A new Rivlin
Long live President Reuven Rivlin. As is always the case, there are some who claim a more worthy candidate, someone who is not part of the political echo chamber, could have been elected, and they are not wrong. As is always the case, some lament that there was another man and another woman on the ballot whose election would, like Rivlin's victory, pave the way for an upbeat presidency. Those people are also right.
Having said all that, Rivlin is a worthy choice. His qualifications match or exceed those of his rivals, and that is what counts; this is the most important thing to keep in mind. We must not engage in uninspiring analysis. What's with all the talk about how Rivlin's election was important in that it spared us all his rivals? It serves no purpose.
After the last round of applause could be heard, it was also time for a history lesson. In ancient Rome, victory parades were often held in honor of the caesar. According to some accounts, a slave would often be tasked with sitting next to the caesar and whispering in his ear, "Memento mori" or "Remember, you are mortal." This theme is very much present in Judaism, where one has to remember that his or her presence in the world is temporary. As the Talmud says, "Know where you have come from and where you are going." The 10th president was born into a well-educated family; his upbringing was imbued with the ideology of two right-wing icons, Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Menachem Begin, and the values they espoused: Jewish heritage, Jewish tradition, the love of one's homeland. This all left an indelible mark that will surely impact Rivlin's conduct over the next seven years. The Rivlin presidency will be a direct continuation of the work of his father, Professor Yosef Yoel Rivlin, who translated the Quran into Hebrew, but in many ways he will always be the man of the people, the same old Ruby.
He has been a tough nut to crack. As Knesset speaker, he had a few rough exchanges with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, owing to the fact that they were both the chief executives of two separate branches of government. They each had their own, divergent, interests. Netanyahu wanted to preside over a more streamlined and effective government; Rivlin was in charge of checks and balances, making sure there was no overreach. Submissive Knesset speakers have made prime ministers' lives easier, but this has been a disservice to our democracy. Ruby always stood tall during his speakership.
It is not easy being around Rivlin. Some of his fellow Likud legislators had a hard time voting for him, as they feared this would strengthen their rival, Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The past skirmishes are now a thing of the past. The protagonists are all grown men and women and they can all turn the page and prevent more flare-ups down the road. Unless, that is, the circumstances merit conflagrations, when a real issue is at stake.
Rivilin now has more duties to perform. He may still be a Likudnik, but he will have to keep that to himself. He is now the great conciliator who will have to transcend our strife-ridden society. He will have to be the champion of the various Jewish factions as well as of the Arab citizens.
As Haaretz reporter Gidi Weitz wrote on Tuesday, Rivlin has always taken the high road in politics, despite befriending some shady figures (think businessman David Appel). I would like to second Weitz's comments. Ruby surely hopes the convicted Appel mends his ways once he leaves prison, but he -- and what he has come to represent -- must not be seen at the President's Residence. All the Sons of Light hope there will be no darkness at the home of Citizen No. 1.
Let's hope a President Rivlin sounds soft and pleasant rhetoric from this bully pulpit, even as he champions his causes with determination and vigor; let's hope he does his utmost to bridge the socio-economic disparities and to bolster Jerusalem's image; let's hope he helps new immigrants and converts who have to go through countless hoops in their effort to become Jewish due to a hostile rabbinical establishment; let's hope he follows the same moral path that has guided him throughout his years as Knesset speaker and upholds the traditional refrain Knesset speakers use when they preside over the torch-lighting ceremonies on Independence Day: "For the State of Israel's splendor."
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