“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.” – British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, November 2, 1917
If a mere 67 words could change the prospects of a people and offer hope for a Jewish homeland, it’s difficult to argue that the Balfour Declaration achieved everything that Theodor Herzl and Chaim Weizmann, the founding fathers of political Zionism, could have ever hoped for.
On our Jewish Link publishing date this week, November 2, we mark with pride and gratitude to Hashem that Sir Arthur James Balfour’s letter to Baron Walter Rothschild, a leader of the Jewish community, set the gears in motion for a national home for the Jewish people 100 years ago.
Indeed, November is a turning point month for the State of Israel. It was on November 29, 1947 when UN Resolution 181 called for the partition of Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab State. It was in November, 1948 when a little airline called El Al was incorporated into business. And it was in November, 1977 when Anwar Sadat became the first Egyptian leader to visit Jerusalem and address the Knesset.
Still with all of these positives, November, 1975 can never be forgotten as the time the UN Resolution 3379, a bill equating Zionism with racism, easily passed.
Through its short history, Medinat Yisrael has ostensibly defended its right to exist, be it through damning language in the UN, the outright existential threats from Iran to every Hamas rocket hitting the Southern Negev from Gaza.
Yet that Israel connected to 1917 has grown as a world leader in technology, agriculture, military, education and so many other areas.
With every Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah flight. With every life changing Birthright trip. With every trip to the airport we take to watch our children leave to learn in yeshiva or seminary. All of these milestones are contained in that century since Balfour.
It shouldn’t go by as just any other day. Because in Israel’s history as well as the history of the Jewish people, November 2, 1917 was one of those dates that would change the world.
By Phil Jacobs – JLNJ Associate Editor
