On the surface, with everything going on in Israel these days, you might be surprised to learn that Israel again was rated as one of the world’s happiest places to live. The World Happiness Report measures overall life evaluation based on economic stability, healthcare, social support, and charitable giving. In 2026, Israel ranked eighth.

I’m not surprised, and this is coming from a guy who theoretically makes a living guiding tourists in Israel, a profession that has been suffering in Israel ever since the outbreak of COVID-19.

The reason I’m not surprised is based on a non-scientific observation I made recently. My wife and I had the opportunity to grab a lunch date together the other day, taking a small break from Passover preparations and cleaning. The mall and the restaurant were bustling! I asked our waitress about the crowd, and she confirmed my impression that more people than usual were out and about enjoying the pleasures of dining out. This, despite the emergency siren that could go off at any second, sending you and everyone else in the mall into the bomb shelter (which actually did happen while we were there in the mall that very same day). You wait with everyone else in the shelter, hear the booms of the Iranian ballistic missiles being shot down, wait for the all clear, and get on with your life.

As a whole, we are a happy bunch.

Our family has an “inside” joke. As you would imagine, stress levels throughout Israel were sky high immediately after October 7th. Rockets from Gaza were falling, sirens were blaring, we were at war, our son was called up to serve in Gaza, work stopped, schools were closed, thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, our sons, daughters, spouses, family and friends serving in the IDF were being injured and killed, worldwide antisemitism was on the rise, people were in shock over the massacre that had occurred, and we didn’t know how or when it was all going to end.

At one point, one of my children at home lost their patience over something and lashed out. Their sibling responded with, “Don’t worry, it’s only a war.” Maybe it was the way the words were said, but it immediately generated a much-needed moment of respite. Ever since, whenever patience levels drop in our home, and the stress begins to take a toll on us, inevitably someone will remark, “Don’t worry, it’s only a war,” which seems to help us ground ourselves again.

So here we are again, fighting a “new” war. Stress levels are through the roof. The constant sound of that amazingly annoying emergency siren that a missile from Iran may be on the way. Getting woken up in the middle of the night to make your way to the bomb shelter. The relief of hearing the booms of a distant missile being shot down by the IDF. Kids unable to go to school. Parents unable to go to work. Soldiers are again being called up to serve. Family and friends are unable to fly in and out of Israel during the holiday period. The tragic news of Israelis losing their lives and homes due to Iranian missile fire.

Yet still, we are some of the happiest people on the planet. Go figure.

We continue to live our lives during these amazingly challenging times. Most of us wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We go to work when we can. Our kids are going to school when we can. We work out at the gym, go shopping, out to eat, and even find the time to prepare for Passover.

Life is anything but normal right now. We don’t know what the next moment will bring. My youngest returned to where she is serving out her year of national service. The mayor showed up to personally present each one with a rose as a sign of appreciation for the important service they are providing during this especially dangerous time.

We are happy because we have each other.

Rabbi Mordechai Weiss was born in Miami Beach, Florida, and served as an emissary for Chabad in Teaneck, New Jersey for 21 years. Together with his family, he made Aliyah in July 2003 and is the author of “You Come For One Reason But Stay For Another.” He is a licensed Tour Guide, a father of 12 children, and a grandfather of many. He resides together with his wife Ellie and family in Mitzpeh Yericho, Israel.