My Oped in the cjnews today.... On August 31, 2014 my perspective on life changed. That was the day I left for my first trip to Israel, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people and spiritual homeland of Christians; a country at war on three of its borders. I’m not sure I was prepared for how Israel would affect me, but I like how it did. From the moment the Young Leadership and Parliamentarian Mission to Israel arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, I was acutely aware of the worries over security that Israelis endure each minute of their lives. I would see this time and again at checkpoints throughout the country and on the borders of Gaza where a ceasefire had just begun, Syria (in the Golan Heights), which was under fire when we arrived, and Lebanon. Even at Qasr al-Yahud, the narrow crossing on the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, young soldiers from both Israel and Jordan kept watch. As a Canadian, I hope we never take for granted our peaceful coexistence with the United States. I learned that Israelis are resilient. The constant threat of terrorist attacks and international conflict at their borders doesn’t define them. I met many generous people throughout the country who shared with me experiences and emotions that, both as a Christian and as a Canadian, I could relate to and embrace. Jerusalem, the Holy City where we spent our first three days, is idyllic. Its white stone buildings, its majestic olive trees and its serene basin are home to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. My first spiritual experience was at the Basilica of Gethsemane where our Jewish tour guide read a passage from the Bible just as the Muslim call to prayer began. It was a moment in time I will always cherish. It was a moment that was bigger than any of us. Amid the top-notch briefings on Israeli politics, security and the economy, including a visit to the Knesset which, as a parliamentarian, interested me immensely, Jerusalem offered two more humbling experiences which, quite literally, took away my breath. I knelt at the site of the crucifixion of Jesus, and I recited the Lord’s Prayer quietly at the site of the resurrection. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined my life would be enriched by such an experience. Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum, proved to be the most heartbreaking place we visited. The pile of worn shoes under the glass floor and the children’s memorial were gut-wrenching visual reminders of the hateful mass-murder of Jews in World War II. I left the place raw with emotion. For days I thought about Yad Vashem; the galleries and images of the Holocaust were etched in my mind. I also began to think of World War II on a deeper level. The atrocities of that War did more than contribute to the creation of the state of Israel – they had a profound impact on its character and national identity. In a way, that’s something that we Canadians can understand, for World War II was a significant event that helped shape our national identity too. As a Canadian, I felt a connection to Israel that was more than just spiritual. Our two countries came of age together as democracies. I once heard former Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak say that, together, “Canada and Israel are the second largest country in the world.” I left Yad Vashem knowing that was true. After Jerusalem, our delegation had the opportunity to visit the Dead Sea, Masada, and the Sea of Galilee – which was my favourite. My friend, Nova Scotia PC Leader Jamie Baillie, and I read scriptures where Jesus spoke. We visited the White Synagogue built on the remains of the Synagogue of Jesus. We bottled water from the Sea of Galilee to take back to friends and family. It was a sublime experience. As spiritual as all this was for us Christians, however, those of Jewish faith delighted in our happiness as well, just as we Christians enjoyed and appreciated our time with them at the Western Wall. By this time, our Canadian delegation had become very close-knit. We ended our tour where we started: in the vibrant, world-class city of Tel Aviv. Both modern and ancient at the same time (with the city of Jaffa within its borders), Tel Aviv is where we truly learned how well-regarded Canada is in Israel. Politicians, academics, journalists and diplomats throughout our trip thanked us for our country’s strong stand against terrorism and support for Israel. But, on the streets, at the markets and on our taxi rides, we were continually amazed at how admired Canada is by ordinary Israelis. Israel is a beautiful country: a contrast of antiquity and modernity; a state galvanized by religion but, at the same time, secular and driven by democratic values in a region where democracy is in short supply. My visit taught me as much about myself and Canada as it did about Israel and its people. Toda Raba.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:51:29 +0000
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