Lee Diamond – If I forget thee O Tel Aviv
For so many centuries we dreamed of Jerusalem. It was the symbol of our loss , of our oppression, or our national exile and our hope and prayer for return to the glory of our past. This longing of some 2,000 years helped us to survive our national shame, suffering and tragic inability to protect ourselves in the face of the hatred of a vicious world which enjoyed our indefensibly–and never failed to attempt to eliminate us.
But with the birth of Israel, was born a new Jew– Determined and no longer longing. Looking forward and not backwards. No longer the victim but an emerging victor. Carrying a past but not burdened by it!
This free standing upright Jew was born of a past but blossomed from it. This new Jew carried the living seed that had the energy within it to sprout forth again in its native soil. This was an Ancient New seed once again deepening its roots and flowering in its ancient modern environment. This new Jew had the hope of millennia as it’s very breath. It’s ancient tears were transformed into a wide eyed and genuine smile. Ha Tiqve became Ha Chuzpa.
We became TEL AVIV—-The spring burst forth of the Rock –the “unstruck” rock which gave forth living waters to its people so that they could live in this yet unwatered desert.
This new Jew was aware of its past! But this Jew was able to escape it. This Jew was able to trust again! This Jew was able to believe in the dream again. This Jew hoped and built his/her life on this hope. S/he stored the bitter past in its appropriate place–in the annals is history. This Jew “LEFT” the bitter past and walked forward with confidence into a bright future.
This was the vision of the “Judenstadt” of Herzl. This magnum translated into Hebrew is called TEL AVIV- the NEW SPRING; it is the resurrection of the Jewish people born of joy hope and optimism.
This is what some call the leftist state of Tel Aviv. But this is a state in progress; a state with Hope; a state with a positive vision of a peaceful and fruitful future.
Once it was thought that Jerusalem studied and prayed.
Haifa worked
And Tel Aviv
Danced
But it’s clear now
That Tel Aviv is where the Future is cherished and not only prayed for as a messianic dream.
