“We are even better than okay…we’re actually doing fantastic over here.”
That’s my standard response to anyone who wants to know how we’re surviving in Israel.
On my recent trip to America I must have been asked the same question half-a-bizzillion times: “Aren’t you worried living in Israel?”
About what? The war? Terrorism? Iran? The Israeli economy? Political turmoil?
So for all those whom my unconditionally-optimistic response simply isn’t convincing enough, I’ll offer you the following facts:
1. People living in Israel are happy.
In fact, Israel is the 8th happiest country in the world, according to The U.S. News and World Report. Here in 2025, we are ahead of the United States, England, Canada, France, and we’re running circles around Turkey, China, and Russia.
2. There are tens of thousands of Jews who move to Israel every single year.
The fact that people are continuing to uproot their families to come to Israel (in spite of ongoing wars, a language-barrier, and other issues that come with immigration in general) suggests that people want to live here. Worried about finding a job here in your new home? The Israeli economic juggernaut continues to plow forwards—with the shekel making significant gains against both the US and Canadian dollar—even post-October 7th 2023. Most of these people are also moving to Israel from the less-happy countries of America, Canada, England, and France.
3. Israeli democracy is strong.
We are the only country with fair elections and freedom of press in our neighborhood. And for all the media coverage of protests against the government, there are patriotic celebrations with ten times more people enthusiastically waving Israeli flags in support of our country. Voluntary national service is up in all sectors of society and Israelis are amongst the most eager world-wide to donate their time, money, and bone-marrow in support of their countrymen.
4. I feel safer living here than in North America.
The inconvenient truth is that Israel remains a relatively safe place for Jews to live as other countries are experiencing a huge uptick in antisemitism from both the left and the right. Growing up in America, I don’t remember anyone carrying a firearm at our synagogue because no one was concerned for their safety. I don’t recall having multiple law-enforcement officials standing guard outside of local kosher restaurants or day schools as a kid. It’s been years since rapid-response security teams have been present in most American Jewish communities, and too many semesters since the physical assault of Jewish university students became the norm on campus. And Iranian terror cells have been documented planning attacks against Jews in Europe, Asia, and The Americas.
Sure, there are the occasional air raid sirens warning us about to ballistic missiles, waking us up at 530 am (like this morning). But our morning prayers as a family in our safe room are more meaningful than any experience I ever had in boring old New England. And the national resilience is palpable as you watch your neighbors leave the communal bomb shelters to make their breakfast and then go off to work.
Are there challenges here in Israel? You betcha! But living anywhere has its difficulties and waking up in the Jewish homeland facilitates a profound optimism on both an individual and a national level. As David Ben Gurion famously said, “In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.”
I like being a pragmatist and a believer. So yes, we are doing okay living here in Israel.
Jacob L. Freedman, MD, is a psychiatrist and a business consultant based in Jerusalem, Israel. His newest book, Stories and Halacha from The Psychiatrist’s Couch, is available from Adir Press and Dr. Freedman can be most easily reached via his website: drjacoblfreedman.com