Rav Shlomo Aviner, Machon Meir, translated by Hillel Fendel
Question: The State of Israel is far from perfect. There are religious, ethical, cultural and other faults and defects. How can we celebrate Israel Independence Day happily and sincerely under such circumstances?
Answer (based on Rav Shlomo Aviner and other sources):
Our holidays were not instituted in order to thank people or the State of Israel (though there is much for which to thank the State), but rather to thank G-d.
We wish to thank G-d for saving the Jewish population from death during the War of Independence, from saving world Jewry from perpetual homeless and refugee status(1), and for enabling the establishment of an independent state in fulfillment of our Prophets' words.
Yes, there are defects and faults in this State – but we cry about them on Tisha B'Av, not on Independence Day. We must not get confused: Tisha B'Av is a day for crying over the Destruction, Exile, and the like; and Independence Day is a day for rejoicing over all the miracles and goodness showered upon us.
We must not be stuck in an all-or-nothing syndrome, thinking that if the State is not perfect, then it's terrible. There are often in-between situations, as described in one of the songs at the end of the Passover Haggadah: "Bring close the time that is neither day nor night," based on Zecharia 14,7: "It will be one day that will be known as G-d's day of salvation, neither day nor night." Rashi explains that it will not be a "day" of complete Redemption, but also not "night" like the darkness of Exile - but rather something in between. Certainly we all want something that is all "day" and not "night" at all, but we must keep in mind that we started out with "night," and now we have both together, and in the future it will be totally "day."
When Yehoshua bin Nun captured the Promised Land, and afterwards under the Judges, were we all perfectly righteous? The Bible tells us otherwise. There were wars, and idol-worship, and terrible things. And consider Chanukah as well: We still celebrate it today, 2,000 years afterwards, with a blessing over Hallel and more – yet everything was far from perfect then. There were righteous people, and also evil ones. Why, then, are we happy? Because we are living in our Land. A people that has gone through Exile, destruction, decrees, expulsions, Crusades, a Holocaust, and more – well knows and appreciates what it is to live in its Land.
Someone told me that at morning prayers on Yom HaAtzma'ut one year, the prayer leader started reciting the Tachanun prayer [a sad prayer that is replaced by the Hallel prayer of praise on festive days such as Yom HaAtzma'ut], showing that he had no interest in thanking G-d for the establishment of the State of Israel. One man got up, made his way to the front, banged on the stand, and yelled: "I was in Auschwitz, so don't tell me there's nothing here to be thankful for!" And he recited aloud the blessing for Hallel.
Our Hallel prayer on this day is for the Divine salvation we have experienced in these generations, not only physical but also spiritual. The Diaspora is full of terrible assimilation of millions of Jews, while here in Israel, the country is full of Torah and yeshivot all over. We may not be ungrateful to G-d and say that we're willing to thank Him but that we have conditions. If this is what G-d has given us, then we're appreciative, we recognize that it's not yet complete, and we work hard to make it as great as we can.
Instead of complaining about hilltop outposts that are demolished, let us remember all the communities in Judea and Samaria – and throughout Israel – that have been built over the years!
Thank G-d, we have attained Partial Redemption, and we are thrilled about it!
1 See https://www.history.com/news/wwii-jewish-refugee-ship-st-louis-1939,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struma_disaster, and
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/exodus-1947
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