Israel is one of the happiest countries in the world! The World Happiness report just came out on March 14 published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, in advance of World Happiness Day. Among the 155 countries surveyed, Israel is number 11! The United States was number 15. Interestingly enough, some of the top countries were Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Netherlands. As Rabbi Joshua Hammerman pointed out, the closest these Scandinavian countries “ have come to war lately was Prince Hans Westergaard’s royal coup in Disney’s Frozen.” Humorous, but true.
As we approach the celebration of Yom Haatzmaut this Monday evening, how does Israel do it? How is a country surrounded by threat, with a mandatory draft and war after war since the state’s founding, become the 11th happiest country on earth? How does is rank far ahead others in the region, (Jordan- 74, Lebanon- 97 and Egypt- 130), and even ahead of the United States? What lessons can the growth of the State of Israel teach our children about their own growth?
And, then there’s the United States. The U.S. was ranked third happiest in 2007. By 2016, it ranked 19th. Why? This year’s report attributes the decline to “declining social support and increased corruption.”
Some characteristics noted in the top countries were caring, freedom, generosity, honesty (Yes, Israelis never hold back what’s on their minds!), health, income, and good governance. Some other characteristics noted were “having someone to count on in times of trouble, generosity, trust.” All good qualities to reinforce with our children.
Some other lessons this survey can we relay are: Money does not buy happiness. As Polly Mosendz wrote in her article “Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness (in America)” “Even as the country pulled off an economic turnaround, with increases in income and unemployment falling to historic lows, Americans are becoming less happy” Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, director of the SDSN, points out, “This is a very strong message to my country, the United States, which is very rich,has gotten a lot richer over the last 50 years, but has gotten no happier… The message for the United States is clear. For a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things. Our social fabric is deteriorating, social trust is deteriorating, faith in government is deteriorating.” Money does not buy happiness- an essential lesson for our children. Need I say more?
Next lesson: Learn from Israel. How do Israelis, living in a constant state of potential war, intifada, rockets etc. achieve happiness? Professor Zahava Solomon of Tel Aviv University highlights this psychological paradox. This “culture of conflict” which makes Israelis constantly aware of the dangers they face makes them fearless and willing to take on risks that lead to self-growth. If each day might be your last, you would enjoy that day. This leads to a more fulfilling life. We need to demonstrate to and teach our children that each day can be life- changing, so don’t waste a moment.
Israelis have much to fear, so they fear nothing, points out Tifanie Wen in her article, “Why Are Israelis So Happy?” She quotes a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association which demonstrates that Israelis recover from PTSD faster than other Western nations. Israelis have continuously shown to be able to habituate to new conflicts. The level of anxiety may be higher in Israel, but the level of clinical anxiety is very low. “By experiencing more anxiety on a daily basis, they’ve become inoculated against bad things when they do occur and habituate to them rapidly. They are able to function in spite of them.” If one can be resilient in the face of potential war, then economic and social issues are easy to deal with by comparison. It is okay and important to express stress, and it helps us develop resilience. Thus, the importance of allowing our children to fail, brush themselves off and get up again.
Israeli psychologist Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, (whose work I have mentioned before in this column), author of the books Happier and Being Happy, and former professor of a popular course in Harvard, “The Science Of Happiness,” returned to Israel after being abroad for 15 years. He found himself happier when he returned. Ben-Shahar believes it is the Israeli’s focus on family and friends which is one cause of the happiness that Israelis feel. Time spent with those we care about is the number one predictor of happiness. Creating those close ties with family is essential for growth- more family time!
I don’t know about you, but I’d like to think that something about this happiness has to do with God. Geulio Meotti, in her article, “Why Are Israelis So Happy” notes, “While Israel’s social fabric is deeply divided between ultra-Orthodox Jews and ‘Hellenistic’ Israelis, nationalists and leftists, two-thirds of Israelis believe in God, therefore maintaining the hope and feeling that there is higher meaning and purpose to their lives. There is also the attachment to the Jewish land, while love for one’s land is a nationalistic taboo in the West.”
Here, in America, we try to relay to our students and children that intense connection to the land, the people and to God that one feels in Eretz Yisrael. “It is a Land that the Lord your God seeks out; the eyes of the Lord your God, are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” (Devarim, 11:12) It is a country of miracles. A country of resilience, meaning and mission. A country of family. It is one of the happiest countries on earth! Yom Haatzmaut Sameach!
Advisory Update:
Sixth Grade: Students continued their Friendship Unit focusing on- What does it mean to be popular? Are those qualities admirable? Who determines what’s considered “cool?”
Seventh Grade: Students began a new unit on “Do Not Stand Idly By” - the power of the upstander. They are beginning this unit focusing on political action for Israel in defense of a united Yerushalayim.
Eighth Grade: Students began to investigate the topics of peer pressure and bigotry by watching the movie The Wave.
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