The Burma Road

November 1947, the United Nations voted to establish two states in Palestine: one Jewish, the other Arab. Jerusalem was to remain a united, international city, independent of either proposed state. In spite of this decision, by early 1948 the Jewish sector of Jerusalem found itself under siege by Arab forces and suffered shelling and bombardment for many weeks. Eventually, Israeli forces secured a narrow strip of mountainous land (the Burma Road), which connected the Jewish part of Jerusalem to the rest of Israel, and the siege was broken.



The story of the “Burma Road” has everything to do with the period of establishing the State in 1948.


Though the State of Israel had been declared in the U.N., the fate of that state was not assured. This battle, in the struggle for Jerusalem, was essential in order to allow the declaration to become more than words.


There were times in our nation building when all seemed so difficult if not impossible. There were times when it is appeared wiser to be “realistic” and to not take on impossible challenges. There were those who advised such realism in the face of impossible odds. But others understood that without an attempt to achieve the impossible or at least the improbable that the nation would not come to fruition. In other words there was not a choice. Such is the story of the Burma Road. Such is the story of “Micky Marcus.” Such is the story of the Burma Road.

David Mickey Marcus

Some might see in this story something of the miraculous. If a miracle is succeeding against all odds, then indeed this is a miracle.

But there are measurable and non supernatural values that this site must raise for us.

*There is a Jewish Israeli value called “Ayn Bereira” (Nor other choice). This value has everything to do with this outnumbered, overpowered nation in the War of Independence.

*There is a value to be distinguished here of having to do with commitment to a greater cause that required seeing beyond what is normally defined as realistic.

*There is a value expressed here having to do with the phrase: “Im Itrzu Ayn Zo Agada” ( if you will it , it is not a dream) or nothing can stand before the will and commitment of determined people.

*The symbolic significance of Jerusalem to the emerging nation is a value that must emerge here.

*The meaning of compromise and where one draws the difficult line, as well as where and when flexibility must reign supreme is a value to be considered here.

All of the values that emerge from the experience of hiking and or visiting this site are rooted in Judaism and in Israel and contain crucial lessons for the lives of our tourists as well as young Israelis today. These are urgent and significant messages for the nation of Israel as it faces its future in the region

Source on biography of Mickey Marcus:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/marcus.html

Loving Israel חיבת ציון David Forman z”l

There are cloudy days my friend

Just remember not to forget our direction

To keep the connection alive, even when it is cloudy

In your heart, in your deepest inner self, you know

You know where the compass is, where north is.

Don’t lose hope

Keep your smile

Keep your passion

No, this is not a tragedy

It’s a bit cloudy now even worrying

But tomorrow the skies will clear and the stars will reappear on the horizon and sparkle.

יש ימים מעוננים חבר, רק לזכור לא לאבד את הצפון

לשמור על קשר גם כשמעונן

בתחושה שלך, בתוך תוכך, אתה יודע

יודע איפה המצפן, יודע איפה הצפון

לא לאבד תקווה

לשמור על החיוך

לשמור על הפאסון

לא... זה לא אסון

קצת מעונן, קצת אביך

מחר יתבהר, ינצנצו כוכבי מרום

ובאה לציון הגאולה

And Israel will redeem itself

A blog by Rabbi Lee Diamond

“David Forman’s love of Zion was expressed in his ongoing efforts to make Israel an exemplary society,” “He didn’t let his love of Israel get in the way of his criticism of it, nor did he let his criticism of the state ever cast a shadow over his love of it.”
Gil Kariv describes David Forman z”l

In recent days the clouds have covered the sky, day clouds and night clouds

And it is hard to see the sun, the moon and the stars

And I feel pain.

No it is not the pain that one feels when isolated by a hostile world.

Nor is it the pain that one feels about political realities in our Israel.

It is not the pain of threatening enemies

It is a far greater pain.

It is the deepest pain of all.

The feeling of isolation from my Jewish and Israeli family

from my brothers and my sisters of peace; from my friends of Shalom

No one asks that we avoid the clouds. We must be seen for what they are

No one asks that we not worry. We must worry lest we fail ourselves.

But we need to understand that we can not escape

Nor lose hope

Nor forget that Jewish life, history and values are works in progress.

That to be Jewish is to maintain love in the harshest of days (and these are very hard days)

And to maintain not only hope in our future but commitment to it.

For Israel’s future is in our hands alone

I met three friends in these days; brothers and sisters in Zion.

One challenged our very essence of Israel today and saw only clouds on the horizon

The other declared that it was too late for us. “Our day is past.” All hope is lost.

The third could only cry and grimace.

Like Job I feel at a loss. Even fellow lovers of Zion have lost hope. They offer themselves no comfort. The clouds distort Jewish vision to the point that we can not see a better tomorrow.

Our press paints black clouds only!

Who can bear such continuous pessimism?

Our political “left” criticizes as it should, but fails to point out the north, the compass---

the way to see ---and even more so to achieve that silver lining.

Where is the pride that brought us here?

Where are the accomplishments of 60 years, despite all odds and despite our youth?

Where the wondrous and beautiful are faces and souls of our next generation that carry the vision and who see beyond the clouds?

Why do we hide from today’s visionaries----- our own sons and daughters who indeed are the “geula”---- the redemption?

Where is the love that accompanies the search for truth?

Why not struggle to be our best rather than surrender to our failings?

It is said that the second Temple was destroyed by baseless hatred of Jew for Jew. Our tradition declares that our national loss was caused internally, by ourselves and not by our enemies. Not only Sinat Chinam or baseless hatred but self hatred—seeing only the clouds and losing faith in the vision

But it is also said of the future that: Ahavat Hinam -- Unsolicited love of Jew for Jew will bring the redemption.

David Forman’s love of Zion was expressed in his ongoing efforts to make Israel an exemplary society…He didn’t let his love of Israel get in the way of his criticism of it, nor did he let his criticism of the state ever cast a shadow over his love of it. (see above)

Let us learn from David and carry on his legacy as our living legacy.

Lee Diamond, a friend.