I Have a Dream!

I have a dream.

I dream of a day when Moshiach arrives.

On that day, all men will be truly equal. Equality will be for everyone, not for the privileged few. No one will be more equal than anyone else.

All people will be judged alike, with expectations of morality equal to them all. None will be exempt from the expected simple human decency of allowing others to live in peace.

Every country, including Israel, will be permitted to do what it needs to protect her citizens from harm.

Even Israel will permitted to keep vicious, beastly murderers locked away for life without parole.

Even Israel will not be expected to show a goodwill gesture to the murderers by setting them free to kill again, with the universally derided delusion that their freedom will magically transform their hearts of stone to feel love for those whom their god commands them to despise.

Even Israel will not be expected to extend her hand to those who would just as soon break it off and use it destroy her.

Even Israel will not be expected to saw off parts of her land and hand it over to her sworn enemies.

For even Israel will not be expected to repeat acts of insane generosity that have repeatedly failed to elicit the same from its beneficiaries.

I dream of the true Independence Day, the day even Israel is permitted to act in her own interests, not the political interests of others.

On that day, Israel will hold her head high, as in the days of David and Solomon, and feel herself not only an equal between the nations, but even a light unto the nations.

I dream of the day when Psalms 120 ceases to be the national hymn:

1. A song of ascents. I have called out to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me. 2. O Lord, rescue my soul from the lips of falsehood, from a deceitful tongue. 3. What can He give you, and what [further restraint] can He add to you, O deceitful tongue? 4. [You resemble] the sharp arrows of a mighty one, and the coals of broom-wood.1 5. Woe unto me that I sojourned among Meshech, that I dwelt beside the tents of Kedar. 6. Too long has my soul dwelt among those who hate peace. 7. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.

And on that day, when the dream comes true, Israel the Land and Israel the People, history's greatest dreamers, will joyfully dance with their new national hymn, Psalms 126:

1. A song of ascents. When the Lord will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers. 2. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with songs of joy; then will they say among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for these.” 3. The Lord has done great things for us; we were joyful. 4. Lord, return our exiles as streams to arid soil. 5. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed; he will surely return with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.

Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom!