Independence Hall--Tel Aviv to Haifa

Friday: Our day began with an emotional visit to Israel’s hall of Independence, the site where on May 14, 1948, Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence. But Israel didn’t emerge fully formed in 1948, it began much earlier. The second major wave of immigration to what was then Palestine, happened in 1909 when on April 11th 60 families purchased land, just sand dunes in which they saw the potential future of Tel Aviv. They were following Theodore Herzl’s cry of five years earlier to stop praying and do something. In that same year the first kibbutz was founded near Tiberias. Independence was declared just hours before the British were scheduled to leave Palestine, and even knowing the Arabs were likely to attack and that we had a 50-50 chance of survival. Against all odds, Ben Gurion and his council elected to declare Independence.
What we learned from this trip to Independence Hall was how much had been happening in Palestine during the 50 years prior to the Declaration of Israel’s Independence. This story, along with the story of the Haganah, demonstrated how pro-active Jews have been. Our story is not just the story of persecution and the holocaust, it is also the story of careful planning, of community, of vision, strength, and action. We must remember, and remind others, that one day after the UN voted on the partition which established a two state solution, along the lines where the Arab and Jewish communities had the most settlers, the Jews accepted the decree, but the Arabs did not. They immediately attacked the Jews on multiple fronts. We fought back and won. That was but one of many times the Arabs have been offered a two state solution, which they have turned down.