Worshiping The State Of Israel At A Leading New York Synagogue

At Park Avenue Synagogue, a prominent Conservative synagogue in New York City, the Yom Kippur service featured the rabbi offering a mini sermon about his son’s proud service in the Israel Defense Forces, saying it shows that Israel is the true Jewish home. He then had the (virtual) synagogue stand for Israel’s national anthem. Israel, rather than God, clearly appeared to be the object of worship.

Mondoweiss (October 5, 2020) reports: “Rabbi Neil Zuckerman breaks into the liturgy to explain the meaning of the Jewish exile. Then he tells of his son joining the Israeli army. ‘Because of our sins we were exiled from the land, the liturgy says. Jews have always been able to survive the pain and trauma of exile by never looking away, by always orienting ourselves toward the land of Israel, by facing home.’”

The rabbi told his congregation, “A story captures what it means to be home. In the course of my son’s training in the IDF, he was recognized as an outstanding exemplary soldier at a ceremony that took place a few months ago. A big honor, we are very proud of him. He told me that they came in from the desert to rehearse for the ceremony, and that’s when he found out he was receiving this honor...In the rehearsal, he went up to his platoon leader, the commanding officer described the award and said it was going to Jacob Zuckerman from New York. After the rehearsal he went up to his platoon leader a little agitated and said to him, ‘I am not Jacob Zuckerman from New York. I made aliyah. I’m in the IDF. My destiny is wrapped up with the destiny of the Jewish state. I am Jacob Zuckerman from Kibbutz Maori Haim.’”

The rabbi concluded, “yes, we were exiled from the land, but we have never lost our hope that we would return home and we have. Please rise if you’re able to for the Hatikvah.” The cantor then sings the Israeli national anthem with reverence. **