To be in exile means to be away from one's homeland. Exile can be forced upon you--or, it can be voluntary. Either way, one is bereft--that is, deprived of one's most precious possession, one's natural homeland.
Exile is not a happy place. It is not filled with joy. As with the original Egyptian exile in our Torah, exile can begin as a refuge. But it always, in our Jewish history, turns toxic. It turns dark, bleak, dangerous.
If you are in exile, you should remember that. For the Jew, exile always turns toxic.
Today, most Jews who live outside Israel are not forced to remain outside Israel. Certainly, with emigration to Israel easier than it's ever been, Jews who continue to stay outside of Israel do so, for the most part, because they choose to stay away.
As a consequence of such a choice, too many Jews in exile have little contact with Israel. Cut off from their homeland--and perhaps their Jewish heritage--they rely on what others say about Israel to learn about Israel.
Unfortunately, little of what Jews in exile see and read about Israel is true. Most Jews in the Diaspora--what Jews call their group exile--do not see Israel in a positive light.They see the opposite. They see Israel through a prism that is dark, bleak, hostile and negative.
The world tells Jews in exile that Israel is a gross Human Rights violator. Israel is apartheid. It's a nation that oppresses another-- the "Palestinian".
To most of the world, Israel is pretty much a rogue state--a kind of international outlaw. Just ask the European Union and the United Nations. Ask the "Palestinians". Ask the Jewish students in exile Universities who listen to Students for Justice for Palestinians. Listen to those who use bullhorns in the streets and on University campuses to spread the lies of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.
Just ask all those so-called Jewish organizations in exile who demonize Israel.
The truth is, Israel grants more political rights to Arabs than any Arab country. Israel grants Arab women more rights than any Arab country. Israel observes Human Rights requirements better that any Arab country. Israel grants more religious freedom to minority religions than any Arab country. Israel is rated as the freest country in a Middle East dominated by Arab despots. Indeed, it is the only "free" country in the Middle East (here).
But for most Jews in exile, none of this matters. They believe what they read. To them, Israel is a dark, horrific place that crushes Human Rights--and the human spirit along with those Rights. Too many Jews in exile wonder, who in their right mind would want to live in Israel?
Perhaps that's why so many Jews in exile rest easy in their exile. This nasty, unjust Israel is not for them. They rest easy in exile because they feel happier in exile.
Funny thing, though, few in Israel see themselves with such a dark, unhappy view. To the contrary, Israelis tend to see themselves as happier than most others. Did you know that?
Israel was the 13th happiest place in the world in the 2019 Happiness Index. It was the 14th happiest country in the 2020 Index (here). By contrast, the US was ranked 18th in 2020 (here). The "Palestinian Territories" were ranked 125th (ibid). Canada was ranked 11th (ibid). Most all of the European Union countries rank lower than Israel.
You might feel happier not being in Israel. But would such a feeling be correct?
Israelis aren't just happier than most people. They live longer, too. Israel currently ranks 12th in the world for life expectancy (here). By contrast, most of Europe (including Germany and the UK) rank lower than Israel. Canada ranks 16th. The US ranks 46th. The "Palestinian Authority" ranks 98th.
Who in their right mind would want to live in such unhappy, less healthy countries?
While the world is flooded with lies about Israel, Israel thrives. Its people ignore the lies. They are happy. They are healthy. they are optimistic.
Can you say the same about people in your exile country?
While lies about Israel race around the world, Israel stays put--and becomes the "Start-up" nation. It invents stuff. It makes your world a better, healthier, safer place.
Can you say the same about your exile nation?
If your country has a horrific flood, earthquake or fire, it's Israelis who will probably get to you first to help. They'll help you dig out, dry out and recover. They'll deliver your babies and do emergency surgeries in emergency hospitals they bring with them to your emergencty site.
Does your exile nation do that for others?
Today, Arab countries, former enemies, begin to see Israel in a new light. They begin to normalize relations with Israel. They seek peace with Israel.
Israel is happy, all right. The world's media are wrong. Israel is not the source of problems in the world. Israel is the place to go for solutions to problems.
In exile, does your media ever say anything good about this Holy Land?
So if Israel is that good, why is today in Israel both dark and bleak? Well, I probably know something you don't.
I know it's raining in Israel today. That doesn't sound like much, does it. But it's a big deal.
In Israel, such a dark, cold, rainy and bleak day is no cause for concern. Such a day is fine. It's better than fine. It's good.
Here, rain is no nusance. In Israel, with its dry desert climate, rain is a blessing. It's a miracle. That's what's different about Israel--the blessings and the miracles we see.
Do you see such things in your exile country?
Rain brings life to this desert nation. It replenishes our national water supply. It sustains our planting--and our farmers.
In Israel, rain means we will eat in the Spring and Summer. It means life.
That's the way it is in G-d's country. It's what we pray for. It's what brings joy. Just ask most anyone on most any of our streets.
In Israel, our winter's bleak, dark, wet and cold days mean only one thing to us--a good harvest. Where I live, today's rain is particularly hard, cold and wet. Bleak, dark days like this mean we can anticipate seeing joy from our coming harvest. It means we will have real reason to celebrate at Pesach (Passover) time--our Spring Holiday.
In Israel, we don't see bleak and dark as bad. But you're not in Israel. You're in exile. Do you see the blessings in your bleak and dark winter days? Do you see the miracles?
To see that, you have to live here--in Israel.
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