There is a reason the State of Israel has defied the odds for over 77 years. It’s not any single government, political party, or institution. It’s the people. Israelis — from every background and belief — are the engine of our national resilience. We are strong, tough, stubborn, and proud. Against waves of terrorism, wars, boycotts, and unrelenting diplomatic pressure, we do not flinch. We build, and when necessary, we rebuild. We fight to defend our homes and our loved ones. And we do not apologize for doing so.
Israelis share a foundational spirit: the belief in building something better and building it together. We are not simply trying to survive here. We are creating a dynamic, innovative, justice-seeking society rooted in Jewish history, values, and identity – yet fully planted in the modern world. A place we can proudly raise our children. A place where the ancient meets the cutting-edge.
We are not perfect, and we know it. We argue – loudly. We contradict each other, challenge leaders, and question their motives. That’s part of the DNA of this country. But there’s a deeper truth: When crisis hits, we show up. Together. No matter our differences. We know that progress doesn’t come from tearing our country down, but from struggling through disagreement and emerging stronger on the other side.
We are a people rooted in this land not by accident or convenience, but by destiny. For thousands of years, Jews prayed to return to Zion. Now we are here. And we are not leaving. The overwhelming majority of Israelis want to live here, raise families here, and build a future here. And we are doing it every day.
That is why many of us are troubled by the increasingly toxic rhetoric coming from a narrow, yet disproportionately amplified, slice of Israeli society. But despite the noise, it is not reflective of who we are.
Spend one afternoon walking through Sarona Market or midtown Tel Aviv. You’ll see a reality that no protest slogan or cynical editorial can erase: the heartbeat of a thriving nation. Soldiers on break, engineers coding the next innovation, entrepreneurs planning their next venture. This isn’t just lunch – it’s a national revival playing out in real time.
Visit Jerusalem on hol hamoed (the intermediate days of the holidays of Passover and Sukkot), stand in silence at Har Herzl on Remembrance Day, or do pre-Shabbat shopping in Mahaneh Yehuda market. Witness a military swearing-in ceremony or hear the ancient prayers during selichot prayers at the Kotel. At those moments, you’ll see the soul of this country revealed: religious and secular, Mizrahi and Ashkenazi, young and old, united in pride, in pain, in purpose.
The Israel that the world doesn't see
This is the Israel the world doesn’t always see, and that too many Israeli media outlets are uninterested in showcasing. But it is real. It is vibrant. And it is the nation of Israel in action – not just an idea, but a living, breathing force of Jewish unity, just as Rav Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook envisioned.
We’ve endured war, terrorism, economic hardship, and political upheaval. And still, we remain. Stronger. More determined. More committed than ever to the land of our ancestors and the future of our people.
Most Israelis don’t live their lives on X/Twitter. They aren’t yelling on talk shows or marching in angry protests. They are serving in the IDF, teaching in classrooms, healing in hospitals, inventing in labs, and building communities. They are too busy contributing to tear this country down. They love this country too much to sabotage it.
YET EVERY day, we are bombarded with negativity from those who speak loudest but represent the fewest. These are the voices of obstruction, not construction. They do not offer solutions. They offer slogans.
Even more disheartening is the behavior of former leaders who, having lost the trust of the public, now lash out against the very institutions they once led. Certain former prime ministers have exchanged leadership for personal vendettas. Leveraging their titles for airtime and attention while collecting a taxpayer-funded pension from the very state they seek to undermine and defame.
The same is true for groups of retired generals and security officials, specifically those who supported Oslo, the withdrawal from Lebanon, and the disengagement from Gaza.
Every one of those initiatives ended in heartbreak and bloodshed. Yet today, they reappear as self-anointed prophets, believing their past rank gives them the moral authority to override the Israeli electorate and disparage those still serving.
Rather than showing humility for failed policies, they show entitlement. But Israelis haven’t forgotten. That’s why these men don’t lead us anymore – and never will again.
The majority of Israelis want a strong, secure state that asserts its sovereignty, defends its borders, and protects its citizens. We’ve had enough of delusional promises and failed experiments. We don’t want more disengagements or withdrawals. That’s not extremism. That’s responsibility. That’s Zionism in practice.
And we know what’s at stake.
We’re the ones sending our children to the army. The parents of reservists. Our kids dropped everything on October 7 and ran to defend the nation. Those soldiers didn’t fight for a politician or a party. They fought for their homes, for their children, and for the land they love. They are the real heroes of Israel. And they know that no one else will defend this country for us.
In his 1943 lecture on his father’s yahrzeit, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik drew a powerful distinction between two biblical concepts: machaneh (camp) and edah (congregation). A machaneh, he explained, is an encampment created for protection – a defensive necessity. An edah, however, is something deeper: a collective of people united by common values, rooted in tradition, and building toward a shared vision.
Israel today is both. We are a machaneh, defending ourselves from those who seek our destruction. But we are also an edah, joined in purpose, creating a society that reflects both our ancient heritage and our modern aspirations.
We cannot let the loudest voices define who we are. The true Israel is found in the fields of Galilee, the start-ups of Tel Aviv, the yeshivot of Jerusalem, the pre-army mechinot (preparation programs), and the army bases of the Negev. It is found in the local grocery stores, the coffee shops, and the hospital wards. It is found in the quiet determination of families planting roots, raising children, paying taxes, and building a future in this land, our land.
Israel is not just a country. It is the eternal home of the Jewish people. That is not a slogan, it is our reality. And it is worth protecting, defending, and yes, fighting for.
Let us stop apologizing for our strength. Let us stop giving the megaphone to those who lost the trust of the people. The next chapter of Israel’s story will not be written by the prophets of doom. It will be written by millions of proud Israelis who believe in our country, love it deeply, and know that its best days lie ahead.
We are strong. We are proud. We are united. And we are here to stay.
The writer is the managing partner of Dekel Capital Management, a resident of Beit Shemesh, a proud oleh who made aliyah 27 years ago and prides himself in always feeling like a new oleh. He is an avid Zionist who cares deeply about the future of the State of Israel and the Jewish People.