Ceremonial events like the swearing-in of President Isaac Herzog come with the frequency of a national circadian rhythm. Another farewell speech is made by outgoing President Reuven Rivlin as another high-ranking official takes their oath of office. Once again, trumpets blare and marching ensues, as, on occasion, a new character is cast in the lofty role. This time, it was Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy who eloquently conducted Herzog's inauguration in line with Israeli tradition.
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Herzog has entered the role at a time not of societal rifts and all the other sociological diagnoses Israel's presidents have proven to be experts of late, but at a time in which the diplomatic echelon suffers from an absence of leadership. In practice, there is no national leadership in Israel, there are only officials. This is Herzog's biggest challenge. As president, he can fill the void. There is a sense, both from his speech Wednesday as well as the various signals he has sent of late, that Herzog has opted for a nationalist stance. Reconciliation and unity are good, but lowering the flames will not be enough, and Herzog knows it.
Do you want to lower the flames? The president has the power to prevent appointments he must sign off on. These are things of a practical nature. The president is tasked with a number of practical authorities, and by adhering to the spirit of consensus, Herzog can contribute to that same nationalist, stately consensus he spoke of in his inauguration speech.
Herzog will be entering the President's Residence with his wife, Michal. That is a welcome change. While they are no longer a young couple, they live the full lives of a family. While Herzog comes from a family of impressive Israeli figures, as does his wife Michal, he alone bears the responsibility of the role. From his late father Chaim, who served as Israel's sixth president, Herzog surely learned that putting out fires on the national level was highly important work. Those who can put out fires do not need to lower the flames. Nevertheless, the impressive last portion of his speech, which was filled with pathos, left many with the sense Herzog himself has also grown enamored with the "rifts" and "tribes" in Israeli society. There is a sneaking suspicion these definitions provide the president with a national role not defined in the law. Since there is supposedly agreement over the presence of these rifts, no one doubts the president's authority to engage in "unification."
The truth is that the Jewish people tend toward unity. Small and poisonous forces are capable of tearing society apart. Herzog can continue the path of his uncle Yaakov Herzog, an Israeli diplomat, who as his nephew noted, knew the power of political wisdom. Words, after all, have the power both to unite and to triumph.
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