My Israel

 My Israel

Here we are.
Here we stay.
Not all of us were born here, but here we live and here we die.

We live a life once only dreamed of — a life filled with family, homeland, and countless blessings.

Here, we can be.
Here, we are.

We plant our trees, harvest our fruits, raise our children, and explore our future.
We believe in G-d, the One and Eternal.
He guides us and protects us.

The earth smiles at the touch of our hands.
It blesses our sweat, giving us the best of what exists — the sweetest fruit, the most beautiful flowers.
Roses are perfume.
Rain washes the soul and fills the Kineret.

The sky, in a blue never seen elsewhere, brings joy to the birds who wake us early each morning.

Here we are.
Here we love.

People who love each other without knowing one another, without even speaking the same language.
Easy smiles of happiness — for living here and knowing with certainty that this is home.

We wake up feeling the power that comes from standing on the soil of our homeland, and the pride of belonging to this great Family.

How can we not be happy?

Here we are.
Here we build.
Here we plant.
Here we harvest.
Here we create.

Thank You, HaShem.

— E.C.