It is common amongst Jews to bless each other on one's birthday with the statement, "May you live to be one hundred and twenty years." Scholars attribute this phrase to the fact that this was the age that Moses, the great and arguably the ultimate Jewish leader, reached.


This month, the State of Israel celebrates its sixtieth birthday. Judging by the title of some articles in the international media, one might conclude that the end of Israel is near. There is Michael Petrou, who penned an article in Maclean's magazine entitled, "Why Israel Can't Survive". While Jeffrey Goldberg posited in this month's edition of The Atlantic, "Is Israel finished?" However, as an individual who has spent many years working with those in their "golden years", I believe that Israel, as it enters its sixty-first year, is far from being past its prime. In fact, its best years may be ahead of it.


In 1948, as Israel declared its independence, five Arab armies stood at her borders with a promise to drive the

Judging by the title of some articles in the international media, one might conclude that the end of Israel is near.

Jews into the sea. World opinion that viewed Israel as the David versus a mighty Goliath changed with its resounding and miraculous victory in the Six Day War in 1967. The people of Israel yearn for peace and six years after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, there was a peace agreement with Egypt, followed years later by an agreement with Jordan.


Over these sixty years, more than 25,000 men, women and children have been killed in battles or in terror attacks. In a country of only seven million people, it is hard not to meet someone who either has a family member who was killed or who knows of such a family.


In Israel, Memorial Day is observed the day before Independence Day. Having lived the majority of my adult life in Maryland, I have been far more accustomed to the concept that on Memorial Day a person begins their annual trek "down the ocean", takes advantage of sales, and watches the Indy 500 than that one experiences any meaningful connection to the memories of those who fell wearing an American uniform. Memorial Day in Israel begins at dusk with the wail of an air raid siren. At that moment, the entire nation is unified in a moment of complete silence in respect for those who have had their lives cut short. What is striking, though, is that despite the immense pain that this country has suffered over these last sixty years, there is a resilience and steely determination amongst these people to succeed.


The nation of Israel is a story of a people and land that has not only succeeded against incredible odds, but has managed to thrive. The continued existence of Israel is one of its greatest accomplishments. Unfortunately, that story does not easily lend itself to the quick sound bites and video clips over the 24-hour-a-day news cycle.


There is no question that Israel is at a turning point in its short history. The threat of a nuclear Iran, a re-armed Hizbullah in the north, Hamas in the south, and an alphabet soup of terror groups that are bent on its destruction are a very real threat to the existence of this country; which is not dissimilar to what it faced in 1948.


Finally, Ehud Olmert, like George W. Bush, enjoys less than double digit popular support. The local media is filled with references to sensational allegations accusing Olmert of receiving large sums of money from a New York businessman. One needs to keep a score card to keep track of the many criminal investigations of Olmert and his government. Ehud Olmert is a far cry from the visionary leadership of David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir and Menachem Begin.


The poet Robert Frost once said that "home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." Israel is that home for the Jewish people. The fierce resilience and determination of its people make one believe that, despite the continued threats to its existence and the deep leadership crisis as the country enters its sixty-first year, Israel's cup is certainly closer to full than it is to "running on empty".