The Central Bureau of Statistics published an interesting figure on Tuesday, whereby the number of people emigrating from Israel is the lowest since 2006. There can only be one conclusion: The vast majority of Israelis realize it is good to live in Israel – a diplomatic, economic and technological power.
Beyond the utilitarian aspects, life in Israel also provides profound meaning. Here in the land of our forefathers, the future of the Jewish people is being molded for generations to come. The generational chain hasn't been broken in thousands of years, surviving and persevering through times of darkness and evil only to emerge into the warm light.
My generation certainly recalls when people would joke: "The last one to leave, please turn off the lights." We remember when Yitzhak Rabin referred to emigration as "the falling off of the weaklings." The large Israeli communities in New York and Los Angeles were established by Israelis who had lost faith in the country's ability to provide for their needs and ensure their futures. In those days, the dream was to return from a trip to Cyprus with a steam iron. Nowadays, the locals in Iceland, Barcelona, Rome and other leading tourist hotspots around the globe speak of four tourism superpowers: the United States, Germany, Japan and Israel.
Second-class Israel is gone. Most of the development towns, as they were referred to for years, have become prosperous, well-kept cities. The north and south are linked by endless networks of roads and bridges, and the investments in infrastructure cannot keep pace with the rate of new cars hitting the roads every year. Moshavs and kibbutzim are expanding; and despite the security issues, wonderful families are moving to live in the Gaza surrounding area.
Compared to other Western countries, unemployment in Israel is very low. Israel's credit rating is strong and impeccable, while the Israeli entrepreneurial spirit cultivates a depth of talent that is unfathomable for such a tiny country. Some of the inventions and developments shaping the way the world operates today were created and implemented here first. At the same time, the country helps disadvantaged families, so they, too, can take part in the economic miracle we experience every day.
It's astonishing these accomplishments exist amid such a complex security situation, which requires immense investments in defense. Imagine for a moment what will transpire once peace reigns throughout the Middle East and all those resources can be invested in improving the quality of life for all people of the region. I have no doubt that day will come – even if it takes a while longer to get here – and we will fulfill the words of the Prophet Isaiah (60:18): "No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise."
