The practicality of vision: A eulogy to Shimon Peres

The legacy of Shimon Peres for many of us who are dedicated to Israel’s future is all about visions and the quest to realize them. The roots of modern Zionism, which so embodied Peres in his life along with Israel’s future, are tied to his capacity to envision. That capacity descended from Herzl to David Ben-Gurion, and from Ben-Gurion to Shimon Peres, and it is now driving a new generation of Israelis. 

Visions in Zionism have proven a powerful mobilizing force. These were visions of new realities that can and should be created, many of which we now take for granted. They include a Jewish state in the land of Israel, the ingathering of the Diasporas, self-defense and self-definition — all of which were far-fetched dreams just a century ago. 

These visions inspired millions to take action: Some sat on a stool and milked cows, while others started a university; some built a kibbutz and others settled in a city; some donated money and others risked their lives. And the sum of this collective action changed Jewish history.  

Visions generate powerful dynamics. They inspire and mobilize people to take action; they energize new coalitions and collaborations among surprising allies; they raise opposition and steer adversity; they reveal resources that were hidden; they evolve. 

Visions are like intellectual startups: they begin in the mind of one person or a small group; they need partnerships, funding and structure; the journey is a grueling marathon; 1 in 100 will affect reality, and 1 in 10,000 will eventually materialize, in defiance of great forces. 

And Peres was a person of visions and perpetual envisioning. The vision of an invincible Israel led to the Dimona project; the vision of peace led to the Oslo process; the vision of an inclusive Israel led to his extensive engagement with Israel’s periphery; and the vision of Israel’s scientific prominence inspired his work on nanotechnology and brain research. 

In the Israeli public sphere, often inundated with cynicism and politicization, Peres was the one outstanding politician who legitimized the art of envisioning and the pursuit of a dream. In his presence or under his auspices, it was allowed and expected to discuss bold moves, to explore ethics and morality, to free oneself from the constraints of the present and to dream big about an Israel that is not only secure and prosperous but also a 21st-century light unto the nations through a model society of growth, development and social justice. 

For me, this is the keystone of his legacy.

Gidi Grinstein is the founder and president of the Reut Group, an Israeli nonprofit strategy and innovation group. He is the author of “Flexigidity: The Secret of Jewish Adaptability.”