There are many ways to fall in love with Israel.

Some people discover Israel through religion. Others through history, family, politics, a first visit to Jerusalem, military service, or the simple realization that after thousands of years of exile, the Jewish people once again have sovereignty in their ancestral homeland.

My relationship with Israel began differently. It began when I was young, long before I understood politics, advocacy, antisemitism, international law, or the extraordinary amount of energy the world would one day spend arguing about this tiny country.

I simply loved Israel.

Almost an entire lifetime later, I realize how remarkable that is, because many other forms of love in my life have been considerably more complicated.

I was born with a heart that feels deeply. I notice things other people sometimes overlook. I trust, perhaps sometimes too easily. When I care about someone, I rarely do so halfway.

That has not always served me well.

I have loved people who were better at receiving love than returning it. I have been disappointed, hurt and used. Yet somehow I continued believing that the next chapter might be different.

Recently, I allowed myself to become vulnerable again.

The person was Israeli, someone I admired enormously, a man whose courage, strength and dedication represented many of the qualities I have admired in Israelis throughout my life. In my eyes, he was a hero.

Perhaps that was part of the problem.

When you have spent years defending Israel, meeting Israelis and developing enormous respect........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)