For her last trip abroad as Germany’s leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel chose to visit Israel, a clear indication of her unequivocal commitment to this country. The trip was cancelled at the last minute because of the government collapse in Afghanistan and the urgent need to evacuate refugees, but in this, too, Merkel recognized Germany’s debt to history. On Sunday there will be elections for the German parliament, the Bundestag, and for the first time in 19 years Merkel will not be at the helm of the Christian Democratic Union. Thus, an exceptional term of office that began in 2005 comes to an