LEAD TIDBIT:
The Glass is Half Full, B”H

Hard to write. Too many thoughts; not enough space. Dispense with cute intro; cut to the chase.

Okay. The half-full or half-empty glass image is usually considered a definition of optimism versus pessimism. Here it is being used to question how one views the imperfect, flaw-riddled State of Israel. The Jewish state that was established 55 years ago in Eretz Yisrael.

The state that finally gave the Jewish People a place to live without quotas and restrictions on their numbers. The state that changed the world for the Jew, because now there was one place on Earth that would not slam its door in a Jew’s face and say, "Sorry, we have no room for you". The state that considers Shabbat - not Saturday, but Shabbat - the day of rest AND part of the definition of its Jewish character. Yes, a state many of whose inhabitants do not keep Shabbat as we are commanded to. And a state whose official policies are not always in line with proper Shmirat Shabbat. But that's because the cup is half-full.

Are we supposed to celebrate the establishment of a state like this? Are we supposed to thank HaShem for it?

What about celebrating and thanking G-d for a military victory that restored Jewish autonomy in the Land, but whose leaders usurped trhe kingdom for themselves - people who had no right to the kingdom. People among whom was found evidence of idol worship in later generations. People whose lineage came to an end because of their improper behavior. We should thank G-d for that?

Chanuka says yes.

If G-d had only taken us out of Egypt but not cared for us in the Wilderness, nor given us Shabbat or the Torah or Eretz Yisrael -DAYEINU. It would have been enough.

That doesn’t mean that Y’tzi’at Mitzrayim was complete in and of itself that it was enough. It means that there is sufficient cause to praise G-d and thank Him for the Exodus, reguardless of all that was still to come.

G-d gave us the State of Israel with Jewish sovereignty after the Land was ruled by many different nations, and after we were ruled and persecuted and slaughtered by our enemies. DAYEINU.

Not, chas v’shalom, that what exists today is enough that we don’t yearn for more. But DAYEINU, there is sufficient cause to praise G-d and thank Him for what we have, while we pray for - and work hard towards - an Eretz Yisrael that will be home to more and more Jews. We want more and more Jews to accept and live by Torah and Mitzvot, and we want the quality of our Torah observance to increase. We want the Geula Sh’leima, but we thank G-d for what we have so far.