The Message of Spring
By Berel Wein

(April 27) The month of Nissan is the month of aviv - of
spring. The matchless poetry of Shir Hashirim, which was
read in the synagogue this past Shabbat, describes in
wonder the end of the winter and the coming of springtime.

The renewal of nature in spring hints at our ability to renew
ourselves. 

I stare in amazement at the plants in my flower box on the
balcony. All winter long, they were modest, even puny.
The plants did not have flowers and in general they looked
pretty drab. 

Now, the plants have sprouted flowers of orange and red,
and the flower boxes are a riot of color, pleasing to the eye
and soothing and inspiring to the spirit. I am refreshed and
renewed by the response of nature to the arrival of spring.
I would like to renew myself as well. 

The Jewish people and the State of Israel, in particular,
have been in a long winter for the past three decades. 

The Yom Kippur War and its aftermath, the intifada, the
cold peace with Egypt and Jordan, the disappointing
results of the Oslo agreements, the Rabin assassination and
its bitter recriminations, the lack of heroic figures on our
political scene, all have combined to dampen our spirits
and raise doubts about our future. 

The continuing wave of assimilation and intermarriage that
has lessened our numbers and influence in the Western
World shows no sign of abating. And the mood here in
Israel is one of discontent - with our government, with each
other, with ourselves. 

We need to rally our spirits, to renew our idealism, to
believe again in ourselves and our future. Otherwise,
springtime will never really come for us. 

The source of much of the malaise that affects us is the
slavish worship of a false humanism that destroys our spirit
and pride. In being universal and humanistic, we are
undermining our belief in self and our unique role. It is hard
to be idealistic and committed, to be willing to sacrifice and
be motivated, if we convince ourselves that we are just like
everyone else. 

The IDF admits that the morale of its troops is not what it
once was. The main goal of Israelis, apparently, is not to
be considered a freier (sucker). 

Just listen to the radio ads for different services being
offered - they all contain the implicit, if not explicit,
message not to be a freier. Never do a favor, never let
anyone in ahead of you in line or in traffic, never accept
discipline from anyone else. 

Now, if that is the attitude of general society, then why
should anyone ever volunteer to help others or to be
idealistic in public service or the army? Extreme humanism
is so "me"-centered that it negates the broader picture of
our society and its future in favor of a narrow piety of
current correctness. 

This attitude has brought only war and destruction to the
western world over the past centuries. It is the attitude that
underlies the doctors' strike and the civil service strike and
all of the other acts of petty selfishness that mar our self
respect. 

THE arrogance of humanism is frightening. It is this
arrogance that allows it to ignore all past experience and
be so smugly confident in imposing its dictates on everyone
else. By slavishly following its precepts, we guarantee that
we will still have a long winter ahead of us. 

Abraham Lincoln, at a terrible moment in American
history, prayed for a rebirth of freedom in that country.
Though that rebirth has as yet not been completed,
Lincoln's words set a tone that has propelled America
forward ever since. 

We also need a rebirth of freedom, of compassion, of
gentility and idealism. We should stop fooling ourselves as
to the realities of our lives and national existence. 

All of the old ideals that brought us here are in deep winter
hibernation. The sanctity of labor has succumbed to the
tyranny of the union bosses. The gap between the poor
and the wealthy widens and the old goals of social and
financial equality are forgotten. 

The hope for a more unified and tolerant society is dashed
by the single-issue fanatics that abound. The faith and
traditions of Israel that have sustained us through the long
winter of our exile are ridiculed and derided. We truly need
a rebirth of hope and idealism, faith and freedom - and we
need it immediately. 

I am heartened by the blooming flowers in my balcony
flower boxes. They tell me that the winter is over and
spring is here. They boost my spirits and allow me to
believe that the rebirth of the Jewish people in the Land of
Israel is also as certain as spring following winter. 

It is inconceivable to me that having come such a long and
painful way in the last century, we should now falter.
Somehow, someone will arise to say the right words to us,
to point us in the right direction and to allow us to 
believe again. 

What is now dull and barely green will yet bloom with
bright flowers. We need only take our cues from spring.