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I appreciate the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers in the IDF, who protect our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yirsroel (be they learning, working, or partying in Eilat).
I appreciate more the existence of the United States of America and of its armed forces and police, who keep (among all of the Jews who reside here) me and my immediate family safe (in the spirit of ???? ??????).
I appreciate even more than that the Lomdei Torah, who keep the entire world going. If not for them, there would be nobody to protect.
And most of all I appreciate the kindness of Hashem. For He is the ultimate source of everything that we have, and every other entity is only His shiliach.
I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m trying to formulate my feelings… maybe someone can help me. I find it harder to appreciate those who I am jealous of. I am jealous of Lomdei Torah. I wish I could be in kollel. I wish I could live that life. For some reason, and I can’t really explain why, it’s harder for me to say “thank you” and “you are so lucky, I wish I was you” at the same time. Why are these somewhat mutually exclusive in my mind? It’s the same way with a really wealthy person giving a lot of money. I appreciate what he’s doing, but that is somehow tempered by the wish to have the financial ability to make that same kind of donation myself.
A soldier, on the other hand, is not someone I am jealous of. I do not want the basic training or the sleepless nights. I do not want the physical, psycholgical or emotional toll. I do not want the fear that my life is on the line. I do not want to kill or watch my fellow soldiers be killed. There is nothing about the soldier’s life that I want in mine. The soldiers are doing the job that is so selfless in my mind… they are doing it completely in my place. They are doing the job that I choose not to do, and that I am afraid of doing.
My appreciation is so much stronger for those who play the roles that I don’t want to play, than for those who play the roles I wish I could play. Does that make sense?
I appreciate the Medinah which has opened it gates wide to welcome all world Jewry, and hence this 68th [Gematriah:- Chaim] Yom ha’Atzma’ut is a true time of Thanksgiving to the Ribbono Shel Olom.
simcha, so your problem is your jealousy and begrudging. You knows what the Torah says about jealousy.
Simcha, that was a powerfully honest post.
Joseph. I’m sure he knows that. It is a tremendous zchus that it bothers him. Lay off.
Maskim to feivel.
I thought Joseph was Meramez that Kinas Sofrim Tarbeh Chochmah. It’s a beautiful thing to be jealous of.
Maskim.
I completely agree with simcha, and I made a similar post on another thread. Listening to soldiers talking about their experiences at the Yom HaZikaron tekes at YU last night, I couldn’t have been more thankful that it was not me in firefights in Palestinian villages or pulling wounded comrades out of bombed out houses in Gaza. It takes its own kind of fortitude to do the kinds of jobs nobody else wants to do.
I have so much appreciation for the soldiers of the IDF. Having lived in Israel for a little while I have seen firsthand how much they do just to enable a normal life for those of us that did not serve.
I have many friends that served or are currently serving and every day I pray for their safety. I can’t thank them enough for what they do.
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