We are ill. And I know what being sick looks like after spending hours upon hours at the hospital 20 years ago when my mother was hospitalized with cancer.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
I saw the heavy smokers who realized the consequences of their actions too late, as well as the people who just wanted their former, imperfect lives back – just like all of us, on both sides of the divide, today.
I saw cancer patients immediately give up smoking and agree to take bitter medicine that made them incredibly nauseous. Why? Because they were devoted to getting better. The trouble with us is that we are unwilling to either stop smoking or swallow bitter medicine.
When we were a healthy nation, we remembered where we came from and where we were headed and knew we were responsible for one another.
We knew that our grandparents were heroes who preserved their Jewish identities under challenging conditions, be it in Europe or the Middle East.
When we were healthy, we saw the good in our religious brethren and read the weekly Torah portion every Friday. When we were healthy, even in our most painful moments, we did not cease to love Israel.
Our addiction is the sense of absolute justice, and we are constantly being given this drug by the media that does not even bother to maintain an image of impartialness.
For those who are absolutely convinced that they are the ones in the right, there is no chance of a dialogue on a subject as complex as the balance between the judiciary, legislative, and executive branches. Not in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and worse yet, not even among members of the same military unit, or members of a family sitting around the Shabbat table.
And the medicine is truly bitter. For those convinced of their righteousness, the compromise will feel like chemotherapy. It is hard, but we have no choice, we need to get better. We are responsible for the dreams of previous generations who sought to reach and live in our land while trying to make it work in an environment that is making it increasingly difficult to do so.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
