Friday, July 5th, 2024

Yesterday, I was in my home state of Massachusetts, doing something quintessentially American: I attended James Taylor’s Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood in the Berkshire Mountains. (He lives five minutes away, and this summer marks 50 years since he began this summer tradition.)

In Toronto, it’s impossible to escape the constant rhythm of anti-Semitism, so when I leave town, I experience a bit of culture shock. As I walked around yesterday, I saw no Palestinian flags, no keffiyehs, not a single T-shirt with “Free Palestine” or other Gaza slogans. Not even when I joined the thousands attending the outdoor evening concert. Just lots of red, white and blue. It felt abnormal to be so normal. In fact, this trip was, for me, drenched in nostalgia, and the absence of the anti-Semitic tension merely emphasized the throwback atmosphere.

I saw a lot of Jewish people throughout the day (I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I can generally pick out Yid’n in a crowd), but I saw no one else wearing a “Bring Them Home” dog tag like mine, or a yellow ribbon pin, Magen David necklace, or any other “Zionist” identifiers. One shopkeeper noticed my dogtag, lowered her voice and confided to me, “I’m on your side.”  As nice as it was to hear that, yes, there’s someone in the middle of nowhere who supports Israel, it was pretty disturbing to me that she felt she needed to whisper it.

My sister, who lives in the States, told me that when she wears her yellow ribbon pin, people often comment with a knowing look, “I like your pin.”  Apparently, that’s code for “I support Israel.”  Why does it need to be in code?  And why did the shopkeeper lower her voice? Why are people so uncomfortable, even in a place where there doesn’t seem to be any anti-Semitism or threatening pro-Palestinian outrage?

Putting these thoughts aside, I attended the concert – a glorious and uplifting experience, with a JT solo of “America the Beautiful” opening the second half. So moving for patriotic Americans that a number of people in the audience rose, mistaking the song for the National Anthem. Following the concert, there were Fourth of July fireworks. Fireworks in the US are a bigger deal than in Canada since, in most states, it is illegal for individuals to purchase them. Unlike Canada Day when every neighbourhood seems to have a fireworks display, the only time you see them in the US is when the local city hall has organized a fireworks event. One per town. If you’re lucky.

As I watched, spellbound, in the breathtaking New England setting, surrounded by music-lovers, an odd thing happened. I suppose it was inevitable, given the way we have all been focused on Israel since October 7. The war came into my head. Suddenly, I didn’t see the lights in the sky as celebratory, rainbow-coloured sparkles. Instead, I envisioned the barrage of rockets shot from Gaza, just as they look on the newsreels, the Iron Dome catching them, stopping them in mid-air. I thought of the innocent Israelis in the bomb shelters, or cowering for protection behind their cars if they happen to be on the road. Here I was, celebrating Independence Day in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, while my heart was in the Land of the Remarkably Brave* and the Home of Our People.  Let us continue to do all we can to help Eretz Yisrael, through prayers, words, and actions. May Our People be blessed to celebrate peaceful Independence Days with music and fireworks, and no fear.

Am Yisrael Chai!

*My calling Israelis “Remarkably Brave” is in no way meant to disrespect or diminish the bravery of American soldiers. I simply find it remarkable that in Israel, every citizen needs to be brave simply to continue living there.