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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Speech at the International Bible Quiz |
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| 26/04/2004 |
Shalom, and Happy Independence Day.
I heartily congratulate the winners. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the entire event, but from the little I heard, your knowledge is truly astounding.
Every year I get inspired anew at the Bible Quiz: dozens of young men and women from around the Jewish world gather in Jerusalem on the State of Israels Independence Day, in order to return and connect on this day of all days to the Bible, the birth certificate and identity card of the Jewish people.
It is no coincidence that Israel is known as the Land of the Bible. Our entire connection and the connection of the Jewish people to this land begins in the verses of the Book of Books.
I must admit that I envy your knowledge of the Bible. I too love the Bible. It is a permanent fixture on my desk, and I browse through it from time to time, but I am not as familiar with it as you are. One can just be jealous. I envy your knowledge.
Since you know the Bible, you do not need a tourist guidebook. This is one of the amazing things about the Land of Israel. The names have remained the same for thousands of years. Jerusalem, our eternal and united capital remains Jerusalem. Bethlehem remains Bethlehem, and Hebron remains Hebron, the same Hebron where King David reigned for 7 years and 6 months. And of course, Jericho remains Jericho, the Jordan remains the Jordan, Rachels Tomb, Beit-El, which served as a spiritual and political center for 369 years. All these places, all these names remain. (I just mixed up Beit-El with Eli and Shilo. That is where the spiritual and political center was for 369 years.) And Mount Carmel remains Mount Carmel, and Mount Tabor remains Mount Tabor, and Mount Gilboa remains Mount Gilboa. These places have kept their names.
I read the Bible over and over again. It is a textbook for every Jew, even if he is the Prime Minister.
What a wonderful lesson on brave national leadership we receive from, for example, our teacher Moses, in the way he led the People of Israel from slavery to freedom: against all odds, despite being surrounded by enemies and despite the obstacles from within, solely by force of faith and vision. By that same force of faith and vision the State of Israel was established 56 years ago. They are the reason Israel overcame all the difficult tests it has faced during its existence. They are the reason Israel continues to this day to stride forward, faithful to the path: absorbing Aliyah, developing and building, acting and initiating steps to extricate itself from difficult situations, for a better future a future of security, peace and prosperity.
This year's theme for the Quiz was the verse from the Book of Psalms, Forever will Your kindness be built. This verse may be viewed as a wish, however I suggest we call it a binding decree: not by itself will our world be based on a foundation of kindness, and it will not by itself turn into a world in which there is attentiveness and consideration for the poor and the weak, for the stranger and the invalid, for the elderly and the widow. We are the ones who must add this principle of kindness to our world, into the society in which we live. We must act according to the decree of the Prophet Isaiah, which combines human compassion with mutual responsibility, for "when you see a naked person, clothe him; and do not hide yourself from your kin".
I must tell all the participants in the Quiz that the real prize at the Bible Quiz is not the title. The real prize is your association through the Bible with Jewish history, with your fellow people, the Jewish people, and with the State of Israel, the nation of the Jewish people, which today celebrates its independence.
And to those of you who came from all corners of the world, I would like to say one thing: immigrate to Israel. Make Aliyah. It is only here that Jews can live as Jews, and we need you now more than ever. We really need you. I hope you, your families and friends make Aliyah.
Happy Independence Day to you and all the people of Israel, here and abroad. Chag Sameach. And to you, David Tzur-el, once again, congratulations.
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