My Home Away from Home
By Michael Grauss

The hope that is two thousand years old, to be a free nation in our land, the Land of Zion and Jerusalem.

This passage from Israel´s national anthem, HaTikvah, echoes deeply within me. It expresses the yearning of the Jewish people to be independent in their own homeland – a wish alive even after centuries of oppression.

For me, it´s a miracle that this dream came true. That finally, we, the Jewish people, have a safe haven, a place where we are always welcome and accepted. I am grateful that I belong to a generation that can always rely on the existence of Israel, and it not something I take for granted. When my parents were born, Jewish self-determination was not even a realistic hope. The State of Israel is the promise that our faith will never again depend on others.

Since 1948, whenever times have gotten hard and the situation elsewhere in the world has become unbearable, Jews have known that we have a place that will protect us. As a Jew living in the Diaspora, Israel is my safety net, the life insurance for me and my family.

But Israel is so much more; it´s my home away from home. The connection between the Jewish people and Eretz Israel has existed from the time of our forefathers, and the connection is so deep that nothing can cut it. Every time I´m in Israel, I have an intense feeling of belonging. Again, “HaTikvah” puts this sentiment in a beautiful, poetic form:

As long as in the heart within, the Jewish soul yearns, and toward the eastern edges, onward, an eye gazes toward Zion, our hope is not yet lost.

As a father of three sons, I want to teach my children to love and support the only Jewish state in the world, our State of Israel. No matter where we live in the world, whether it´s Australia or Alaska, we are all united in knowing that Israel is always there for us.

My hope is that one day peace will prevail in Israel. The Abraham Accords are a giant step in this direction, but the road ahead of us is still long, as the latest eruption of violence has once again shown us. I´m proud that the IDF protects Israel´s civilians, while doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties in its fight against the terrorists ruling in Gaza.

It breaks my heart when I see videos of families spending the night in bunkers, putting their children to sleep while sirens are ringing. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel every day, but especially in these difficult times. One day, I hope, all this will be a distant memory of a different time.