Israel’s Greater Purpose to the Jewish People and the World

Recently, I attended a summit on antisemitism in Los Angeles, one of many I’ve attended in the last few years. Similar to past discussions in which I participated, I left the summit feeling dissatisfied and utterly bored with the messages repeated by our community leaders. Hearing one message in particular that is often expressed when discussing Israel’s purpose makes me question how our younger and future generations of Jews could possibly be empowered and inspired. The message is one we’ve all heard before: Israel is the Jewish people’s safe haven.

In the diaspora, Jewish organizations and Jewish education have instilled the idea that Israel is where the Jewish people run for safety during times of persecution or when antisemitism is on the rise. Surely, one of the first things we hear about Israel is that it is the Jewish people’s “safe haven.” But is this really the basis for Israel’s existence and purpose?

Think about it like this. A safe room in a home provides shelter, security and comfort to those who are escaping some form of disaster or tragedy. However, while the house occupants may feel safe in having this room, they will never consider this room to be their favorite room of the house. It would be unlikely to find them regularly cleaning or even generally maintaining this room and one certainly won’t find them utilizing it on a daily basis. Today, Israel has been regarded as the “safe room” for the Jewish people. But why should we limit Israel by seeing it only as our safe room when we could be acknowledging it as our favorite room, or the room we regularly maintain and utilize to support us in fulfilling our individual and collective roles in this world?

Indeed, Jewish history, culture and traditions indicate there is a greater and deeper purpose for Israel’s existence than merely a land in which to seek refuge. This is not to disregard the fact that Israel has saved the lives of millions of Jewish refugees who have escaped persecution all over the world from places including the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Included in those millions was my family who escaped from Iran. But to view Israel primarily as a safe haven is to view Israel in a shallow light since it overlooks the Jewish people’s deep, historical connection to their homeland and Israel’s purpose and mission in this world.

The Jewish people must not see their homeland as a piece of territory where they can hide from the rest of the world, but instead a land that gives us purpose. Jews did not spend millennia yearning to go back to their ancestral land only to seek safety. We don’t chant “Next Year in Jerusalem!” at the Passover seder every year for reasons of safety. Nor are Jewish daily prayers, which include references to returning to Jerusalem, said for safety reasons. Moreover, Jews certainly did not return home and revive their civilization and ancient language of Hebrew because the land was only a safe haven.

The Jewish people must not see their homeland as a piece of territory where they can hide from the rest of the world, but instead a land that gives us purpose.

The Jewish people have always maintained a deep historical, spiritual, cultural, social and economic connection with their ancestral land since the beginning of their collective memory. Even through their diaspora, Jews kept a strong and unique relationship with their land, as the Jewish identity is fundamentally rooted to this specific land. Indeed, returning to Israel was and is at the center of Jewish identity.

Because of this unique and deep connection to their homeland, Jews throughout millenia did not envision Israel to be a land in which to hide, but a place in which to prosper. It is ultimately only in Israel that the Jews can continue the story our ancestors began. Our prayers, traditions and rituals all revolve around this specific land. Even the Hebrew calendar follows the agricultural cycle of Israel. In fact, most Jewish holidays are land-based, like Sukkot (the “harvest festival”) and Tu BiShvat (“the Jewish new year of trees”). Additionally, the majority of mitzvot can only be completed in Israel.

It is clear that the Jewish people see their land as one in which they have a purpose—and not a purpose simply to exist, but also to individually and collectively spread light, and to inspire other nations.

Israel is not merely a destination. It is our destiny. To limit Israel to being merely a safe haven is to limit the Jewish people and Israel’s mission in this world. Leaders today should encourage Jews in the diaspora to revisit our Jewish narrative and unique connection to our homeland. They must remind Jews around the world why Israel is our “favorite room.” Let’s shift the conversation so that newer generations can connect more deeply with the Jewish homeland in order to create real change.

Celine Rouben is an attorney and activist whose goal is to empower Jews in the diaspora by strengthening their Jewish identities and by teaching Israel’s story from the lens of our Jewish narrative.