21/04/2026
There is no country like ours
Here, we transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut within hours—moving from silence to celebration, from grief to independence. This year, as in the past, it is not just memory; it is present. Our soldiers remain on the front lines, and families continue to bear this weight. My own, Elisha Kuchar, is still in the reserves.
For us, this is not “normal times,” regardless of ceasefires. Meanwhile, Jewish schools in various parts of the world are closing or operating at half capacity, and antisemitism is reemerging in places where it was once hidden.
Despite the challenges, my children have gained knowledge that no child should need. They can explain missile trajectories and interceptions, and they can identify missiles from Iran, Lebanon, or Yemen. This is part of our reality, yet I would not choose to raise them anywhere else.
Here, identity is not questioned, belonging is not conditional, and resilience is lived. This is Zionism, not merely an idea but a daily reality—a country that holds both pain and growth. We bury our fallen while continuing to build.
If there is one thing we excel at, it is turning challenges into momentum. I believe that from this difficult period, we will emerge stronger, witnessing significant economic growth and opportunity. I truly hope that alongside this growth, we will welcome many more olim home in the coming year.
Happy Birthday, my dear Israel, to many more!
