Happy 63rd, Israel

Happy Birthday, Israel. My ancestors and my ancestors ancestors ancestors ancestors never thought that I, their descendent, a simple woman in an under-water condo, would ever be able to say that. But then sometimes there are miracles.

Of course your presence doesn't erase anti-Semitism in the world, but it is a start. Anti-Semitism is as old as the hills, or maybe even older. Maybe it's within their genetic coding. Or maybe it's because otherwise we'd forget.

But a Jewish state means that we at least have a safe haven, a place to run to when times get tough. Had here been an Israel there wouldn't have been a Holocaust. Of this I am sure. Had there been an Israel, there wouldn't have been the pogroms in Russia because we would have had a place to go, and had there been an Israel, there wouldn't have been the Spanish Inquisition. Of this I am sure.

Your presence doesn't erase anti-Semitism, but it provides a buffer for it, a place for us to be proud, a center, ethnic identity. Happy birthday, Israel. May you live long past 63.