JERUSALEM — At the start of a new Jewish year, there are good signs and other signs in our corner of the world.
Attacks continue, more or less daily, mostly by individual Palestinians or small groups. Recently an 84 year old Israeli was clubbed to death on the street near her home in Holon.
But we’ve also seen pictures of Prime Minister Lapid and King Abdullah of Jordan hugging one another when they met in the context of the United Nations in New York. As well as good signs of friendly meetings between Israeli leaders and those from Arab states in the Gulf.
And projections that Israel’s population will reach 10 million in 2024.
Where will we all fit, and what will the traffic be like?
Israel is strong, well off, with a healthy economy. Much different in all respects from what we can remember from 1948. But not fully accepted, and having to deal with continued signs of unrest from our Palestinian neighbors, and their relatives living as Israeli Arabs. But most are peaceful, with more than 100,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and 15,000 Gazans working here on a daily basis.
Our biggest problem is with Iran, its support of terror, and the prospect that it will achieve nuclear weapons. But we also have those weapons. And the Iranians are in the midst of serious opposition at home, with considerable unrest against the government. .
Israeli security forces are being increased for the holidays, and access from the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza will be closed.
Life is good for us in our retirement community. There are 11 four story buildings and a number of small units spread over the land, with a large central field. Evening lectures or concerts, films, and a range of activities throughout the day. All within a 10 minutes drive from our daughter and her family in Kadima.
At this point, we wish you all the best for the New Year, calculated as 5783.
Shana Tova.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com