Chief Rabbi’s farewell

THE STATE of Israel may have been born into bitter conflict, but there is something uniquely mesmerising about the resolve of those who made its establishment possible.

I look back with great admiration upon the fearless pioneering spirit of the early Zionists, their agricultural successes and their irrepressible love for the land.

At the age of 93, Shimon Peres was the last of Israel’s founding fathers who epitomised all of those attributes. Born in Poland and coming of age in Israel, he was a kibbutznik, a member of Israel’s Haganah and head of the navy when independence was achieved in 1948.

In the Israeli government he served variously as minister of transport, finance, defence and foreign affairs, as well as prime minister and president. This was someone who truly gave a lifetime of service towards the fulfilment of the Zionist dream.

He was an astonishing man. Eloquent, optimistic and effortlessly charming. He left a lasting impact on everyone he met, from world leaders to close friends.

The last time I met him was during a United Synagogue mission that I led to Israel last year. The highlight of our visit was a very memorable hour that we spent at the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv. Another statesman of his stature might simply have wished us well and sent us on our way, but he had a very specific message. He asked us to focus our efforts as community leaders in four particular areas.

First, that we must keep our children Jewish. Ensuring that the next generation understands the beauty and value of Jewish identity is crucial to the survival of our people.

Second, he told us that there is no greater moral code than the Ten Commandments — we must study them, internalise them and live by them.

Third, he implored us to “love Israel”, for if we, as Jews, do not show our affection for the Jewish State in this era of demonisation and delegitimisation, who else will?

Finally, he shared with us the one message he took with him wherever he travelled: the words of Psalm 34, Bakesh shalom verodfehu — “seek peace and pursue it”.

Every word he spoke struck a deep chord with us, but his final message, that we must strive for peace regardless of the obstacles, will be his legacy — for Israel, the Jewish people and for the entire world.