The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

I have heard from many great people from all the different groups of Torah Judaism, how the main purpose of the Torah is to instill in a person a sense of gratitude.

Indeed, many if not most of the Mitzvohs between man and his fellow man are to habituate the person with the recognition of how truly dependent we are on each other.

Naurally, we tend to work with the incorrect assumption that we are independent and most of us despise being reliant on others.

This misguided assumption ultimately leads us not only to lack a sense of gratitude towards others, it also causes us to too often fail to realize our complete dependency of Him.

The Sefer HaChinuch informs us that the key reason for the universal mitzvah of kibud av v’aim, is that by theTorah’s insistence of our having constant recognition of our dependency on our parents and therefore our necessity to show honor and gratitude to those that brought us into this world, we would (hopefully) simultaneously recognize our dependency for He who created the world.

The other day someone took me to task for using the phrase “Eretz Yisroel” in the same sentence with the phrase “The State of Israel.”

His point is correct, they are not synonymous.

However, although its way beyond the purview of this article to clearly define each one, nevertheless, there is no doubt in the mind of any thinking person that whatever Hashem’s reasoning may be, He has chosen the State of Israel to be the conduit of HIs brochus to us in a way which was unimaginable just 75 years ago.

Yerushalayim is growing leaps and bound as I write these words.

At a precarious time in Jewish history, when the city with the largest concentration of Jews in the world outside of Israel (New York) is struggling with the possibility of electing a person who has publicly stated he would arrest the democratically elected Jewish Prime Minister of Israel , (https://zeteo.com/p/freeze-rents-arrest-netanyahu-replace-). In Yerushalayim- in the Modern State of Israel, the overwhelming majority of incoming first graders this year are Torah observant (https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-the-1st-time-religious-1st-graders-in-israel-outnumber-secular-ones-by-thousands/).

There is so much to be thankful to Hashem for His blessing to us via the State of Israel.

His compassion and His goodness, in granting all of us a State where Torah thrives, Judaism is alive and things are getting better as we speak is mind boggling!

Thank you Hashem for allowing me to experience Your Presence, Your closeness, Your warmth, Your Caring and most of all, Your LOVE for me in Your city!!

For a person such as myself who in my own assessment (and in the assessment of many others) is so unworthy, to be invited with others who are far more worthy, and admitted and welcomed into YOUR HOUSE is a privilege, a gift for which words are inadequate to express my love and appreciation to you.

All I can say is: Thank you!”

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