I have been to Israel many times in my life. The last time that I traveled there on my American passport, the Israeli airport authorities adamantly insisted that they won’t permit me to exit the country again unless I have an Israeli passport. Apparently, being the son of two Israeli citizens, I am automatically considered an Israeli as the legacy is passed on even via one parent. For the last thirty three years that I have been entering and exiting Israel, the authorities sometimes noticed this fact and made a ruckus, other times they chose to ignore it.
Now don’t get me wrong - I love our holy land and am a great supporter of its various policies and programs. Our community even raises funds annually to provide wounded soldiers with an American vacation. But I have absolutely no need for Israeli citizenship. I was born in Africa. I don’t live there, nor have I ever lived there. G-d willing I will move there with the arrival of Moshiach. So I set about annulling my Israeli citizenship, only to learn that this involves a very lengthy process that spans about a year and requires extensive paperwork. They don’t make it easy at all…
The matter was decided for me when I learnt that I must travel to Israel next week for a 24-hour stay due to the fact that I must be back in New York for Rosh Hashana. I realized that my only chance of not being detained in Israel is to own an Israeli passport. So I was forced against my will to file for my very first Israeli passport.
The matter is quite amusing when comparing to the United States’ immigration policy. If an American would decide to denounce his citizenship, the government would be more than willing to oblige. Furthermore, if one was legally entitled to U.S. citizenship and chose not to apply, the Americans would be thrilled. It is only the Israeli government that insists on every individual with even the most minor connection to Israel to obtain citizenship, and then to hold onto it.
The Baal Shem Tov taught us that from everything we experience there is a lesson to be learned. The month we currently find ourselves in is Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashana.
When two friends make a covenant of friendship, they anticipate that a time may yet arrive when they won’t feel so sympathetic toward one another and may drift apart. The bond ensures the survival of the friendship come what may.
Like two beloved friends, G-d and his people signed such a covenant thousands of years ago. On Rosh Hashana we remind G-d of the deal- even though we have sinned countless times throughout the year, even though we have strayed from His Torah, G-d cannot cast us off. Our Jewish passport can never expire. No matter what we do we will forever have our Jewish citizenship intact. It is for life and beyond. G-d loves us unconditionally and we love him in return due to the covenant we signed way back when.
So in approximately two weeks hence, when we stand in the synagogue and beg G-d for mercy, let us proudly display our Jewish passport and show G-d that Jewish citizenship is eternal, as is His covenant.