Israel – The Modern Jewish State
The creation of a Jewish state in the British Mandate was mandated by United Nations Resolution 181 in 1947. When British control of the region ended, Israel became an independent state in 1948 and became a full member of the United Nations in 1949.
Although being the only Jewish state in the world, the Israeli Declaration of Independence enshrines “complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.” Some 25% of Israeli citizens are non-Jewish with the majority being Israeli Arabs.
It is a very small country in the Middle East. The capital city is Jerusalem which is holy to Muslims and Christians as well as Jews.
Since the Second World War, millions of Jewish refugees from Europe and many countries across the Middle East have travelled to Israel to find refuge and make a new start. The ‘Law of Return‘ is an Israeli law which allows anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent (and their spouse) to live in Israel.
Jews from countries all over the world choose to move to Israel – not due to needing refuge, but wishing to live in their ancestral homeland.
45% of the world’s Jewish population lives in Israel.
Jewish festivals are national holidays in Israel and most supermarkets and hotels only sell kosher‘Suitable’ or ‘fit’ according to Jewish law, often used to describe permitted foods. food.
The national flag is made up of the Star of DavidA six pointed star used as a symbol of Judaism. Thought to be the symbol used by King David and his army long ago. and blue stripes, linking to the traditional blue dye and striped pattern on a talitJewish prayer shawl (with fringes on the four corners). (prayer shawl).
Israel’s population is about 75% Jewish and 25% people from other faiths and backgrounds. Israel is an incredibly diverse society, made up of many different groups of people.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Non-Jewish citizens of Israel have equal rights under the law to the Jewish citizens. They vote in elections, have the same rights to education and healthcare and can volunteer, if they want, to serve in the Israeli army. There are Arab parties in the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) and Arab judges on the Supreme Court.
Democracy Index Rankings of Middle Eastern Countries
Ratings on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest. For reference, the United Kingdom currently ranks 8.3 on the Democracy Index. The United States of America ranks 7.8, the same as Israel.
Today Israel is a green and fertile land, as well as a place of innovation and invention. Israel has solved its serious problems due to lack of water by working out how to take salt out of seawater as well as inventing many amazing products and technologies (including medical equipment, microchips and smartphone apps) that are used all over the world. It is also a very popular holiday destination due to its weather and history, culture and natural beauty.
AUDIO : “Hi, my name is Yosef. I feel connected to Israel because it is the place of our my people’s incredible history and the Jewish homeland.
Last summer I had the opportunity to tour Israel experiencing the vibrant streets of Tel Aviv to the Old City of Jerusalem to the desert in the south to the wonderful green landscapes in the north. However to me, Israel is not just a land with unique culture and beautiful beaches. It is so much more too. It is the land of our ancestors.
It is a place where I and Jews from all over the world are able to feel connected to their legacies that still live on thousands of years later. It is amazing that we are able to literally walk the very land that our forefathers did so long ago. Today we are fortunate enough to be able to call Israel our home again and have a place where Jews from all over the world can connect and feel that they belong, and where we are not at threat of being expelled by the leadership of the country, as has happened so many times in many different countries all over the world.
After my A levels I will be spending a gap year in Israel, studying in Jerusalem. It will be amazing to be living right by where the Temple once stood and to truly experience living in Israel is really like, building a stronger connection with my Jewish heritage.”
– Yosef, 17, Manchester
