As it enters its 67th year of existence, Israel is still far from being a model of Theodor Herzl's vision. Circumstances have changed between the Alfred Dreyfus trial in the 1890s and the Jewish people's attempt today to cope with hostile neighbors in the Middle East and the wider world. But the primary objective of the Zionist movement was achieved, even though the Holocaust was not prevented. A safe haven was established for the Jewish people in its homeland, backed by international law. Israel was not established due to the Holocaust, but despite it. But Israel did develop something that was a response to the Holocaust -- the deterrent strength to prevent another one-sided Holocaust. In the worst-case scenario, Israel will be able to exact an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. While serious incidents may occur, Israel is a safe haven protecting Jews from being the victims of terrible crimes. The threats to our existence have not yet ceased. There are even efforts to use international law against us. International organizations are trying to limit our legal sovereignty. In at least one case (the May 2010 Gaza flotilla), they also sought to harm our right to self-defense. Our lot has yet to be cast. There are no signs that the Palestinians are ready to commit to a peace agreement to end the conflict. But, for the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., the physical existence of a sovereign Jewish entity is dependent on our ability to hone our strength and use it without hesitation during times of trouble. It is natural that Israel's 6 million Jewish citizens do not pay attention to this. A large majority of them have never experienced a terrifying reality, and day-to-day difficulties keep them from seeing the big picture, from the perspective of a bird (or now, a satellite) flying high in the sky. Worries and anxieties flood out optimism and hope. Nevertheless, there are good signs for the Jewish state. In a turbulent world, Israel has a relatively stable economy. In contrast to the unemployment-stricken West, Israel is a magnet for job seekers. It is a source of hope that Israel is aware of the deficiencies in its education system and will not let its schools fall behind the rest of the world. No school or academy has yet utilized Jewish ability to the fullest, and it is not clear if one will have the knowledge and resources to do so, but Israel will, without a doubt, continue to fight against small-mindedness and recalcitrance in the educational realm. Israel is also now engaged in a multi-pronged fight to defend democracy and the rule of law, in the spirit of the late former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and to strengthen the Supreme Court. Israel welcomes Jews with open arms, but it has an ambiguous attitude toward those of questionable Jewish lineage, and these questions have yet to be decided. Defenders of the rule of law still have the power to partially or fully repel their opponents, but what about those who want to convert- In recent years, Israel has seen a renewed flow of resources to academia, which has been honored with a number of Nobel prizes. And Israel was able to re-establish the Hebrew language, an unprecedented human achievement. Israel has many defects, with crime and a lack of respect for the dignity of others being among them. But who can be part of this country and not love what it radiates, "a thousand splendid suns"-
