JUNE 8 • 2023 | 7
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twice about persecuting
and oppressing our Jewish
LGBTQ family? Is it time to
question Christian Zionists
and our relationship with
them? These are questions
we need to wrestle with.
The second thing that
LGBTQ Jews need is to
stop being reminded that
Israel is the only country in
the Middle East where we
have rights. We know that.
However, at the same time,
our Israeli LGBTQ friends
are living with unease with
a far-right government
coalition where some
coalition members have
spread similar anti-LGBTQ
venom.
I work with an
organization called “
A
Wider Bridge,” which seeks
to build a bridge between
Israeli and non-Jewish
LGBTQ communities.
While we are fighting anti-
Israel propaganda in the
queer community, we are
also fighting against the
rise of homophobia and
transphobia in Israel.
Please join us! Let’s have
this difficult conversation
and start working together
to fight both homophobia/
transphobia and anti-
semitism! Let’s have these
conversations in our shuls
and in our communities.
Your Jewish LGBTQ
neighbors, fellow shul
members, friends and family
are hurting. Let’s listen to
our voices even if some of
what we say may make some
uncomfortable.
Sarah Dunn is a member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and
is active in the Detroit area LGBTQ
community.
essay
IDF: A Journey of Courage
and Determination
O
n May 31, we com-
memorated a pivotal
date — the 75th anni-
versary of the creation of the
Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
This emblematic occasion
marks a turning
point in the
history of Israel,
a young nation
forged amidst
unimaginable
trials and tribu-
lations.
THE BIRTH
OF THE IDF AND ITS
ENDURING LEGACY
In 1948, during a turbulent
era, the newly formed nation
of Israel found itself at a
crossroads between conflict
and hope. The specter of the
Holocaust still loomed over
the Jewish people, making the
need for defense a matter of
survival. Thus, the IDF was
born, an institution that has
been the guardian of that hope
for these 75 years, a beacon of
strength and resilience, assur-
ing Israel’s sovereignty and the
safety of its people.
STORIES OF VALOR
AND SACRIFICE
It is with deep emotion that we
remember the countless stories
of valor and sacrifice, of sol-
diers who faced unimaginable
adversities without hesitation,
defending their homeland.
Men and women who, some-
times paying a high price,
fulfilled their duty with honor
and determination, ensuring
that future generations could
live in freedom and security.
HEROES OF THE PAST
AND THE FORTITUDE
OF THE IDF
The heroes of the past, from
the War of Independence to
Operation Entebbe, the Six-
Day War, and the Yom Kippur
War, personify the ideals of
courage, resilience and person-
al sacrifice that are at the heart
of the IDF. But this anniversary
is not just a celebration of the
past; it’s also an opportunity to
reflect on the present and the
future.
THE IDF TODAY AND
FUTURE CHALLENGES
Today, the IDF continues to be
a pillar of defense, an exempla-
ry body of dedicated men and
women who, despite constant
threats, remain vigilant and
ready to protect their people.
We face a future with new
and unpredictable challenges.
In an increasingly digital and
interconnected world, secu-
rity threats have evolved and
diversified. However, the rich
history of the IDF gives us faith
in Israel’s ability to adapt and
confront these new threats.
A FUTURE OF HOPE
AND DETERMINATION
As we celebrate this 75th anni-
versary, we also look to the
future with hope and deter-
mination. Hope for the pur-
suit of a peaceful solution to
the conflict that has plagued
the region for decades, and
determination to ensure that
Israel continues to thrive as
a bastion of freedom and
democracy.
Today, we pay tribute to the
brave men and women serving
in the IDF. We remember the
past with reverence, honor the
present with gratitude, and face
the future with courage and
determination. Here we are, 75
years later, still standing strong
and free. Congratulations to
the IDF on its 75th anniversa-
ry. May the light of hope con-
tinue to illuminate the path to
a future of peace and security.
Mazel Tov, IDF!
David Elmescany is the founder
of the “Viva Israel” project in
Portuguese, dedicated to bringing
the various aspects of Israel to
Portuguese speakers.
David
Elmescany
Times of
Israel
IDF TWITTER