Shalom All,
A while back, a good friend asked me what I felt about – no less – life. Apart from the long discussion we had about family, ideals, traditions and so on, I remember saying one thing: every time I enjoy a great work of human art and creation – be it a novel, a painting, a concert, a movie, a new theory or a new artifact – I thank the Lord for the experience. The greatness of mankind, our creative ability to mold our environment, is a source of pride and joy for me. My thurst for human creation has exposed me throughout life to many great works and ideas, and has taught me lessons about mankind, good and bad: from Ceasar to Yago, from Brutus to Hamlet; from Jehuda Halevi to Natan Alterman, the list is almost endless. It's more than joy: everything that I have experienced has already been written and expressed in the creations I have learned.

And the greatest lessons of all, are these: be generous, and don't put your values and professionalism for sale. No matter where you go or what the circumstance, be generous and stick to your beliefs rather than to your seat. Always have a good word to say, even when you are criticizing, and stay faithful to yourself. In Israel we practice it enough, some haven't even learned it at all.

For the past year I have been the Director General of the Israel Dept. at the Jewish Agency for Israel. I have learned that the Agency is one of the most important organizations the Jewish people has, and that it does many wonderful, impactful projects, usually undervalued and overlooked, but nonetheless crucial to the continuity of Zionism. This experience, though, has been covered with so much noise that during the past few months I have asked myself again and again what it is all for.

A few nights ago I had a reminder of what it is all for, and of proportions. 560 young scouts, aged 9 to 18 and part of one of Israel's most successful youth movements, gathered in Macabim to celebrate the opening of the year. Flowing with energy, creativity, love of who, what and where they are, they managed to erase some of the more unnecessary events I have had during the past year. And most important: they were loving, kind and filled with basic, strong Zionist values.

It has been a very interesting year, and I must say – a year of value clarification. The ideology, vision and especially hard work and dedication of my forefathers, a unique combination from which I have stemmed; simple, everyday Zionism and Jewish narrative have been strengthened in a way I couldn't have imagined. They are all expressed in my first full-length novel in English, "Yahrzeit", published by Geffen and which will be on the bookshelves around the world toward Hannuka. If you don't want to understand these values or if they are foreign to you, don't buy it – it's not for you. If you want a personal account of what it took to create this incredible, harsh and difficult state of ours, about the fullfillment of visions and about love and generosity – read it and better yet, give it to your children. I hope it will help them connect with a bit more understanding to the dream we are so desperately trying to realize in this corner of the earth.

This will be my last Rega note from this address. I thank you all for the countless, amazing and beautiful words you sent me every single week, as well as for the strong support and love I have been recieving during the past week: I have collected them and cherish each one. Those of you who wish to continue writing, reacting and discussing, can write me at: liatbendavid@hotmail.com.

Thank you again and God bless,

Liat