By Mara Chaben
This past week, we went to Bar Ilan University to hear from Dr. David Passing, one of the world’s most innovative thinkers in futuristic studies. Futuristic studies is the study of logical curves to predict demographics in the future.
While I don’t think I’ll be the next futuristic scientist, Dr. David Passing presented a concept that really resonated with me. I have been, am and will be on this earth for a very small amount of time in comparison with total human existence and it just so happens that I was born during the existence of a Jewish, democratic state. The idea that Israel exists is obvious but until now, my appreciation for this country has generally been taken for granted. Dr. David Passing reminded me that I am living in a dream of many, many suffering Jews that eventually became a reality. I think back to stories about my grandpa’s grandparents and how they also once imagined this dream but because a Jewish state was not a reality for them, they immigrated from the pale settlement in Russia to Detroit, Michigan when anti-Semitism got too brutal to withstand. Simply because of precise timing, this dream is a reality for me. And I am living it.
A role model I met in Israel taught me the Jewish calendar is lunar. When we declare a new moon, we declare a new month. And a new month is declared when the moon is at its tiniest sliver—not when it’s full and bright at the middle of the month, not when the moon is at its most spectacular moment— but rather when it is at it’s weakest.
Sometimes I find myself caught up in the idea of Israel’s existence- hearing about the ongoing conflict and tensions. But it is in this time when I must remember that Israel is a dream come true. Every month there is a brand, new moon that presents an opportunity to remind myself how lucky I am to be living in this country. I cannot let myself “get used” to the idea that I live in a time period in which a Jewish state exists. And not to mention, with the help of futuristic studies, Dr. David Passing predicts Israel is only going to continue to grow in numbers of people for years to come.
