Rosh Hashanah 2026: Israel’s 78-year miracle was never supposed to happen - opinion

As we begin the year 5787, let's reflect on the extraordinary times we inhabit. In May 1948, a fractured people declared an independent state on a sparsely inhabited piece of land. Immediately, five conventional armies surged against it, with twenty more states wishing for its demise. The Jewish population lacked resources such as oil, powerful allies, advanced weaponry, and even a fifth column that actively opposed them.

The prevailing opinion was that the fledgling nation would not survive beyond weeks. Eighty-eight years later, Israel has transformed into an influential regional power, a leading technological hub, and the most successful national revival in modern history. The improbable odds that led to this triumph are what make the story truly remarkable.

The initial conflict was meant to annihilate the remnants of the Holocaust, with a coalition comprising Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq deploying trained forces against a militia that had previously clandestinely smuggled rifles in crates of oranges. Within the newly formed borders, thousands of Arabs joined the government that had recently granted them citizenship.

Despite suffering 6,000 casualties, constituting 1% of the entire population, Israel managed to hold the line. Remarkably, Israel has not experienced defeat in a war since. In 1967, outnumbered on three fronts, Israel successfully concluded the conflict within six days. During the 1973 war, they were caught off guard, endured significant losses, yet repelled the attackers across the canal and Golan Heights.

Each subsequent campaign has followed a similar trajectory: Israel's smaller size and international condemnation have only strengthened its resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The miraculous aspect extends beyond survival. Within a decade, nearly a million Jews arrived from Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Morocco, fleeing persecution or expulsion.

These refugees were not only accommodated but transformed into citizens, conscripts, engineers, and rabbis. No other nation in the 20th century absorbed such a vast and diverse population during such a short period, while simultaneously defending itself against external threats. The economic narrative is equally astonishing. For decades, the Arab League imposed a boycott aimed at crippling the fledgling Jewish state.

Later, the BDS movement gained traction, with campus resolutions and United Nations votes, reflecting the widespread international condemnation of Israel. Despite these challenges, Israel emerged as the Startup Nation, a country with limited natural resources but abundant human capital, and now excels in various sectors, including cybersecurity, medical devices, irrigation technology, desalination, and semiconductors.

Israeli companies are listed on the Nasdaq, outperforming larger economies. While poverty, inequality, and high living costs exist, these challenges do not erase the broader reality: a poor, blockaded state evolved into a prosperous nation through the ingenuity of its people. Diplomatic relations have also followed an unexpected course.

Initially hesitant, the United States has become Israel's most steadfast ally, enduring administrations and conflicts. Additionally, the country has quietly forged defense and commercial agreements with countries across the globe, including Colombia, Finland, India, Japan, and several Arab nations that once sought Israel's eradication.

The Abraham Accords, although not ending the conflict, have demonstrated that the previous notion of recognizing a state only when every Palestinian demand is met is no longer as unassailable as previously thought. Perhaps the most striking success lies within the Jewish community. The educational institutions of Europe were destroyed, and the renowned yeshivas in Lithuania and Poland now exist only as historical remnants.

However, Israel now houses the largest concentration of full-time Torah scholars in history, surpassing any similar community in Vilna or Pressburg. Torah study, women's seminaries, and community support networks have proliferated, with Jewish observance displaying a remarkable density that exceeds pre-war levels. Despite internal religious diversity, the sheer volume of learning, mitzvah observance, and public Jewish presence in Israel is unparalleled.

It is essential to acknowledge that these achievements are not without their challenges. Critics highlight ongoing issues in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, political divisions, the economic burdens of war, and the persistent conflict with the Palestinians. While these concerns are valid, they do not overshadow the central truth: a nation that should have perished in 1948, 1967, 1973, or amid boycotts and resolutions, continues to thrive, grow, innovate, and grapple with its identity.

The future remains uncertain, as factors such as Iran's nuclear ambitions, demographic shifts, internal cohesion, religious neglect, and Western support continue to evolve. However, the existing accomplishments serve as evidence that a state once destined to fail can transform the most unfavorable circumstances into an unprecedented success, offering refuge to millions of Jews who had no other place to turn.

This remarkable journey is not a mere coincidence; it is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment of the Jewish people. Israel's ability to rewrite the odds and create a thriving nation, while simultaneously nurturing its cultural and religious heritage, stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity.