In Jewish culture, hope is considered one of the most potent tools at humanity’s disposal for fulfilling its mission of perfecting the world. Asher Ginsberg, better known by his pen-name, Achad Ha’am, was the founder of the movement known as “Cultural Zionism.” He envisioned the future state as a Jewish spiritual center; not merely a State of Jews, but a Jewish State. On this topic, he writes: “The national self of a nation is the link between its past and future. Memories on the one hand, and hope on the other. Our prophets, and later our sages, implanted in the Jew hope in the future, and to the Jew this was not a fantastic hope, but a reality. And this was the best spiritual food to sustain our life. Without this hope, the Torah (Bible) alone could not have preserved us.” With these beautiful words, Achad Ha’am illustrates how hope and Torah are inherently, and eternally, intertwined.
Source: Israel in the News
