Festive dinner with Refuseniks and with border police soldiers at the Tu Bishvat party, 1973

Knesset Speaker Yisrael Yeshayahu:

Last Thursday was the 15th of Shvat, which is the Knesset’s birthday, “The new year for this fine tree, that we have planted at the order of past generations and for future generations to come” – as the saying of the first Speaker of the Knesset, the late Joseph Shprinzak. Past speakers have set it as a holiday for the Knesset. This year, the Knesset’s holiday is celebrated together with the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel, as the state’s independence and the establishment of the Knesset are both sides if the same coin: The state’s independence on one side and the people’s sovereignty on the other.

Our heart is not given to celebration at the moment. Much work and great concerns are lying before us from within and from the outside. We will therefore celebrate for a short hour, in which we will rise and look at “what our small nation has accomplished” and to thank our god “for the salvation and for the change” that occurred in our times. There is no doubt that even without counting and weighing each of our efforts individually, a wide and exhilarating vision will be revealed before us of success that has never been seen before. All that exists and all that is real is spread before us across this land; and what we have accomplished is the realization of the dreams of the visionaries, the ambitions of the revivers, and the aspirations of those in exile, throughout the generations.

We are extremely critical towards ourselves and our actions, and good that it is so. An honest self-examination, as piercing and peace-tearing as it may be – it cleanses and provides warning of the danger of misdoings or errors, which accompany any work. But do we not have actions that are not criticized? The great deeds, the glorious achievements and the beautiful success stories – where are they? Who imposes upon us to ignore them; should we not pay attention to them? It seems to me that in our times of celebration we are entitled to be happy with our actions and successes, raise them and draw inspiration and faith from them, and yet not to be satisfied with them and continuously aim for their amendment and improvement.

One of the achievements we take pride in is the essence of the Knesset, the house of representatives and legislators of the State of Israel. This is not the right time to look into the matters of the Knesset itself, the plans and actions, or the criticism each of us has on its manners and activities. When the Knesset budget will be brought for second and third readings, the Knesset will hold a full discussion regarding itself. But it is clear that above all the Knesset is not only the spine of Israeli sovereignty, but it also commits carries out its work with dignity and faithfulness. It legislates laws, supports the government, sets rules and principles, and determines the regulations in all walks of life of the people and the state. The citizens of Israel and the world Jewry all follow the discussion in our Knesset with great interest, and with unhidden pride, and many come to watch it execute its authority. The Knesset also holds its own criticism – sometimes simple and sometimes meticulous – over the actions, methods and tendencies. The public and the media also criticize, but while their criticism is optional, the Knesset’s is obligatory. And the Knesset’s audits have greater qualities, as the reviewer and the reviewed are found face to face, while one shares his claims and the other responds. Matters are being cleared and straightened out, and the aspects of both sides reflect three tablets, as if carved on a rock: The tablet of vision and expectations, the tablet of actions, and the tablet of criticism.

From the sitting place of the Speaker, the Knesset is seen throughout its discussions and debates, both tranquil and temperamental, as an essence that is complete. From this vantage point one can see the variety of opinions, the differences and contradictions among parliamentary groups, those that are real and those that are fictitious. Nevertheless, one can see with great clarity the mutual basis, the unifying, the things cherished by all, all that concerns the respect for human rights, for maintaining one’s liberty and dignity, and for the respect of the law; the concern for the individual’s affairs and needs, for the prevention of deprivation, for closure of gaps, and all of these are being done while attending to the general wishes; the anxiety for human life, public well-being and to the defense of the state; the willingness to protect the country and its citizens from any assault, and the intense aspiration for true peace.

Our generation was given what it was given not only by its own rights. It has been preceded by many generations of those who wished for salvation and encouraged the messianic era, especially the last three generations in particular; on the basis that has been molded by the those who came first, the layers of the Jewish state have been built in this generation, and the hope of many generations began to come true.

The State of Israel was established by the force of the struggles and wars that have been imposed on us prior to 1948 and since; but we must remember and remind that the beginning of its growth and the depth of its roots are found in the stubborn struggles and pioneering acts that were committed in pain and in patience and with much work, for over one hundred years. It is possible to say that the State of Israel is over one hundred years old, and that the last 25 years have been a higher stage that was established for its growth and power. Those efforts and actions are being carried on to this day, and the work is not yet over. They have come and continue to come in seven aspects:

A) Jewish Aliyah to the country – that has never stopped – until it became a gathering of the Diaspora, as in the prophets’ vision. Entire exiled communities have come to the country from the east and the west, and together with their predecessors and descendants we are now approaching a population of three millions; our eyes now look onto the mass immigration that will come from the Soviet Union, from the west and from the Arab countries.

B) Settlement in the land that is spread in the plains and the mountains, in the desert and the wilderness, in the valleys and in the regions, and filled them with cooperative settlements, Kibbutzim and farming communities – from Merom Golan in the north and down to the edge in the south. It also leveled sands and built blossoming cities and prosperous towns; and there are still wide areas of wilderness waiting to be fertilized.

C) Organization of the political and communal life on a democratic basis, beginning with the First Zionist Congress initiated by Dr. Herzl, who had seen in his vision not only the “Bourbon Hall,” but also the Israeli parliament – our Knesset – and so it was done with the establishment of “Knesset Yisrael” in pre-state Eretz Yisrael, and later in the State of Israel.

D) Defense over individuals and property and defending our right to make Aliyah to this country, live in it and establish our political independence. This was a great change in the life of the Jewish people, who were prohibited for generations even to learn archery. This change began in hiding places by small numbers, and now we have the Israel Defense Forces – a remarkable, excelling, trained and equipped army that is prepared to defend our existence and independence.

E) Manual and spiritual labor, as the Jewish people have adapted themselves with independent hard labor, as much as needed for the construction of the country and the strengthening of its economy; we are now in the midst of an industrial and technological development high, and we are faced with meaningful challenges of production and marketing, as well as catching up to the scientific and technological development in developed countries.

F) Resurrection of the Hebrew language and culture. This is a wonderful operation that has no similarity, that brought about the unification of immigrants from all cultures and native tongues, and turned them into one people that speak one language and are being inspired by the wealth of Israeli culture from all generations, along with the best of international intellectualism.

G) Education, knowledge and research. In the education that is provided to the children of Israel, of all streams and levels, from kindergarten and ulpan and up to the universities, yeshivas, and higher institutes of science and research.

We are faced with many problems and concerns from within and from external factors; on the outside – we are still far from achieving peace between us and our neighbors. Even the hatred for the Jewish people changed its old form and has taken a new form of grudge, for we are victorious over our enemies and have ceased to need shelter and mercy. The stubbornness of the Arabs towards us is also derived from their lack of acceptance that the Jews, who were once under their patronage, had become their own rulers.

And within – our social life have been somewhat distorted in recent years due to the wealth of a few, and due to the phenomenon of a pretentious and squandering lifestyle in parts of the public. It is also because we have yet succeeded in minimizing the gaps between the different layers in our society. There are even worrying manifestations in the spiritual and cultural fields, in which there is a retreat from values of our heritage and the disowning of Jewish and Israeli assets.

Despite it all, the total sum of the achievements we have come to is astounding, and the whole world, friends and enemies together, are mesmerized by them. And so are we.

Beyond the crown of our achievements there are two which are the top of the top: The first – the upright standing of the Jewish people and the shine of their spark. This is said not only of Israel and the Jewish communities in the free Diaspora, but also of the Jewish people still found in poverty and distress, because of the cruelty of the rulers they live under. Even these Jews speak to their torturers with pride and maintain their good spirits in their sufferings, due to the resurrection and establishment of the State of Israel on the world map.

And the other achievement – the complete release of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Its development and construction is being done speedily and to an extent that has not been seen maybe since the days of King Uzziah.

My fellowmen, the route we have come through has been sanctified in each of our steps by the blood and lives of thousands of protectors, warriors and liberators, as well as millions of tortured and prosecuted in exile. As we celebrate this holiday let us cherish them, for their bravery and sacrifice has given us all that we have and all that we take pride in.

As we pass the threshold to the 25th year, let us continue and aim our hearts at peace with our neighbors, and let us continue and signal our people in the Diaspora to make Aliyah. We will continue to do all that is needed to stand up to the tasks facing our generation. Let it be willed that we have the ability and motivation, the faith and faithfulness, to continue in assembling the Diaspora and handle its absorption and unification into one; in fertilizing the wilderness and the desert; in establishing our economic independence; in forming our society as an educated and cultural society that is based on justice and equality for all.

Let us send a wish of strength and courage to the President of the State; to the Prime Minister, who just returned from a highly significant journey; to all ministers; to the commanders of the IDF and its soldiers, wherever they are, and to all those in charge of our internal and external defense; to our prisoners held by the enemy in Egypt and Syria; to the settlers on the mountains, valleys and their surrounding areas; to all settlers, workers and creators; to all the inhabitants of Israel and its new immigrants; and to the Knesset employees for their dedicated and faithful work.

And last is my blessing to all of you, and let us bless each other with the words: “Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.”

I hereby invite the Members of the Knesset and our guests to take part in the reception that will be held tonight at eight, in the Knesset building.

The next sitting of the Knesset – tomorrow at 10:00. This sitting is adjourned.