How 'Bout a Little Jewish Pride!
IMPORTANT NOTE: I will be posting regularly at the revamped KUMAH - Mega-Blog. Many of the posts that I will be writing there will not be cross-posted here... (In other words, you'll have to visit both sites).
A recent survey, which sought to determine how "patriotic" Israelis felt towards their country, indicated a very frightening trend that calls the very future of the Jewish State of Israel into question.
Of the many survey questions, the responses to two of the questions in particular highlight the existential threat facing Jewish State.
However, when the responses to the above question were broken down by age, we find far fewer reasons for optimism:
60+ years old: 84%
50 - 59: 73%
40 - 49: 64%
30 - 39: 65%
18 - 29: 51%
These figures indicate that there exists a dramatic decline in patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel the younger one is. In other words, the present generation of Jewish Israeli young adults is the least patriotic towards the State of Israel.
However, if we take a closer look at the 25% of Jewish population in the Jewish State who expressed a willingness to consider leaving Israel, broken down by age, we find a very troubling picture:
60+ years old: 13%
50 - 59: 17%
40 - 49: 23%
30 - 39: 27%
18 - 29: 33%
Consistent with the first question, where the older one was, the more patriotic they felt towards the State of Israel, here, the older one is, the less inclined they are to ever consider leaving Israel. At the other end of the spectrum, we find the very opposite. The younger one is, the less likely they are to have patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel, while they are the most likely to consider permanently leaving Israel.
At the recent Herzliya Conference, Nobel Prize Laureate, Prof. Israel Aumann warned that the Jewish State of Israel is presently facing an existential threat. He was not referring to the specter of a nuclear Iran, but of the sword hanging over the throat of the Jewish State, known as post-Zionism.
Do we have the motivation to take up this challenge and fight to restore the sense of national pride and purpose to the Jewish People and State?
Our future depends on it.
Israel
Jewish
Judaism
Zionism
A recent survey, which sought to determine how "patriotic" Israelis felt towards their country, indicated a very frightening trend that calls the very future of the Jewish State of Israel into question.
Of the many survey questions, the responses to two of the questions in particular highlight the existential threat facing Jewish State.
Jews: To what extent do you consider yourself an Israeli patriot?Pretty good. Among the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel, 93% consider themselves to be patriotic to the State of Israel to some degree.
Very much: 36% Great: 31% To an extent: 26% Not at all: 7%
However, when the responses to the above question were broken down by age, we find far fewer reasons for optimism:
60+ years old: 84%
50 - 59: 73%
40 - 49: 64%
30 - 39: 65%
18 - 29: 51%
These figures indicate that there exists a dramatic decline in patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel the younger one is. In other words, the present generation of Jewish Israeli young adults is the least patriotic towards the State of Israel.
Jews: Would you be willing to move and live in another country?Nearly 80% of the Jewish population in the Jewish State has no intention of ever leaving. Great news.
Certain no: 58% Think no: 19% Think yes: 17% Certain yes: 6%
However, if we take a closer look at the 25% of Jewish population in the Jewish State who expressed a willingness to consider leaving Israel, broken down by age, we find a very troubling picture:
60+ years old: 13%
50 - 59: 17%
40 - 49: 23%
30 - 39: 27%
18 - 29: 33%
Consistent with the first question, where the older one was, the more patriotic they felt towards the State of Israel, here, the older one is, the less inclined they are to ever consider leaving Israel. At the other end of the spectrum, we find the very opposite. The younger one is, the less likely they are to have patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel, while they are the most likely to consider permanently leaving Israel.
At the recent Herzliya Conference, Nobel Prize Laureate, Prof. Israel Aumann warned that the Jewish State of Israel is presently facing an existential threat. He was not referring to the specter of a nuclear Iran, but of the sword hanging over the throat of the Jewish State, known as post-Zionism.
Without motivation, we will not endure. What are we doing here? Why are we here? What are we aspiring to here? We are here because we are Jewish, we are Zionist, because of our ancient bond to this land; we aspire to realize our 2,000-year-old hope of becoming a free nation in our land, the Land of Zion and Jerusalem. Without this profound understanding, we will not endure. We will simply no longer be here; post-Zionism will finish us off.The gauntlet has been thrown down.
Do we have the motivation to take up this challenge and fight to restore the sense of national pride and purpose to the Jewish People and State?
Our future depends on it.
Israel
Jewish
Judaism
Zionism
posted by Ze'ev @ Sunday, February 04, 2007
1 comments
1 Comments:
Just to throw a little ice water on your analysis: I've lived here since 1972, I've fought three wars defending the Jewish People who live in the Land of Israel, two of my sons were directly involved in the most recent two conflicts - none of us feel the least bit 'patriotic' to the current State of Israel. The State of Israel is at best a imperfect tool to gather the Jewish People, sustain and protect them while they reconstitute themselves as a nation. It is NOT what generations of our forefathers prayed and dreamed for. Unfortunately most secular Jews don't understand either the value/meaning of the Land of Israel or how it is NOT and has never been synonymous with the State of Israel.
By
Yoel.Ben-Avraham, at
Mon Feb 05, 11:10:00 AM GMT+2
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
<< Home