A More Positive Way of Life in Our Future

The second part of the Sukkot Holiday is about to start soon, and this is another reason to be joyful. We see more positive and uplifting feelings everywhere, even these days when the stress levels in Israel are rising, with the security threats from every direction, the ongoing war and casualties. Many unpleasant things. This motif of the holidays in Israel has always brought people together - these are also times when there is more awakening than in normal times. And that's really the case, it's not some imaginary thing. During the holidays, you see more faces lit up on the street and smiles - people saying Hello and Happy Holidays. We see much more openness - people are generally softer and have a more pleasant attitude.

So as we approach the second holiday of Sukkot in preparation for Simchat Torah, let's reflect on what's really going on here. Beyond the current joy of the holiday itself, we need to think one step ahead of how we are approaching such situations, that our meaningful conversations and more positive way of life here will dominate our lives and increasingly dictate our destiny. It is not our fate from above that we have to fight all our lives and be a military people, or that the army will be the foundation of our country - heaven forbid.

It's time for us to take a step forward in the right direction to think about this matter of unity - and how it impacts our better future. Anyone who looks at our presence here, the people of Israel and the Land of Israel as a coincidence - thinking this is just happens to be where I live and work - that's fine. But for all those, and there are quite a few people who feel that there is more to the concepts of the Land of Israel and the people of Israel - that there is something rooted, something deep - historical, and lasting. And we want to renew it.

So here we have a very important and not complicated to understand key to our better future and it is a matter of our belonging. The more we open it up, increase it and make it a higher priority - like a Sukkah of peace that we spread over our heads, which will truly protect us in a very real way. Because the more we invest in this higher level of belonging and identification with the people of Israel and the Land of Israel, we'll have this protective wall that generates enormous power within the state.

Imagine a country not in a time of danger like this terrible incident that happened on October 7th, but on normal days. That this wind blows in our sails at all times - unity, brotherhood, support, patience, tolerance. More of a tendency to help each other. Our entire life will look completely different. And here is an issue we're not familiar with implementing in a practical way. It's not a matter of being nice and pleasant to each other - not at all. It's a new type of power. This is our real strength. We are not called Israel for nothing. This is what we need to innovate. This is our next national education program. All the good future that awaits us depends on us taking this step forward together.

So along with all the joy and gatherings with relatives, be as happy as possible - many brave and holy soldiers have sacrificed their lives so the rest of us on the home front are able to continue with life as usual. And we owe them a lot for that. This is also a good reason to respect their wishes and show them gratitude by being better towards the other. Just trying to be good kids towards each other - on our best behavior. In the practical test we will see it in a month, two months, three. Really in short spans of time we will see great shifts on this front - this is Israel after all.

So beyond the joy and food, think about how we can take that step forward together, because our right to exist depends on it. It's a great topic for discussing in the Sukkah.

This is not a Hollywood movie - or some script for a play. It's really practical things for our lives, for our existence - from the physical needs in the supermarket, to education, politics and economy - everything must be rebuilt around this point of unity with Israel - our belonging.

From now on this point must be strengthened. Let's hope that we can think about it in a more serious way and how after the war we will think about how to develop these concepts some more.

The truth is that it is already happening throughout Israel - there are many movements and non-profits helping everyone. And the soldiers and reservists do not agree to return to the routine we had before. They want us to keep pushing forward to something better. Why? Because we are Israelis and this is very important to us. We're starting to understand how dependent we are on one another and how there can be strength is in our diversity.

Like the soldiers fighting shoulder to shoulder in the field - we also need to be above all that petty stuff separating us.