Israelis have shown remarkable resilience throughout the seven-front war, and there is much to be thankful for
For the second consecutive year, the State of Israel is marking its Independence Day with toned-down official celebrations due to the ongoing war engulfing the nation that dwells alone but whose enemies never leave it alone.
That seems appropriate in a country mourning its fallen soldiers and civilians, and whose people are deeply divided over whether to prioritize the release of hostages or to fight Hamas to the finish, while keeping their ears open for the all too frequent air raid sirens that disrupt sleep and rattle nerves.
Nonetheless, Israelis from various backgrounds are enjoying a rare weekday off from work, sharing barbecues with family and friends, and flocking to the beaches, parks, and playgrounds. Meanwhile, many others take the vacation day to participate in one of the several daylong beis medrash programs that have become as traditional and popular on Yom Ha’atzmaut among Torah-observant Jews as they have with chareidim.
Israelis have shown remarkable resilience throughout the seven-front war, and there is much to be thankful for. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, produced in partnership with the Gallup Poll, Israel ranks eighth among all nations. That’s a drop of three places from last year, but considering what people have endured, that’s not much of a decline.
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