WhatsappWhat brings people to a state of happiness when they live in what most people of the world would define as a “dangerous neighborhood?” This question has boggled the minds of many concerning the residents of the State of Israel. Wars in Israel are not a rarity. There has nearly never been more than 10 years of tranquility, and large outbursts of battle and terror seem to occur once every few years. One would expect the country to be one that would classify more as a traumatized country than a country filled with happy people.
But the statistics display otherwise. What is it about Israel? Perhaps it is the amazingly deep connection that so many people have with the Land of Israel. That is what gives so many people a sense of meaning while persisting through so many of the challenges and tragedies that have occurred in the State of Israel.
One fascinating phenomenon about people who live in Israel can be observed by nearly anybody taking a vacation from Israel abroad. An enormous number of Israelis love to travel to Europe or anywhere out of Israel. Yet, out of every ten Israeli tourists, the vast majority will say that all of the tourist destinations are nothing more than respites. Their true home is Israel and that is where they feel strongly connected to.
How many other countries in the world have thousands of young people living abroad who are willing to get on a plane to return and fight for their country’s security? It is a fact that Israel has seen over and over throughout its short history.
Happiness is a function of meaningfulness. Israel is a country that is abound with people who feel a tremendous sense of meaning in their daily lives, due to a religious connection to the Land and the people. That is the secret of Israel’s high scoring on happiness surveys.
