'Twas The 14th Of May

This year is leap year. Again. Every four years February expands its usual 28 days to a whopping 29, causing a mild disturbance to the scheme of things. In 1948, another leap year, on Friday the 14th day of May, Israel was born as a nation. Again. It wasn’t an easy birth, not by a long shot. As I said in an earlier story:

“Israel’s celebration was short-lived. On May 19, they were systematically attacked by Lebanon and Syria from the north; Iraq and Jordan from the east; Egypt and contingents from Sudan from the south; and Palestinians plus volunteers from other Arab countries. If you look at a map of the area, you’ll see who the Goliath was and also the David. This was called the War of Independence and lasted until mid 1949 when all of Israel’s antagonists signed armistice agreements with her. As in Biblical times, little David conquered the giant. When the smoke cleared at the end of hostilities, Israel had not only ejected the invading Arab armies but had captured 5000 sq. kms, exceeding the areas approved by the United Nations. Victory had its cost, however; 6,373 Israelis lost their lives.”

For the next 37 years, the tiny nation was plagued with wars and rumors of wars. Ironically, each time they are coerced into battle, tiny Israel comes out on top. It occurs to me, again for the first time that God’s hand is still protecting the age old “apple of His eye.” Today this resurrected little land is constantly harassed by her Muslim/Arab neighbors. More often than not, this present-day David is admonished, rebuked and criticized by most of the nations of the world for responding to the violence designed to remove Israel from the middle east, if not from the face of earth as well. Our own United States, unfortunately, although her strongest supporter, rebukes Israel for militarily protecting herself against her enemies, while at the same time we justify our response to threats against us. Her retaliations, our leaders affirm, hinder the plans for peace in the Middle East.

On February 28, 1977, my wife and I landed in Tel Aviv. It happened to be her 47th birthday. As new Christians we were excited to be in the land where Jesus walked so long ago. I had planned to take pictures as we got off the plane, but when I saw all the soldiers and military vehicles lined up, I quickly changed my mind. We awoke in our hotel early the following morning to the high-pitched cry from a distant minaret calling Muslim worshippers to their first prayer of the day. A bit later, the braying of sheep and the tinkling of bells announced the passing of a shepherd and his flock. It was the beginning of a very special two weeks for us. For some reason, we were amazed when about half-way though our trip it snowed. Somehow snow in Jerusalem seemed out of place. Also, it seemed strange to us seeing young Israelis in the market places and along the roads armed with automatic weapons. Military service is compulsory these days in Israel

For centuries, except for rabbinical scholars and clergy, Hebrew has been considered a dead language. When the second Temple was destroyed by the hordes of Titus the Roman on August 10, A.D. 70, the Jews went into exile. Although a few Jews remained in Jerusalem, the great majority were scattered throughout the known world. For 1900 years traditional Jews have prayed for the rebuilding of the Temple and the return to their homeland. When they did return after WWII and Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, the returnees spoke the languages of the countries they had adopted. Once established in their homeland again, their children learned Hebrew in school and taught it to their parents. Rather than the parents teaching the children, the situation was reversed. Hebrew is now their national language. However, while Jews recognize Jerusalem as their capital, the world at large does not.

So here it is, another leap year, and Friday, May 14th will be the 56th anniversary of the establishment of a homeland for the Jews. How will they celebrate the occasion? Well, one thing’s for sure: They can expect a suicide bombing or two as a statement from the PLO. And if they strike back, the UN will censure them for daring to protect themselves. I only hope our leaders will at least abstain.