Israel, our beloved Israel, is turning 60 years old, so young for a modern state. It has accomplished so much and is consistently challenged. With its young voice, it  speaks to the Jews of the world, who hear that voice with our hearts. Israel is growing and learning, and the country is still so young.

Sitting on a foundation of text and covenant, Israel should enjoy its Day of Independence as we share with it our understanding of Jewish text and the number 60. The Talmud and midrash express so many thoughts about this number that we are able to offer Israel our blessings for this wonderful year with ancient insights.

Sixty is for renewal. While the waters of the flood of Genesis rained for 40 days and nights, we learn that they drained in 60 days.

Sixty is for guardianship. As Jacob, our patriarch, is returning to the ancient land of Israel, we learn that 60 myriads of angels escort him home.

Sixty is for spirituality. We learn that while the Shchinah will rest upon an assembly of 10 people, She will not rest upon less than 60 myriads of angels.

Sixty is for forgiveness. The first crime of one human being against another is Cain against his brother. Cain pleads with God, stating: “Surely my sin is not greater than that of the 60 myriads of Israel who will provoke You in the wilderness.” God replies, “If I do not forgive Cain, I will shut the door in the face of all penitents.” We are forgiven.

Sixty is for leadership. Rabbi Tanhum teaches: normally a burden that is heavy for one is light for two, but can a burden too heavy for 60 myriads be light for one? Now all Israel stood before Mount Sinai saying, “If we hear the Voice of God anymore, we shall die,” while Moses heard the Voice by himself and lived.

Sixty is for protection. The Song of Songs tells us that Solomon’s bed is surrounded by 60 warriors of Israel. We learn that these warriors are the 60 letters of the priestly blessing.

During one of the more challenging points in Jewish history, while we were travelling in the wilderness, the nation of Israel gathered together to volunteer their goods and their talents to build a mishkan, a place of communal spirituality. They bring donations from their heart and they give of their wealth, their vision, their skills and their talents.

When all is complete, the nation gathers together to dedicate the mishkan with sacrifices and offerings. We are told of the offerings in the Torah, and the midrash adds to our understanding: “The ram offerings were 60, the goats were 60, the lambs were 60. This number symbolizes the 60 myriads of Israel who came out of Egypt. It symbolizes the word ‘counsel’ whose numerical value is 60. It alludes to the 60 queens, to the Second Temple which was built with the dimensions of 60 by 60… to Elisha who served Israel for 60 years, to the 60 cities of Argov, to the text that states Isaac was 60 years old when his sons were born, to the 60 letters of the priestly blessing.”

As the nation of Israel gathered together for its first ritual expression from within the structure they built from their hearts, the number 60 informs the text. The rabbis teach us that at that moment, we express spiritually while understanding the value of good advice, leadership, institutions, politics and personal strife. Sixty is for balance.

Israel, our beloved modern country, sits within our hearts, within our texts, within our history and within our ancient blessings that we are privileged to utter today.

As modern Jews of the 21st century, we offer Israel our blessing with words that are thousands of years old.

What could be more fitting?