VOICES
CELEBRATING
ISRAEL AT 60
How to Use This Website
* * * * *
Shalom
The Geatest Adventure
Chapter 1: Footprints
Chapter 2: The Unshakling
Chapter 3: The Squeeze Hold
Chapter 4: The Inferno
Chapter 5: The Unexpected Triumph
Chapter 6: The Rebirth, 1949-1967
Chapter 7: Highs & Lows, 1968-1973
Chapter 8: Optimism Under Fire, 1974-1999
Chapter 9: Reality Check, 2000-2008
Chapter 10: Belonging to the Future
TIMELINES:
Pre-Israel
The State of Israel
*****
Links & References

The story of the lives of the Jews and the rise of Israel is the greatest adventure, greatest epic and greatest love story you could ever sink your teeth into. I admit it’s mighty long. Much longer than any Soap Opera playing on American TV and, yes the drama continues, but isn’t it exciting? Our heroes are still standing! You look skeptical. You don’t believe me?

“What heroes? Just a bunch of Jews!”
“Oh yea? So tell me what makes for a good action story?
“A David and a Goliath story.”
“Check”
“Pain, struggle, power, loads of it.”
“Check”
“Virtue, honor, loyalty, goodness smarts.. good vs. evil.”
“Plenty”
“And a love story. It needs a love story for sure!

“Come in with me into the story, turn the pages, listen, listen…..”

“Are you going to start with Abraham and Sarah because I am so tired of that….”?

“No way I am going to start with the unshackling. From there, we’ll walk into a squeeze hold, then into the inferno and then come out on the other side. Is that enough adventure for one sitting?"

“You are kidding me. Can’t be done.”

“It can and it did and this is just the beginning. We call it the preamble to Israel. The Unshackling is Zionism. The Squeeze Hold is the British Mandate and the Inferno is the Holocaust."

”Hmm, will this be a whole lecture or an entire book I don’t want to read?”
“Excerpts, paragraphs, the rest is in the slides and the interviews.”

“What’s next?”
“The triumph”
“Not bad. What’s that?”
“The Birth of Israel.”
“How long did that take?
“Officially about a year. Unofficially, about twenty from 1948 to 1967
“Long birth”
“Well, long history.”

“What’s next ?
“The battles and Discoveries.”
“What no peace yet?”
“I told you it’s the greatest adventure story on earth.”
“Well how long is that chapter?’
“Officially 40 years from 1968 to 2008 unofficially……”

“Alright , alright you promised a love story….”
“My darling, this is nothing but a love story....."