Israel is 60, Too

May 14, 1948 - Israel was born. They have been celebrating over there for this past week which is because of the date on the Jewish Calendar. It was the 5th day of Iyar on that calendar. That would have been last Saturday (May 10) so the official celebration was moved up two days to Thursday May 9.

I have been to Israel twice in my life. First my wife and I spent a month there in 1973, barely leaving two months before the Yom Kippur War. It was quite an experience. In 1980 I hosted a 10-day tour that was powerful and moving as two of the personal highlights were leaving a prayer for then unborn "baby Lehman" between the stones of the Western Wall and planting a tree in her honor.

A year later the seemingly endless procession of uprisings and terrorism and war started up. I have not been back since. I am sure I would not recognize many places for better and worse.

I get deeply conflicted by the situation in Israel and the Middle East. But this is not the post to do that in. I wish Israel a Happy 60th. It has not been an easy life due both to things they have done as well as things beyond their control.

As the Psalms remind me, though, I do pray for the peace of Jerusalem.