly reference the incredible diversity of the population of the State of Israel when singing its praises. When one visits Israel, it is common to be struck by the image of Jews of every race, every color, of Jews whose religion is marked in their dress and Jews who are veritable fashion plates, indistinguishable from Americans or Europeans. Interspersed in this multitude are a plethora of non-Jews who call Israel home-Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Ba’hai, Orthodox Christians, African refugees, and so many more, are integral parts of the multifaceted society that comprises modern Israel.

While Israel’s strength is in its diversity, many Israelis take issue with their fellow citizens on a variety of issues. Lately, it has been these clashes between various groups that have marked Israeli news. With ultra-Orthodox Jews and secular Israelis clashing over issues including the status of women in society and who should be required to serve in the army, it is clear that the Israeli public has to figure out how to live with the diversity of Israel, not just physical but ideological as well.

The Zionist experiment worked because of its inherent diversity. From the beginning of the formal movement to establish the State of Israel, there were various streams of Zionist thought and ideology. While they clashed at times and contradicted frequently, the multiple forms of Zionism, joined together, created the modern State of Israel. In a vacuum, Religious Zionism, Cultural Zionism, and Labor Zionism, could not have created a functioning nation. Israel’s strength comes from the varying ideologies that served to create it. It is due to the fact that from the beginning, Zionism and the State of Israel have been products of the efforts of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds that Israel is a champion of diversity and democracy today.

It is easy to be intolerant. It would be easy for Israeli government and society to exclude individuals and groups that disagree with its mission or beliefs. But then, Israel would not be able to honestly uphold its democratic character and progressive nature. Promoting Israeli values is made easier by the knowledge of advocates that Israel is the only country to airlift blacks out of Africa into freedom, that Israel is a pioneer in the rights of women and homosexuals, that the Israeli parliament and Supreme Court contain Arabs, Jews, and Christians. While certainly this provides for a great deal of internal turmoil and conflict within the halls of Israeli bureaucracy, and leads to interpersonal conflicts in society in general, it is far preferable to the alternative.

The diversity of Israel is what enables supporters of Israel to hold their heads high when facing the international arena. It is the indisputable fact that Israel has such ethnic, religious, and ideological diversity that flies in the face of the apartheid accusations so often thrown at it. Israel’s diverse composition is the source of its power and its ability to bring together individuals from so many different backgrounds under the banner of Zionist life and expression.

Image by Or Hiltch

Embracing Israel’s Diversity is a post from: The Israel Situation

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1. 64 Years Later: The Continued Importance of Zionism
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For many in the American Jewish community, the lights of the Chanukah candles are their way to feel a part of the festivities of the holiday season. Though the lights of Christmas trees may beckon, the flickering lights of the candles give American Jews pride in their own holiday, their own heritage, their own history.

The story of Chanukah is one that is thoroughly Zionist in nature. It is the story of one of the earliest manifestations of Jewish nationalism, and is exemplary of the ongoing movement for Jewish independence and self-determination in the land of Israel. In the traditional Chanukah story, the Maccabees fight for the Jewish right to independence in their homeland. It is a story that has been replayed in the modern State of Israel, giving rise to the symbolism of the Maccabees in Israeli culture today. The Chanukah story permeates Israel. It is not just the story of the miracle of the oil, or the reclamation and restoration of the Temple. It is the story of Jewish victory of oppressors, of defending our homeland against those who seek to delegitimize our connection to it and destroy our nation. It is a narrative that Israelis and Zionists can relate to very strongly, as it is a story that has played out many times throughout our history. While a well-known joke about Jewish holidays is “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat,” this attitude fails to take into account the existential threat that Israel faces, even today.

The modern State of Israel came into being as a modern miracle. With inferior weaponry, little infrastructure, and a much smaller population, the day after declaring independence, the new country was forced to go to war against invading armies from the neighboring Arab states. The miracles that come to mind when one thinks of Israel’s history are numerous. Independence. The stunning victory of the Six Day War. The peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt. The fact that Israel, the “start-up nation” has a thriving economy, even in the face of a global recession. The reality of being a vibrant, diverse, democratic nation in the Middle East. And so many others.

Today, as Jews around the world gather to light the Chanukah candles, it is imperative that we all remember that the true miracle of Chanukah is Jewish survival and self-determination. The Maccabees, when faced with a powerful enemy-the Syrian Greeks-protected the traditions of the Jewish people, and ensured the continuity of Jewish life in Israel. In 2011, we must continue to follow this example. Israel faces numerous threats, both on the physical front lines and in the hearts and minds of people around the world. The example of the Maccabees, of a group of people willing to fight for the safety and freedom of the people of Israel, is one that should be honored and appreciated as we enter the holiday season.

Chag Sameach!

Image by scazon.

A Zionist Perspective on Chanukah is a post from: The Israel Situation

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1. A Zionist Perspective on Tu B’shevat
2. Happy Chanukah Night Two
3. Haveil Havalim #247: Chanukah 2009/5770 Edition

This past October, after more than five years in captivity, Gilad Shalit was released from Hamas capitivity and returned to his family in Israel in exchange for hundreds of convicted Arab terrorists. The release of Gilad Shalit was the culmination of over five years of efforts: diplomatic efforts made by the Israeli government, personal appeals made by his family, and campaigns launched by supporters from around the world. Efforts to free Gilad ranged from rallies to peititions to the Red Cross, physical campaigns such as the protest tent set up outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem to online campaigns such as Tweet4Shalit. Youth groups were involved, as were synagogues, Federations and communities, all working together towards a common goal: to return Gilad Shalit to his family, and to the people of Israel.

Over the five years of his captivity, the Israeli people and Jews from around the world adopted Gilad as a part of their communities and families. His name was mentioned at Passover seders, by rabbis in sermons, around Shabbat tables and at gatherings of Jews both large and small. Public figures took up the cause, with multiple cities around the world granting Shalit honorary citizenship as a show of solidarity.

All of these efforts came to a climax this past October, when Gilad returned home to Israel after years in captivity. He appeared weak, pale and thin, but happy to finally be reunited with his family. Now, after a few months of seclusion, during which his family protected their fragile son from the media in order to give him time to adapt to life in Israel once again, Shalit has issued a video message to his supporters from around the world. In it, he thanks the individuals who worked to keep his name on the lips of politicians and world leaders and who, through their efforts, helped to secure his release.

In reality, it was we should should be thanking Gilad. Thanking him for remaining strong throughout his ordeal and for surviving the horrors that he surely must have been subjected to. The fight for and return of Gilad Shalit brought home for a new generation awareness of the fact that the people of Israel really are a family. It was said that Gilad was everyone’s son, and it is true. In a country where almost all young men are drafted into the army, Gilad could have been anyone’s son, brother, friend. During the years of his captivity, countless individuals who had never met him came to personally identify with Gilad, making room for him at their seder tables and in their hearts. It is imperative that we thank Gilad for the sacrifice that he made on behalf of the people of Israel, for the spirit that his return has injected into the Zionist movement, and for the humility and quiet strength that he has shown throughout.

Image by Boaz Guttman.

Thanking Gilad is a post from: The Israel Situation

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It’s been sixty-four years since the realization of the Zionist dream-the founding of the modern State of Israel. When Israel became a country in 1948, it was as a result of years of effort by Jews from around the world. Modern Zionism, which propelled into Jewish consciousness as thanks to works like Auto-emancipation by Leon Pinsker and The Jewish State by Theodore Herzl and events like the first World Zionist Congress, reignited embers that had been kept alive for years by mention of the dream to return to Israel and Jerusalem in Jewish liturgy and the constant longing for a place to truly call home. The creation of the State of Israel gave Jews around the world a place to call their own, a country, an army, and a national identity to rally behind. Since then, Israel has gone from being an idealized utopia to a real place, with all of the problems of any society.

Recently, Ruth Dayan, the widow of celebrated Israeli military hero Moshe Dayan, was quoted as saying that she thought that the Zionist dream had run its course. This statement was shocking to many, that a woman who has been so connected with the defense and strengthening of the State of Israel would question the Zionist mission. In her interview with Newsweek, Dayan reminisced over the days when Zionist pioneers built the state, and times when the peace process seemed more attainable. While it is indisputable that with the passage of time, the character of the State of Israel has changed, this does not necessarily indicate a negative trend, or by any means an end to Zionism.

Zionism, Jewish nationalism, is transformative. It has taken multiple forms over the years, and is expressed in a plethora of ways. The traditional Zionist schools of thought (Labor, Revisionist, Religious, etc.) have flourished in Israeli society since the foundation of the state. The composition of the character of the State of Israel is what it is because of the diversity of Zionist thought and expression. Zionism permeates the culture of Israel, as it boils down to the belief in Israel’s right to exist as a free and independent state, and the Jewish right to self-determination. The internal debates about what this means and the nuances about how the Zionist dream should be carried out are important questions to be explored and answered, but the overarching Zionist mission was not completed with the formation of the State of Israel. Rather, it took on a new meaning, and new goals. Israel exists as a physical manifestation of Jewish sovereignty over their ancestral homeland, but that does not mean that the work of the Zionist movement is finished.

Israel must be defended. Israel must continue to thrive as a nation, with a culture of innovation and giving that is a part of the Zionist mission. Zionists, having reached the goal of creating the independent state of Israel, now have to work to maintain the integrity of the country, and to spread the ideals of Zionism to the world. It is clear from recent developments such as the Israeli tent protests, demonstrating the social consciousness of so much of Israeli society, and the growing number of new immigrants to Israel making the choice to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, that the principles of the Zionist dream are alive and well. While Israel today isn’t the utopia that Herzl envisioned, or the exact manifestation of the vision of any one school of Zionist thought, it is something more. It is a real place, something that Jews have dreamed about for generations. That, more than an idealized society, proves the continued existence and development of Zionism.

Image by kudumomo.

64 Years Later: The Continued Importance of Zionism is a post from: The Israel Situation

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I usually try to keep this site focused on Israel and keep my personal life out of it, but I have a story for you that is so outlandish that I had to share it here. Please visit my personal blog for a story about my friend Rick. Or, at least I thought he was my friend.

This is a story about friendship, deception, and reconciliation. It is one of the most interesting blog posts I have ever written and I encourage you to take a few minutes to read it.

The Most Bizarre Thing That Has Ever Happened to Me is a post from: The Israel Situation

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Ya’aqov Ben-Yehudah at Esser Agaroth put together a spectacular round up of Kehila member posts to kick off our new carnival schedule. Every Rosh Chodesh, a Kehila member blog will post a carnival highlighting the best recent posts from our group.

Learn more about The Kehila here. See the carnival at Esser Agaroth.

Visit the Newest Kehila Carnival is a post from: The Israel Situation

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Another year has come and gone, and we have seen a lot happen in the Middle East.  To recap the big news, and the most searched for topics, here were the top posts and stories from 2010 at IsraelSituation.com.

1. The Simpsons took their first trip to the Middle East.  Bart got a taste of Krav Maga and Homer came down with Jerusalem Syndrome in the Greatest Story Ever D’ohed.  Readers also found my other posts about the Simpsons episode.

2. People around the world wanted to know about Israeli cities and found their way to the City Focus Israel Wrap Up.

3. After a group of “peace activists” tried to break the Gaza border and attacked the Israeli soldiers that boarded the ship to stop them, people around the world had their eyes toward the Gaza Flotilla.  They also read my follow up post.

4. As tensions with Iran began to grow, people read the analysis on whether or not Israel Could Attack Iran Alone.

5. Sex sells.  That is why people around the world care about Israel’s most famous beautiful soldier: Esti Ginzburg.

6. Israel ran military exercises that appeared to be preparation for an attack on Iran.

7. People found our old post that gave 44 reasons to support Israel.  (They are hot reasons)

8. Israelis were excited to have a Groupon clone offering daily deals.

Thank you to all of the readers, supporters, and commenters that continue to visit this site.  If it were not for all of you, we would not have any reason, or motivation, to keep the project going.  To date, we have written 1,655 posts for 130,000+ visitors.  Over the next year, we plan to keep going strong and making a difference for Israel.

Happy new year.

Top Posts from 2010 is a post from: The Israel Situation

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Yesterday I did a little re-work to my Twitter account setup.  From now on, @IsraelSituation will be exculsively used for promoting content from this site.  If you want to keep up on the latest, I encourage you to follow.

If you want to connect with me, the person, I have set up a new Twitter account, @DenverEric.  I will check in on messages to @IsraelSituation from time to time, but will be checking on @DenverEric very regularly.

Please give me a follow on Twitter and send me an @ reply to say hi.

@DenverEric on Twitter

Connect with me on Twitter is a post from: The Israel Situation

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