G-d Bless America

July 4 is a time to celebrate, and it's also a time to reflect on the gratitude we feel as Jews living in America. The word “Jew” comes from the word Yehuda, which is rooted in hoda’ah, gratitude. It’s a reminder that our very identity is tied to being thankful: to G‑d, and to the people and places that do good for us. And today, there is so much to be grateful for.
When we reflect on the freedoms and opportunities America has given us, we realize that despite some upsetting situations, there has never been a better time or place to live openly and proudly as a Jew. The Rebbe often described America as a malchut shel chesed, a kingdom of kindness, that serves as a beacon of generosity and moral leadership, where Jewish people have been welcomed and embraced. But with these great blessings also comes a unique challenge: the need to preserve and deepen our identity not in spite of hardship, but amid comfort and acceptance.
No longer is our Jewish identity bound up with persecution or escape. Today in America, we are recognized, appreciated, and valued. That means the responsibility to remain deeply connected, to learn more, to understand more, and to actively participate in Jewish life, is now fully ours. In a society where we are free to choose, we must choose to be Jewish in ever more meaningful ways.
When we do so, the “goldene medina” can be truly golden for Jewish life, with opportunities that our grandparents could all but have dreamed of. 
Two of the ideals I find most inspiring about America are “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum.” This country was built on faith and trust in G‑d, which I believe lies at the heart of its prosperity. Alongside that is our value of unity, that out of many, we are one. We may not all look the same or worship the same, but we share a common destiny. It is up to each of us to do our part to keep America the greatest country the world has ever known, and make sure it is even better for our children.
The Rebbe expressed deep appreciation for the blessings America had given him, both personally and communally. It provided a safe haven for him, his wife, his mother, and his father-in-law, and became fertile ground to replant and grow the Chabad-Lubavitch movement after the Holocaust. When the Rebbe assumed leadership, his first public address was given in a small room in Brooklyn to a group of Holocaust survivors and escapees of Stalin's gulags. Today, thanks also to the blessings of this great country, Chabad has become a household name.
So today, we celebrate the extraordinary blessing that is America. We thank G‑d for it, and we pray for the continued safety, strength, and success of the leaders, warriors and citizens of this great nation. As the prophet Jeremiah said: “Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to dwell... for in its peace, you shall have peace.”