What are the things we do for family?

We beam with pride over accomplishments in areas we don't begin to understand––for family.

We travel to a colder climate in the middle of winter because that's when the bar mitzvah is-–for family.

We spend the time looking for the right gift and card instead of sending just a gift card–-for family.

We buy gift wrap and cookies and popcorn and magazines we might not otherwise buy–-for family.

We spend our limited days of vacation on a sofa bed in the guest room instead of a hotel–-for family.

We buy a special outfit for the wedding reception instead of what we find in the closet–-for family.

We keep yellowing clippings from an out-of-state newspaper on the refrigerator, we listen to the same stories over and over again, we contribute to a testimonial dinner we can't attend, we cry over the death of someone we haven't seen since we were kids–-for family.

And when someone complains about their behavior, even if we share some of that complaint, we rise to the defense out of love and concern and loyalty and commitment and devotion-–for family.

Israel is family.

Happy 59th Yom Ha'atzma'ut