Excerpt from "Living History: A Memoir" by Chaim Herzog (1918-1997)

I have always believed with unquestioning faith that the State of Israel must base its existence on strong foundations if it wishes to live and thrive as a unique, ethical society. I see those foundations as the rich Jewish legacy that has preserved us through the generations, the values that underlay the Zionist undertaking here, the sound security and exonomy that enabled us to withstand the attacks of those rising up against us, and above all, moral strength creating individual and universal justice.

I cannot take Israel's independence for granted, for I have seen the Jewish people emerge from the terrifying depths of the Holocaust to ascend the heights of the State of Israel. During all my years in the military, in security, in politics, in the law, in journalism, in economics, in diplomacy, and in government, I was inspired by my belief in the eternity of Israel and the compulsion to work toward it. Beyond every setback I see the saga of remarkable achievements in every field of life. The tragedies that befell the Jewish people in my lifetime have no equal. But our victories have surpassed the dreams of generations. That is why one can dream, one should dream. One must dream.

Chaim Herzog, born in Belfast, was the son of a Chief Rabbi. At 17, he left Ireland to establish a Jewish homeland in what was then British-controlled 'Palestine.' Herzog fought in WWII for the British Army, then returned home to fight the British for Israel's independence. He headed the General Staff of Intelligence for the Israel Defense Forces when that was created in 1948, became Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and served as the sixth President of the State of Israel. He died of heart failure as a result of pneumonia at age 79 and was laid to rest Erev Shabbat, 11 Nisan 5757, April 18, 1997. May his memory be a blessing. .הכרבל ונורכז

• An Israeli is someone who knows what's better for you than you do.
• An Israeli is someone who goes to Cyprus for the weekend and has his entire family waiting for him at the airport when he gets back.
• An Israeli is someone who sits in his living room and uses his cellular phone to call his wife in the next room and tell her to bring some sunflower seeds.
• An Israeli is someone with a million excuses as to why he couldn't do whatever it was you asked of him.
• An Israeli is someone who will drive two and a half hours to save 5 shekels by shopping at the shuk -- but when he gets back to his car he'll find a parking ticket for 10 shekels.
• An Israeli is someone who signals left, but turns right.
• An Israeli is someone who'll curse you at a stoplight, cut in front of you in line, recognize you from the army if you bump into him abroad, and start up a conversation with you if you're sitting across from him in the Kupat Holim (health clinic) waiting room.
• An Israeli is someone who hopes for the best and prepares for the worst.
• An Israeli is someone who spits his cigarette out his car window in Israel and in the next breath complains that the streets abroad are much cleaner than the ones at home.
• An Israeli is someone who will praise and support you only after you're dead.
• An Israeli is someone who will do anything to get out of reserve duty in times of peace, and will do anything to be able to serve in times of war.
• An Israeli is someone who isn't embarrassed to ask how much money you make.
• An Israeli is someone who knows the answer before you ask the question.
• An Israeli is someone who can bankrupt an 'all you can eat' restaurant.
• An Israeli is someone who does not know how to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you' -- but in your hour of need will walk through fire to lend you a hand.

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