L'Havdeel

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A friend commented that the UN has a gift shop with "gifts from all over the world." Interestingly enough, and of all things, Israel has chosen as its gift, a havdalah set. (So he said). I wonder if they or anyone else recognized the irony. Havdalah is proclamation recognizing that there are distinction and separations. These distinctions yield boundaries between light and dark, holiness and profanity, as well as Israel and the nations. Yet here Israel is, trying to be included as one amongst many (to varying degrees of success or lack thereof), when clearly Israel is distinct and different from the nations. And so the (subconscious?) choice of a Havdalah set, the choice of havdalah, separation, is what is presented as its representative and its gift to the inclusive union of nations. Sing it with me, "Well, isn't it ironic...yeah I really do think."