On the 14th of May, 1948, when David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence, one could hardly imagine a Jew, whether Ashkenazi or Sephardi, Yemenite or Ethiopian, in any of the four corners of the earth, who did not proudly see themselves as Zionists for whom Israel
was a symbol of Jewish national identity. This sense of pride intensified at Israel’s miraculous victories in wars against mortal enemies vastly superior in number and resources. Even non-Jews all over the
western world were in awe of this underdog continuously punching above its weight. I remember at the beginning of the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel was reported to be losing badly, our postman, an English Christian, joined our weeping at a synagogue service.

Since 1966, thirteen Israelis have won the Nobel Prize for a variety of discoveries.

Apart from its spectacular military victories, Israel has excelled in almost all other fields of human endeavour. In mathematics, science and chemistry, physics, optics, medicine, economics, biotechnology, computer and mobile technology, agriculture and breeding. Some Israeli inventions like Waze have become household names. Many others, such as drip irrigation systems and Watergen, which creates water from the air, have revolutionised the agricultural industry, benefiting many countries by circumventing famine and hardship. Since 1966, thirteen Israelis have won the Nobel Prize for a variety of discoveries.

One could imagine that on account of all these successful and vital contributions to mankind, Israel would be seen today as a blessing to the world. Alas, no. On the contrary. Not only is it not lauded for its achievements, it is seen as a pariah state in many circles. This vision is not exclusive to Muslim societies; it is prevalent also among many Europeans and Americans. Adverse write-ups, rumours and insinuations in social media promulgated by Israel’s enemies have turned the tide very strongly against the Jewish state. Regrettably, many Jews have joined the bandwagon of abhorring Zionism, unaware that Zionism equals Judaism, and a Zionist-hater is very simply an antisemite. No nation, not China, not Saudi Arabia, not even Iran has been condemned in the United Nations as many times as Israel. A manifestation of this hatred is the emergence of the BDS movement, which promotes boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, ostensibly for its treatment of Palestinians. Many BDS members are Jewish.

No religion in history has been as closely tied to a land
as has Judaism.

A great number of Jews today do not take pride in Israel anymore. In America, rabbis have testified that they now think twice before mentioning Israel in their sermons.

What reason could there be for this fall from grace?

One possible, though hardly satisfactory, explanation is the simple fact that Israel is no longer the underdog it once was. It is currently viewed as a powerful military state, while the Palestinians are seen as underdogs. But there are many other mighty states who engage in the daily bullying of other countries or minority populations without
much censure.

So what is the real reason? The inescapable conclusion has to be antisemitism. However, as it is illegal in many parts of the world to be openly antisemitic, Israel has become the whipping boy of “woke” elites. Hiding under the accepted disapproval of Zionism, antisemites run wild in their unfair criticism of Israel.

While for antisemites the world would be a better place without Israel, how much does Israel matter today for the rest?

In truth, Israel matters today more than ever, especially for Jews.

In the words of Rabbi Sacks: “No religion in history has been as closely tied to a land as has Judaism. That connection goes back almost 4,000 years, from the first words of God to Abraham: ‘Leave your country, your birthplace and your father’s house and go to the land I will show you.’ No sooner had he arrived than God said: ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ Seven times God promised the land to Abraham, and promised it again to Isaac and Jacob.”

Herzl realised that a Jew could only live safely in his own homeland, and that remains true today.

For the Orthodox, who view the land as an eternal inheritance, and for a multitude of traditional Jews, the existence of the Jewish state enriches the lifeblood of their Judaism, past, present and future. One of the thirteen Principles of Faith by Maimonides is the belief in a Messiah who, as a king in the Davidic line, will occupy his throne in a
Jewish Jerusalem. 

What about the secular Jew? Well, Theodore Herzl was a secular Jew who saw firsthand the fallacy that Jews could be completely emancipated in free and just societies, and allowed to live and flourish peacefully in their exile. Herzl realised that a Jew could only live safely in his homeland, and that remains true today.

Jews who feel embarrassed about Israel or about being different from general society should think twice before shedding their historic nationality in favour of their adopted, endemic one. History has shown that when local nationalism fires up, Jews are among the first to be attacked.  

It can be argued that for non-Jews, too, Israel matters today more than ever.

For the past twenty years or so, the world has witnessed —not just in the Middle East— the rise of extremist nationalism, with horrific, unprecedented consequences. To have in existence by contrast and example a democratic state, whose main agenda is to live peacefully with its neighbours, while at the same time enriching the world with its useful and, at times, life-changing innovations, is indeed a blessing for all mankind.