Many Holocaust survivors who established families in Israel describe themselves as victors; for victory seems to be a matter of consciousness, at least as much as it is a military achievement.
The root of the Hebrew word for victory (nitzachon) is eternity (netzach), as if victory were the act of being eternal. The prophecies of redemption and eternity of the Jewish people — one of which will be read as the Haftarah for Israel’s Independence Day — do not concern military victories but rather the values that should order the world, such as peace, truth, and justice.
Just as Holocaust survivors have prevailed over their families’ murderers by virtue of insisting on life and rebuilding the land; and just as those returned from captivity can feel victorious for preserving hope and faith; so too can Israel be triumphant insofar as we focus on the ethical, spiritual, and moral significance of our existence. This is our connection to eternity; the path to victory; and a worthy celebration of Israel’s renewed independence.
