- Escaping Exile Mentality — No Longer Living as a Minority
Narrative:
In the Diaspora, Jews have often felt like guests, vulnerable to shifting political climates and rising antisemitism. In Israel, a Jew is no longer a minority but part of the fabric of the nation. Jewish holidays are national holidays, Hebrew is the spoken language, and Jewish culture permeates daily life. No longer must a Jew ask for permission to express their identity—here, it is celebrated. Living in Israel means reclaiming the dignity of self-determination and shedding the mindset of exile.
Biblical Source:
“And I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24).
וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן-הַגּוֹיִם, וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת; וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם, אֶל-אַדְמַתְכֶם.” (יחזקאל לו:כד”
Talmudic Source:
“A person should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a city where most of the inhabitants are idolaters, rather than live outside the Land, even in a city where most of the inhabitants are Jews” (Ketubot 110b).
“לְעוֹלָם יָדוּר אָדָם בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲפִילּוּ בְּעִיר שֶׁרוּבָּהּ עַכּוּ››ם, וְאַל יָדוּר בְּחוּץ לָאָרֶץ, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּעִיר שֶׁרוּבָּהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל (כתובות קי
- IDF Service – Defending the Jewish People
Narrative:
For centuries, Jews depended on the goodwill of foreign rulers for their safety, often with tragic consequences. In Israel, the Jewish people take responsibility for their own security. The IDF is not just a military—it is a national mission, a people’s army that protects a nation who has suffered persecution for generations. Every soldier is fulfilling the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh (saving lives), ensuring that Jews will never again be defenseless.
Biblical Source:
“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Psalms 144:1).
בָּרוּךְ ה› צוּרִי, הַמְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַקְּרָב, אֶצְבְּעוֹתַי לַמִּלְחָמָה.» (תהילים קמד:א
Talmudic Source:
“If someone comes to kill you, rise early and kill him first” (Sanhedrin 72a).
הַבָּא לַהֲרׇגְךָ הַשְׁכֵּם לְהׇרְגוֹ.» (סנהדרין עב
Rabbi Paul Bloom lives in Jerusalem with his wife Ettie. Paul is President of the Israel Inspiration Initiative and is on the Board of the New York / Israel Chamber of Commerce. He is the CEO of PDB Futurecom International and is a retired CTO of IBM Research’s Communication Sector.
