It is with no small measure of joy and privilege that I raise my children here, 10-15 minutes from Jerusalem, the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and “Battle Hill,” to where each of my five eldest children now have retraced the footsteps of modern forefathers, heroes, recalling their bravery and our timeless connection to this, our land.
This year, when my wife commented that she was surprised that the hike hadn’t been canceled because of the “situation,” she was referring to the ongoing plague of terrorism that continues in our midst. This has led Israeli media to dub the main intersection near our home, the Gush Etzion intersection, the “intersection of death.”
For security purposes, and in this context, one might understand the hesitation in taking thousands of teens on an all-night hike, passing the same Arab villages whose inhabitants murdered and dismembered the 35 heroes whose lives and legacy we remember this week.
However, in this context, it’s all the more important that the kids experience the “Lamed Hey” because this year, hostility aimed at Jews in the land of Israel is frighteningly similar to that of 1948. This year, it’s all the more important we remember and vow never to turn back. {eoa}
Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes a regular column for cn.mycharisma.com‘s Standing With Israel. He can be reached at [email protected].
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