Current Parent Sarah Brokman, Speaker and Delegate at the 125th Anniversary of the First Zionist Congress, Reflects on the GOA Value of Ahavat Yisrael

I grew up in a deeply Zionist home. My parents instilled the value of Ahavat Yisrael in me since birth. I am lucky enough to have built and run The Honey Foundation for Israel with them, and together we support more than 300 rabbis and spiritual leaders all across Israel. We invest in leaders who harness the energy of entrepreneurship along with the power of Judaism to create an Israeli society that is more open, connected and reflective of our Jewish values. Because of my work in this field, I was asked to be a speaker and delegate at the 125th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. Standing in the same room as Theodore Herzl when he announced his ideas to create a Jewish State with 1,400 other modern-day Zionists was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I was inspired by the journey that Israel has been on since its inception — one of trials and challenges but mostly one filled with miracles and hope. As Israel turns 75, we must always remember that the creation of the State of Israel is truly one of the miracles of our time. This experience has caused me to be even more motivated to work hard to ensure that Judaism is accessible to all in Israel and that the relationship between American and Israeli Jews is strengthened by a renewed excitement about Zionism.

 

For two packed days I sat in the convention hall, learning about different facets of Zionism, how organizations are combating anti-Semitism around the world and how our Jewishness is what connects us as a people. I was thinking about how my children are growing up in a school community that highlights Zionism and love of Israel as a critical value in its educational system, and I felt incredible gratitude towards Golda Och Academy. From singing Hatikvah every morning to learning modern-day Hebrew and our traditional texts, our children are constantly exposed to the beauty and complexity of Israel. I found myself sharing this pride of my children’s education with others at this event — explaining how American Jews stand with Israel and how we are committed to ensuring that our children will love and support Israel and Zionism for all of the years to come. Our children are so lucky to be able to experience Israeli culture and society multiple times in their tenure at GOA because we understand that there is no replacement for engaging with Israel in realtime. 

 

Theodore Herzl’s famous line, “If you will it, it is no dream” rings truer than ever. The State of Israel is a thriving, innovative and spiritual place, but Herzl’s dream is not complete. Israeli society is just beginning to explore how Judaism can be expressed in organic, authentic Israeli ways — The Honey Foundation is supporting this boom of what is being called “Israeli Judaism.”  This is the next step in the Zionist dream, recognizing the strengths in the Jewish cultures and communities around the world and using those strengths to build each other up. 

 

My dream is that because of the Israel education our children are receiving at Golda Och Academy, they will continue to express their Zionism and live the value of Ahavat Yisrael throughout their lives.