Shalom All,

"Stop talking about the importance of empowering Israel's periphery. We need to think about new directions, things that will be marketable. Things that interest our donors. The future of the Galilee and the Negev doesn't interest them - to them, it is 'an old lamp' - old fashioned, passe, unnecessary. If you continue, it will be your downfall. You must be dreaming. It shows you are nothing but an old-fashioned Zionist." Although it sounded like an attack, and from the lips of no less than someone who is considered a Jewish leader, I thought for a few seconds before I answered.

An old fashioned Zionist. Last week, I was traveling through the Galilee. I stopped to inhale some fresh mountain air. Everything around was green, a deep, shadowy-color of the forest. The air was crisp, every now and again a chirp fluttered through the trees. On the other side of the hills I notices the remains of an ancient Jewish village. I picked up a leaf of ZA'ATAR - a herb we use regularly, and one of Israel's famous songs was playing in my head, and I could imagine the sight of Jews and Romans filling the hills 2000 years ago. The serenity was absolute, and I understood why, so many, many years ago, this was where our Mishna was written. My sitting there was so right, the exact answer to the picture I had in my head.

An old fashioned Zionist. On the way home, I passed through Zichron Ya'acov, a beautiful town perched on the Carmel mountain. Founded 122 years ago by my great-great grandparents, I went to get some fruit from my cousins, who still live in the same house my great-great-grandfather built. It still looks like it did when I used to visit when I was a child, going back home with my arms filled with grapes. This time, Bar was sent home with his arms filled with grapes.

An old fashioned Zionist. I teach my kids that they are Jews, Israelis, and that the continuity of their identity is important. No, I don't force it on them, but it is something that we discuss. It is their right to decide differently, but it is my duty to educate them according to what I believe is important so that any choice they make will be an educated one. They won't be able to say: we didn't know, we weren't aware.

An old fashioned Zionist. Attached to the sounds, the scents, the story of this place. A Hebrew speaker who can read and quote the bible in the language that it was written. No, I don't always like Israel or my fellow Israelis. I have many disagreements with the way we are doing things. I am sometimes very angry, frustrated, even sad. I debate, I argue, I even give up on certain matters sometimes. I can do these things passionately because it is mine, every day, every minute. Not only my past is invested here, but I am investing my present and my future in this land of ours. That investment is not based on "what can I sell", but rather on "what will I be buying" - i.e., on a vision. And even during those moments when I know I don't like her, I always, always love her. "You must be dreaming"? Well, where I am concerned, that connects directly to another dreamer, who believed that dreams can be willed into reality. "If you will it, it is no dream". He was an old fashioned Zionist, too.

"You are nothing but an old-fashioned Zionist". The person was looking at me.

I looked straight back, and said: "Thank you!"

Shabbat Shalom,

Liat