Elie Klein in his column, “Crisis, Conflict and Kindest Generation” (May 29, 2025) describes growing up in a sheltered United States environment and was concerned that his children and their generation are growing up in Israel in tumultuous times: amid covid, war and terrorist attacks. However, he seems to be surprised and heartened by the fact that they are turning out to be strong, wise and comforting. This is interesting in the context of various studies that show behavior may in fact be part of universal generational phenomena.
In America, for example, I myself grew up in what can be called “The Best Of Times And The Worst of Times.” Like many others I was born and raised during the Great Depression in New York’s Lower East Side, in rat and roach infested slums with four families sharing one toilet in the hallway, and the bathtub in the kitchen by the front door. Following the Depression was the horrific World War II. However in spite of all this, Tom Brokaw called our generation of Americans “The Greatest Generation.” All the adversities, challenges and pressures did not depress us but made us stronger, more resilient and more determined, and the United States emerged as the leader of the world.
And for Jews, the Holocaust was the worst atrocity in their history. Yet miraculously they rose up from the ashes and within just three years fought for and established the State of Israel, the first Jewish commonwealth in 2,000 years. And in only 20 more years, after the Six-Day War, Israel emerged as one of the most potent fighting forces in the entire world.
Unfortunately, generational characteristics often change and not always for the better.
In the economic arena, there are various studies that point to a conclusion called the “curse of the third generation.” One study by the Williams Group found that 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and a stunning 90% lose it by the third generation. And across the globe, a Chinese proverb, “rags to rags in three generations,” also says that family wealth does not last for three generations. The first generation makes the money, the second spends and the third sees none of the wealth.
In the social arena, a survey of Americans revealed that Gen Zers are the most likely to live their life in a “rebellious fashion.” That is: 74% of Gen Z embrace their rebellious spirit, compared to 52% of millennials, 63% of Gen X, and only 39% of Baby Boomers. This “rebellious fashion” may be responsible for today’s very divisive political climate and great antisemitism.
Changes in generational dynamics may also account for some major global shifts. For example, after WWII the all-powerful United States, after only five years, fought to a stalemate in the Korean War, and outright lost the Vietnam War 20 years later, and Afghanistan 46 years after that. The patriotic fervor so pronounced during WWII had dissipated in subsequent generations.
Israel also showed major shifts during successive generations. After the euphoria following the Six-Day War in 1967 it was attacked by surprise and very seriously threatened during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and again on October 7, 2023, many say because of complacency of subsequent generations.
The point is, that different generations, even in the same culture, can display different values and priorities.
Mr. Klein is indeed fortunate that his children, in spite of all the turmoil, seem to have emerged so wise and caring. They sound like wonderful children, and Baruch Hashem should be role models for the next generation of Israel’s youth.
