To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding, the Baltimore Israel Coalition recently asked local middle and high school students to write essays exploring what they consider to be Israel’s greatest contribution to the world over the past seven decades. The essays submitted generally focused on the Jewish state’s social and technological triumphs.
The winning entries selected by the BIC were Caleb Gitlitz, a Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School ninth grade student (for top high school submission); and Shayna Sefret, a Beth Tfiloh sixth grade student (tor top middle school submission).
The BIC is a consortium of 24 organizations in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area working to support Israel through education, advocacy and community building.
Israel: Freedom and Opportunity
By Caleb Gitlitz
Over the past 70 years of its existence, Israel has contributed much to the world — ranging from technological advances to relief all over the globe for those injured by natural catastrophes. Perhaps its greatest contributions to the world, however, are not tangible items. They are the democratic ideals that Israel inspires throughout the rest of the world and the safe haven it provides for Jews and non-Jews alike in the Middle East.
Until 1948, the modern nations of the world had no experience with Jewish self-rule, in an independent nation of their own. At best, they were collectively skeptical; at worst, there was the weight of anti-Semitism that both fueled and bitterly condemned Zionism.
But once Israel demonstrated what the Jewish people are capable of, they proved how essential they can be to the world. The ideals of democracy, equality and freedom based upon fear of G-d and laws that universally respect people created in His image that define their country provide hope for others in the Middle-East.
These ideals not only permitted the Jews to return to Israel, but they also provide safety, protection and security to the non-Jews in the Middle East as well. They demonstrate that the founding principles of representative democracy and justice have their roots not solely in Greece and Rome, but in ancient Israel as well.
Despite all the anti-Semitism in the world, Israel has shown the world the positive aspects of the Jewish nation that many non-Jewish critics used to overlook or ignore. Israel’s democratic ideals not only help those who live in Israel, but they provide inspiration to people throughout the world.
Since they arrived in Israel, many Arabs and Palestinians have expressed how much better the Israeli government treats them compared to previous governments they were subjects of. The rights that Israel gives to its Arab citizens far outnumber those given to them by previous governments who, ironically, shared the same faith as them. The other countries in the Middle East are all dictatorships, leaving their citizens with little room to disagree with laws and regulations. They are not permitted much freedom of speech if any. In Israel, Arab citizens are treated just like any Jewish citizen — seeing as they hold high positions in both the Knesset and the Israel Defense Forces, and are prominent in the arts, science, education and entertainment. Minorities in Israel can express their beliefs, opinions and ideas freely without the slightest fear from the government. Nowhere else in the Middle East are non-Jews treated with the same freedoms and rights as they are in Israel.
Israel Helps Beyond Its Borders
By Shayna Sefret
For many years, Israel has helped countries in times of need. They have sent over medical and rescue teams, and army forces to help countries in times of disaster. During the Haiti earthquake, Israel sent medical help over when the people there needed help because of the earthquake.
I think that it is physically and emotionally helpful when Israel helps other countries. It is physically helpful because some countries cannot help themselves, so other countries take on that responsibility and do whatever they can to help the people there. It is emotionally helpful because when someone helps you, you feel that you are cared for and that people appreciate you and what you do. You feel that other people are on your side and you can count on other people to help you when you need it.
Many times, when a country needs help, Israel is the first country to arrive on the scene and to care for the people who need it most. Israel also helps save lives. Referring back to the Haiti example, Israel saved thousands of people’s lives that were in Haiti at the time when the earthquake occurred. Israel often jumps right in and is happy to go and help the countries. Israel is also always prepared and ready to help other people. They enjoy making the world a better place.
Israel also sets up medical places to help the sick people who can’t afford medical help. Israeli doctors have been offering eye camps to teat eye diseases to people throughout the world. Israel has also opened up its doors to refugees from places such as Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo, Eritrea and Sudan. Israel’s medical teams are also involved in an organization that deals with people who need life-saving heart operations. They have helped people from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Iraq and other Arab nations seeking medical help.
Since the organization first started, they have saved 2,300 children. Half of those children are from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Iraq.
Over the last 26 years, Israel has sent 15 aid missions to counties that were struck by natural disasters such as the Haiti earthquake. Overall, Israel doesn’t pass up a chance to help another country when they need it.
Israel may be a very tiny country on the map, but they help tremendously. That is how Israel helps beyond its borders.
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