May the new Israeli government live to a ripe old age

April 1, 2009 - 12:26 PM by David · Leave a Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Politics

The new Israeli cabinet

Well, it’s April 1st – and we have a new government in Israel. I’m assuming there’s no connection between those two facts, and like all Israelis, I wish Prime Minister Netanyahu and his 30 ministers the wisdom and foresight to see us through these tough times.

Watching the swearing in ceremony at the Knesset late last night, we were struck by something which typifies the unique hybrid of Israeli culture and norms. Never mind the lack of decorum and acting speaker Ruby Rivlin having to chide MKs to keep quiet while the members of the 32nd government were giving their oaths. We’re used to that.

But here were all these powerful government ministers getting up on the podium, one by one, before the Knesset, the nation, and the world. And they were beginning their oaths by saying, “I, Gideon Saar, the son of Ezra, blessed be his memory, and Rivka, may she live to a ripe old age…”

In what other country would you hear that? Call it heimish, quaint, or just a subtle affirmation that, hey… you just can’t take the Jewish out of Israel.

It’s unlikely that Sa’ar, or any of the other secular-looking ministers are religiously observant, but Judaism is such an integral part of Israeli culture, that it sounded perfectly natural to hear the ministers add on the religious embellishments to their parents’ names.

It’s a trivial matter, and for most viewers, it was probably second nature to hear. But for some people who moved to Israel out of choice – whether observant or secular – it was just one more instance of realizing that they had made a good decision.

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