July Fourth – With Liberty and Justice (and Questions) for all!

Today I am thinking of delivery/deliverance.  



US flag waves at Ellis Island

 

- On this day some years ago, my only child was born in the city of Brotherly Love where our Declaration of Independence was signed



Portrait of George Washington at the Old State House in Hartford, CT



-and of course, on this day our country was delivered from colonial rule towards Independence (in that city of Brotherly Love). 



Red Coats hang at John Adams' homestead in Quincy, MA



-Only days ago a friend’s daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl while my own daughter was safely delivered “on eagle's wings”, as they say, to the Land of Israel, Eretz Yisrael, declaring on a voicemail message “Hi guys, I’m in Israel!” 

 

Delivery: bringing a child into the world, into civilization; birthing a democratic society; bringing one culture to another (and back again)!

The alignment of so many profound gems can really pull at the heart strings and invite introspection. 

What does it mean to belong to a country, to have citizenship?  What do we really understand about freedoms that we have in our democracy and what do we take for granted?  What obligations do we have towards others; fellow citizens, visitors, immigrants and illegal immigrants?   Do we have Jewish voice(s) in this country?  What does that mean? How best should we use those voices? What are our obligations to Israel, a place where all Jews are eligible for citizenship?   What civic values do we want to pass on to our children?

July fourth is best celebrated when we stop to ponder its questions.  May yours be one filled with peace, liberty, justice, and happiness and yes, plenty of questions.