On April 13 Jews in Israel and throughout the world commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day,
marking the slaughter of 6,000,000 Jews by Hitler. Just before the start of the joyous celebration of
Independence Day, the Central Bureau of Statistics announced that Israel's population had reached a
record 6,000,000. A simple statistic but in the context of historical events in Jewish life the figure sends a
powerful message. Clearly, numbers positioned within a historical context can take on a meaningful
connotation.
The vision of Isaiah remains the Hope. Yet, the reality is that this country can say today "I am strong".
Equally strong is the economy which is driven by a working force that is well educated and motivated by
the knowledge that success in modern day Israel can be very rewarding.
On this 51st Independence Day I maintain the dream of the vision of Isaiah but rejoice in the fullfillment
of Joel .
A wellspring of hope and optimism is echoed in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah who said: "They will
beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword
against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." However, another Prophet named Joel, foresaw the
need for armed strength before an era without arms could be envisioned. Beat your plowshares into
swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!" (Joel 3:10)