by Isi Leibler
Our miniscule state enabled an ingathering of exiles from all corners of the world, providing a haven for survivors of the Shoah, refugees from Arab persecution, Jews from underdeveloped countries like Ethiopia and over a million from the former Soviet Union. Out of this melting pot Israel has created one of the most vibrant and resilient societies in the world.
The Bible quotes Balaam
describing the Jews as "a people that dwells alone and is not counted
among the nations." Alas, that aptly describes the status of the Jewish
state on the 67th anniversary of its rebirth. Yet despite enormous
challenges confronting us, we have every reason to celebrate.
Yes, Israel is the only
country in the world whose right to exist and defend itself is
continuously challenged. We have neighbors who still dream of driving
us into the sea; we face an ongoing global tsunami of anti-Semitism;
the world judges us by double standards; Israel is an oasis in a region
in which primitive barbarism reigns as hundreds of thousands of people
are butchered as a matter of routine.
But despite this, by any benchmark Israel unquestionably represents the greatest national success story of all time.
Exiled and scattered
throughout the world for 2,000 years and suffering endless cycles of
persecution and mass murder climaxing with the Shoah, the Jews
miraculously resurrected a nation state.
Since the late 19th century, Jewish idealists have been returning to their homeland and transforming deserts into gardens.
In 1947 the world was
astonished when incredibly for a brief moment, both the U.S. and the
Soviet Union unprecedentedly agreed to endorse the creation of a Jewish
state.
There were only 600,000
Jews in Palestine when the State of Israel was declared. Yet against
all odds and despite inadequate armaments and lack of military
training, fighters from the fledgling state successfully vanquished the
combined military forces of its Arab neighbors, determined to destroy
us.
Victory was not
achieved without painful sacrifice and 24 hours before rejoicing on
Independence Day, we pay tribute to over 20,000 Jews those who gave up
their lives to defend our Jewish state.
Our miniscule state
enabled an ingathering of exiles from all corners of the world,
providing a haven for survivors of the Shoah, refugees from Arab
persecution, Jews from underdeveloped countries like Ethiopia and over a
million from the former Soviet Union. Out of this melting pot Israel
has created one of the most vibrant and resilient societies in the
world.
Today we boast a thriving nation of over 8 million citizens and represent the largest Jewish community in the world.
Israel has become a
veritable economic powerhouse, emerging as the second-largest country
(after the U.S.) in high tech and startup facilities. We overcame our
water problems by an extraordinary desalinization program. And now we
are effectively energy self-sufficient and will even be exporting
surplus gas resources.
While there is room for
improvement, our social welfare structure and in particular the
medical system provides outstanding services for all Israeli citizens
without discrimination.
Culturally, we are a
pulsating country in which our ancient and sacred language has been
renewed as the lingua franca for Jews coming from totally different
cultures. There has been a dramatic revival of Torah learning with more
Jews familiar with the texts and teachings of Judaism than at any time
in our history.
Despite external
threats and terror, we remain a democratic oasis in a region of
barbarism, providing the right to vote to all citizens and guaranteeing
genuine freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
But the most incredible
transformation is that after 2,000 years as a subjugated and
persecuted people, we have become a regional military superpower. The
empowerment of the Jewish nation, the success of our people's army and
its ability to deter the combined force of all its enemies is
mind-boggling. As we face tough challenges such as the threat of a
nuclear Iran, even the mullahs realize that an attack on us would lead
to their decimation.
Although the American
people and Congress remain strongly supportive, as long as the Obama
administration remains in office, Israel may soon be denied the U.S.
diplomatic umbrella at the United Nations and the Europeans may well be
hatching further schemes to sanction us. Yet, it is mind-boggling that
our prime minister was invited three times to address Congress and on
each occasion received standing ovations. That Winston Churchill was
the only other leader honored in this manner says it all.
Lessons from our bitter
history have taught us that when the chips are down, we can only rely
on ourselves. We were initially perceived as the unfortunate underdogs.
Today, we are accused of being too powerful. Most of us concur that if
the price for being strong and independent obliges us to lose favor
with confused bleeding heart liberals, so be it. The reality is that we
are stronger today and better able to withstand political and military
pressures than ever before.
In Europe, popular
anti-Semitism has again transformed Jews into pariahs. Yet Jewish
communities will always remain and Israel must encourage efforts to
strengthen their Jewish identity and support their struggle against
anti-Semitism. Diaspora Jews are fortunate knowing that if their world
collapses, Israel provides them with a haven. But many will not wish to
see their children grow up in an environment in which they feel obliged
to conceal their Jewish identity and have military personnel guarding
schools and synagogues. Increasing numbers are therefore likely to make
aliyah or at least encourage their children to do so.
In the United States,
aliyah will attract those Jews concerned about their grandchildren
remaining Jewish in an open society -- where currently 80% of
non-Orthodox Jews are marrying out. Committed Jews are also
increasingly attracted to the opportunity of living in a pulsating
Jewish state which provides a cost-free Jewish education, in which the
Hebrew language, culture and national holidays create a unique Jewish
lifestyle which they can never experience in the Diaspora.
We must surely
appreciate the privilege of living in a Jewish state and not facing the
painful Jewish identity issues confronting our Diaspora kinsmen.
So despite the
challenges facing us, we should dismiss the purveyors of doom and gloom
who transform self-criticism into masochism and continuously whine
about our failings and reject the highly vocal fringe elements who
disparage our achievements, mock Zionism and challenge the merits of
statehood.
Of course, many aspects
of Israeli society, as with any other, require attention. These include
issues of growing inequality between rich and poor and the ongoing
irritants in relationship between the state and organized religion. Not
to mention the dysfunctional political system.
Alas, the dream of
peace with our neighbors remains just a dream. But we should exult in
the realization that we are stronger today than in the past when we
overcame far greater challenges and genuinely faced annihilation.
Opinion polls indicate
that we rank among the happiest and most contented people in the world.
However, many young Israelis now take Jewish statehood for granted,
never having undergone the chilling experience of European Jews in the
1930s as they desperately sought entry visas to countries to avoid the
impending Shoah. Nor can they appreciate the devastating impact of
living in an anti-Semitic environment where Jews are considered
pariahs.
Today, on our 67th
anniversary, we should give thanks to the Almighty for enabling us to be
the blessed Jewish generation, privileged to live in freedom in our
resurrected ancient homeland. We should continually remind ourselves
that our success defies rationality and by any benchmark must be deemed
miraculous.
Chag Sameach.
Isi Leibler's website can be viewed at http://wordfromjerusalem.com/. He may be contacted at ileibler@leibler.com.
Isi Leibler
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=12341
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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