Do you want to understand Israel at this moment? It’s here in this picture. We are rushing to save all that is precious to us. We are under attack. Hundreds of fires have been started. More than 50%, over 200 fires, have already been confirmed as arson. They are calling it the Fire Intifada.
Fire fighters are going door to door in apartment buildings to make sure no one is inside. Someone runs up to them and tells them there is a woman in an apartment – and the camera shows them running to the apartment.
Now look at this picture. They are saving people, trying to save homes…and something more. The essence of what we are will not be burned in these fires of hate.
And so, in addition to saving what homes we can, what lives we must, here’s a picture of firefighters who went into a synagogue and saved the Torah scrolls.
If you want to understand Israel – look at this picture. For thousands of years, we have survived because we are grounded, centered, sheltered and loved by our God and by our land. And because we love our God and we love our land.
Years ago, a silly song attempted to suggest that the people of Gaza were fighting against an unjust war that was waged against them…after they fired hundreds of rockets at us within a few days…but never mind the facts.
I remember one line in that song: “You can burn all our homes and our schools and our mosques, we will not go down in Gaza tonight.” Well, they did go down, of course. They went down because the war they started was one of aggression and hate. The schools and mosques were filled with weapons; the homes used to shelter terrorists.
But tonight I can tell them – you can burn all our homes and our schools and our synagogues, but we will not go down in Israel tonight, or tomorrow, or next week, or next year, or next century and beyond.
We won’t go down because the war you started will fall before the love and kindness happening in this country at this moment. Our schools are opening to welcome evacuees, our homes will open as well. Our heroes will fight to stop the fires and you know what, they’ll take the time to rescue the Torah scrolls that contain our faith, our dedication, the promise God made to us to give us this land. It’s all written there, all protected.
This is Israel. On the news, the firefighters look exhausted. More volunteers are pouring into the area. The fires are under control; security forces are on alert and have caught some of the terrorists.
Israel in a picture? One of our heroes saving a part of our heritage.