Out of all the wealthy, first world countries in the world, Israel ranks 4th in how its citizens rate their happiness. This may come as a surprise to anyone who has visited this chaotic, yet vibrant country that is steeped in history, conflict, and challenge. But what it lacks in tranquility, even civility, it makes up for with the strong connections its citizens build through family, the army, its tech world, and through its acceptance and appreciation of diversity of its people. Citizens of Israel share a common bond and purpose – the sheer existence of the State of Israel, which is no small thing. In a world in which people living in many industrial nations are moving further and further apart, the people of Israel are staying closely bound – and this is the key to their happiness.
What is astounding is that this book was written during a time when so much of Israel was as polarized as a country could be – during massive protests against a government that was trying to undo democracy as it had been known to be. Thousands had been taking to the streets on a weekly basis to confront a government that was trying to take away the checks and balances that their Supreme Court provided to curb any potential government overstep. Netanyahu at the helm, again, was leading the charge to remove any obstacles in his way of having full reign over the country. And yet, it appears, the people were still rating their happiness as high, still feeling that their country was worth fighting for and that they had a quality of life they would not give up.
On the other hand, this book was written before October 7th, which has shifted the world as we know it. It changed Israelis’ feeling of security on a granular level and rattled their confidence in the government’s ability to lead like nothing ever before. Never before had the IDF failed the citizens of Israel as it did on 10/7. Nevertheless, I suspect, that if the citizens of Israel were to be polled now, they would still rate their happiness in the same way. After 10/7, the country rallied together like nothing I have ever witnessed. Citizens – not the government – organized makeshift hostels for the displaced kibbutzniks who survived the gruesome attacks and had to be rehoused further north. Citizens are still coordinating efforts to continue to provide shelter, food, clothing, mental health services, schooling, and other services to the thousands of displaced citizens resulting from the war with Hamas. The citizens are bonded in their efforts in surviving an existential threat of survival, with enemies attacking them from all sides and they are bonded together, supporting each other from within. There is nothing more unifying – or community-building – than this.
Because of the timing, it was difficult to be reading about Israel with all that has been going on – but it also gave a positive spin on what is going on as well, if that could possibly be. In the darkest of times, we must find light, and in these pages, one can find that tiny spark.
kindread spirits 