10 Reasons I Love Being Jewish
11 min read
He can’t explain Israel’s success and happiness. Can you?
On a popular daily Greek news show cum political talk program, Greece’s Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis expressed his frustration at trying to figure out how the Jewish state is not only financially successful, but also, against all odds, happy.
“Is there a people like the Jews,” he wondered with a mix of annoyance and awe, “who has taken a strip of desert land smaller than the Pelopennese and has a GNP of 500 billion?”
Not only that, Mr. Georgiadis continues, this is a country at war and suffering terrorist attacks within, and yet it is rated as the fifth happiest country in the world. He then contrasts this maddening reality with his own country, Greece, where “the weather is sweet, everything is nice,” yet the people are miserable and sad.
“Do you have an explanation?” he concludes, sitting down at the table with his fellow commentators. He throws up his hands. “There is no explanation!”
Perhaps the difference is that Jews are never satisfied with, “No explanation.” We fill library shelves with explanations—from sociological analyzes to theological treatises explaining why the Jews have survived or win so many Nobel prizes or defy the laws of history (which drove Arnold Toynbee crazy).
So, Aish.com readers, what’s your explanation? How did the Jews take a tiny strip of desert land (I don’t know where the Pelopennese is, but Israel is the size of New Jersey), always at war and subject to terrorism, and turned it into a booming economy, a high-tech powerhouse, fourth in the world for the longevity of its citizens, and fifth in the world for their happiness? Please answer in the comments section below.
As for my personal opinion, I think our success comes from God. I’ll have to write a theological treatise to explain what I mean. In the meantime, here’s a ditty that will have to do:
How odd of God to choose the Jews.
It’s not odd. The Jews chose God.
Hashem said the Jews would be a light to the nations, or le hoyim. Hashem provides the Light. We just shine
oops that should be OR LE GOYIM.
❤️, thanks!
Instead of wasting your time hating us, learn from us. And then maybe you too can make this earth a better place to live.
Am Yisrael Chai!!
The Angel Gabriel spoke to Hashem, and asked these Jewish Israelis, You have given them back their land, You have helped them defeat their enemies, You have made them prosperous.
Do they appreciate, what You have done for them?
Hashem Replied. Yes I have done all that for them. However, just to keep them humble, look who I have given them as neighbors, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq.
Are you serious? The Peloponnese (Πελοπόννησος in Greek) is obviously a part of Greece (a beautiful one worth visiting), and you can’t even spell it correctly! You shouldn’t be writing a single word on the country under these circumstances. Ever heard of Athens, Crete, or the Thermopylae, while we’re at it? I don’t expect you to be an expert on geography or history, but that’s really embarrassing!
In truth, unless you are genetically and Halachically Jewish and raised in a Jewish home you will never fully understand or accept the Jewish commitment at Sinai to which Jews today accept and guides them. Torah Judaism is not a spectator experience. It must be studied and incorporated into your total existence with or without strict ritual observance.
You have to feel it in your kishkas/guts.
Try explaining that to righteous converts or those who became observant later on!
A variation on Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ours is not to reason why, but to do or die". Our variation might be: Ours is not to bow to fate, but search the reason through—
To question, renovate, and forge the world anew.
The little ditty at the end says it all.
God called the father of the Jews Abraham and he obeyed and God chose him and them. They have chosen God since then and God have been their God and continue to prosper them.
Even aside from theological answers, sociologically, Israel is a country born from a mission. Since the time of Abraham, Jews have chosen to go to Israel. Other countries exist, and their people live there, and don't really think about the how or why. Israelis are conscious of the fact that they have to work to exist, and that provides a sense of purpose.
To be succinct, we are happy and productive because of 2 facets in our collective lives. First, we have HaShem. Second, as Frankl stated, we find our “why” & the “how” will come.
This conversation certainly got me thinking. What makes people happy? I think it is in accomplishing something. Whether it is on getting married, having a baby, winning a competition, graduating, etc. these seem to be the happiest moments of our lives. And I think the more we struggle to achieve something the more happiness it creates. Israel is constantly achieving and accomplishing, that's why there's so much happiness.
Golda Meir made a joke about Moses picking the one spot in the Middle East with no oil. Yes, Israel has no natural resources and i think that was the best thing to happen. Jews had to push themselves to the max in every way and that was the secret of our success.
Without challenges there's no success. And without success there's no happiness.
Exactly right, with no natural resources like Arab countries have, Jews learned to think out side the box , and their best resource is learning critical thinking, by learning the oral Torah and from wriiten Torah we learn Hashem chose us and we are a people that exist through miracles , also Jews are a mission to make the world a better place, most Nobel prize winners are of the Jewish faith, that might tell you something, I guess if Greek people would be in Israel, that would have to learn make the best of trying to make lemonade of lemons, another words Israelis roll with the punches so to speak,most of Europe don't have children, but Israel have a lot of kids and live in away that brings happiness to them, having a meaningful life especially if you are a religious
We have Hashem
Indeed ❤️
I'm a Greek national and I would like to ask the writer to stand corrected; it's not 'annoyance' but admiration by minister Georgiadis. It may look like he's mad, but you can blame it on his intense temperament. In this clip he's rather (harshly yet fairly) critisizing his compatriots.
Author responds: I'm sorry that I didn't express it clearly. Minister's Georgiadis's "annoyance" was not at the Jews, but rather at his cognitive dissonance at a phenomenon that made no logical sense and he could not explain. I stand corrected.
I think here are some things that define and give us true joy in life: • Saying "lChaim" and emphasizing the good (the glass is always half full) • Saying "Baruch Hashem" and understanding that we are not the ones in control (we thank Hashem for the 'Good' as well for as the 'Bad') • Having a clear purpose in life, in terms of obligations (not rights) towards both God and our fellow man • "Acheinu kol bais Yisrael - we are all connected;" this profound sense of brotherhood and responsibility we have as Jews is unparalleled in any other nation ("Mi k'am'cha Yisrael - Who is like you, O Israel?) • Emphasis on middos tovos (good character traits) - especially humility and giving • Strong emphasis on family and transmission of core Jewish values within that context • (Just for starters! 😉
No question the Jews are incredibly resilient, but we have to give credit where credit is do.....in everything for that matter-Hashem!
As an Arab Muslim, I also reject hatred toward Jews. I respect Jewish people and deeply value their humanity and history. Through my YouTube channel, I try to present Arab audiences with a well-documented historical account of the tragedies and suffering that Jews have endured throughout history, while challenging hatred, incitement, and stereotypes.
With sincere thanks, respect, and appreciation to every Jew who believes in peace, coexistence, and our shared humanity.
Kudos to you, Mr. Suliman! I share your values and beliefs and appreciate your efforts.
I think you must be very brave to share a positive message that many of your coreligionists will not welcome.
Could you leave the link to your You Tube channel?
Thanks!
Thank you, Robert. I truly appreciate your interest.
Here is my YouTube channel:
Jews Between Truth and Slander
I hope you find the content interesting and worthwhile.
Religions have radically different sets of values and beliefs. One can judge any religion by what it says about who God is and about how people must treat others. Judaism is---- by light years----- the religion that has the most sophisticated idea of who God is, and how to treat others. It also says to "choose life" and gives education a high priority. No mystery why we are so successful.
It could be precisely because of the forces working against them from outside. It gives people purpose, it makes communities come together and have something to work toward. Purpose and community lead to happy lives. The negatives are obstacles to be overcome not the essence of their lives.
That was an amazing video, but it's unfair to describe Mr. Georgiadis as being annoyed by Jewish success. In fact, he is a great admirer of the Jews. May there be many more like him.
That ditty is brilliant!!
It'as an old one. The first line is attributed by Ogden Nash. He is one of my favorite poets (if you can call him that) only because he always writes hilarious and crazy ditties. But the fact is, he is not the original composer. It was William Norman Ewer in the 1920's.
The second line is of unknown origin.
I'm pretty sure that Rabbi Noach Weinberg composed the second line. The version I've heard is: "Not so odd... we chose God!"
There’s a famous phrase which I think answers this perfectly… necessity is the mother of invention. Or in our case innovation and a determined mindset.
Could it be because, as a people, Jews are always griping, always questioning, always looking inward! So we take adversity (3,000 years worth) & make the best of it! Making the World better is a basic Jewish theme. So we roll up our sleeves & get to work & rejoyce at the result!
Jewish happiness can be explained by the following :
"They tried to kill us!
We won!
Let's eat!"
Alan King, legendary Jewish Comedian.
Also known as the explanation of what Jewish holidays are about.