We have the privilege of building it.

I don't think I'll ever get over looking up on the highway and seeing this glorious flag blowing in the wind.

This particular one was enormous. Larger than my SUV. The hot wind was blowing so hard that it had enough power to open the entirety of the flag so that it was fully extended in the sky.

For the novel I'm (please God) finishing this summer, I spent many years intensely studying different moments in Jewish history. Mostly challenging ones were our existence, and certainly, sovereignty was challenged.

Sometimes I feel like half of my headspace is living in the present, and the other half is with my characters some-time else.

So on a regular day, when I'm driving down the road and I look up and see this beautiful sight, I don't take it for granted.

When I read the news about what is happening to Jewish life all over the world, the rise of antisemitism, and attacks on Jews, the fear and violence and shrinking of our feelings of safety...

When I think about how we are right now in Israel, trying to have a summer while waiting to see if war will erupt here again...

I am just reminded by this flag that our circumstances have changed.

It reminds me that history changed.

Not because Jewish life suddenly became easy. It's not.

But because we have a home.

We are no longer a people waiting for someone else to decide whether we may live in safety.

We have our ancient homeland back.

We have the responsibility of defending it.

We have the privilege of building it.

And I don't think I'll ever get over the sight of our flag flying over it.