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Israel's Mosaic

(JNS) Fiamma Nirenstein - The image of Israel as a land of chaos is belied by what one sees on the ground: A country that is wealthy, orderly and clean despite immense hardships, terrorism and political conflicts. It is hyperactive, crowded, ever searching for more industries, startups, hospitals, cars, flowerbeds... more and more, all new and exciting. Any Jew can become an Israeli citizen if he or she wishes to do so, because Israel believes that every Jew is part of the Jewish people. The indissoluble link between nation and religion is not just ancient but fundamental to Israel's existence. David Ben-Gurion, a socialist, was a secular man who founded a secular state, but his knowledge of the Bible was immense and he believed that the visions of the prophets were the cornerstone of the nation. In Israel, the various sects and communities contend and coexist, but such is the case in any diverse and democratic country. It is a beautiful mosaic. On the eve of every war, Israel's enemies have declared that Israel was already falling apart, collapsing from internal divisions. And yet, it was Israel that emerged victorious. The writer, a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, served as vice president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
2023-05-18 00:00:00
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