Why, on Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, I say Hallel With a Bracha

I just returned from Yom Ha'Atzma'ut (Israeli Independence Day) evening prayers. In Shiloh it includes a rousing and enthusiastic Hallel with a bracha (blessing.)

As far as I'm concerned, we should be saying Hallel with a bracha, but I have trouble celebrating, worshipping and respecting the State of Israel and the people in government.

G-d has been very good to the Jewish People; therefore He definitely deserves our saying Hallel and treating Independence Day and Jerusalem Day, in just over three weeks, as Holy Days.

To compare today with Biblical Times, I'd say that we're suffering the worst of Kings Saul and Solomon.

Just like King Saul persecuted David, because he knew that David would succeed him, the government has declared Jewish settlement in our Biblical Heartland a danger to the state. Idealistic patriots have been arrested for trying to protect our Land. Some have been jailed or kept in "house arrest," frequently far from their homes.

Gush Katif and the Northern Shomron villages were destroyed by the government in an attempt to break our spirit. But just like King David never lowered himself to the depths of his predecessor, we do our best to stay strong and on our Land. King Saul tried to have him killed, and when David had the opportunity to kill Saul he didn't.

The problems with King Solomon were different. He thought that he was strong and smart enough to bend G-d's Law. Even though he knew that "...Moses warns that the king should not have too many horses or too many wives (Deut. 17:17)," he didn't follow the Law.

At the end of King Solomon's life, he repented and wrote Kohelet, Ecclesiastes.

Kohelet - Chapter 1
Show Rashi's Commentary
1. The words of Koheleth son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2. Vanity of vanities, said Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3. What profit has man in all his toil that he toils under the sun?
4. A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth endures forever.

Finally, he realized that all the finery, all the materialism is worthless. One must impress G-d and not other nations.

We have a government that isn't interested in eternity, just the here and now. They don't follow Jewish ideals; they want to impress other nations. In the process, not only do they endanger the very state they are supposed to protect and develop, but they've perverted and distorted the morality of others like a parody. They're like men dressed in drag exaggerating the foibles of women. It may look funny on stage, but, as we saw during last summer's war, it can be very tragic.

But we have a democracy, don't we? And in a democracy, the people choose the government. So if that's the case, our problem is with our fellow Israelis, not G-d.

Somehow we must find a way to renew their spirit and faith in G-d. The "pintele Yid," that spark of Yiddishkeit, yearning to be a true Jew, is in everyone. The problem is that sometimes it is hidden so deeply in the psyche of a person, that it isn't discovered in their lifetime.

At the same time, we must help our youth and those exiled from their homes heal. And of course, we must work on ourselves, making the good stronger and diminish our weakness. None of us are perfect.

We have to reach out and strengthen each other and those further away from us. Just like King David said in the T'hilim, Psalms, included in the Hallel Prayer, Chapter 115:

9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11. Those who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12. The Lord, Who remembered us, will bless; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13. He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great.
14. May the Lord add upon you, upon you and upon your children.
15. Blessed are you to the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16. The heavens are heavens of the Lord, but the earth He gave to the children of men.

What we need is a King David. We've been suffering from "a King Saul" and a "King Solomon." I guess G-d doesn't see us as ready for King David. It's our job to get the Nation ready.

It isn't easy, and it won't be. We must continue to thank G-d for all He has given us. And we must work even harder.

Chag Sameach!