Iom Haatzmaut

The State of Israel after 60 Years—a Dream after the Dream

On May 14th of 1948, during an armed conflict that had begun six months previously, and which would continue for one more year, the Jewish government of Palestine declared the independence of the new State of Israel. Thus began the story of a new country, which, though not accepted by all, was quickly integrated into the countries of the world. The history of the State of Israel, however, began long before. We would have to go back at least another sixty years in order to begin to understand why the Jewish state forever changed the identity, references, and customs of the majority of Jews in all four corners of the globe.

Up until the present day the majority of Jews in the world live outside Israel. Why then is it such a central point of reference for all of us? What is, what was, what would continue to be the difference between the existence and non-existence of a Jewish state for Jews who are citizens of other states?
In responding to these questions, a good starting point would be a world very different to the one we know today.