1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 2: You know, Israel is one of the most fascinating countries 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: to visit. I hope one day you'll be able to 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: go with me, But in the meantime, I just want 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 2: to share a few things with you about modern Israel, 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: modern Israeli society. So stick with me. 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: Let's take a break and hear a message from one 8 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: of our sponsors. Welcome to Out of Zion with Susan Michael, 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: an exploration of the Bible and the land of Israel, 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: from ancient Biblical sites to the story behind the stories. 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: Join Susan on a journey through the most exciting book 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: on the planet. Hit the subscribe button for future episodes 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: which will deepen your faith and bring the Bible to life. 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: And now here's our host, Susan Michael. 15 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: Well, welcome to our Israel Answers Teachings series to part 16 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: five of our Connecting the Bible to Today, where we 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: have been connecting the dots between the Bible times and 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 2: today in terms of Judaism and Christianity, Anti Semitism, how 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 2: the state of Israel was formed and today I want 20 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: to bring that series to an end and talk about 21 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: modern Israel. I want you to understand better some of 22 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 2: the facets of modern Israel, because it is just so fascinating. 23 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 2: You know, first of all, Israel is a very ethnically 24 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: diverse place, and that's the first thing you learn when 25 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 2: you go there. You realize Jews come in all sizes, shapes, 26 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: and colors. And I say that with love in my 27 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: heart for them, but you realize that they're not one 28 00:01:53,360 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 2: ethnicity or one race. That there's Black, there's Asian, there 29 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: is Middle Eastern, there is Western European looking Russian, all 30 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: these different types of people that make up the mosaic 31 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: of Israel. And that's because of the various waves of 32 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: what we call ali al or immigration to the land. 33 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: When Israel was first born, about eighty percent of it 34 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 2: was of European or Russian descent, so that was the 35 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: fair complexed Western Ashkenazi. And then when Israel was formed, 36 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: all the Jews living throughout the Middle East, most of 37 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: them had to flee their homes and make their way 38 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: to Israel, really as refugees. There were hundreds of thousands 39 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: of them, and so they come and they have that 40 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: darker Middle Eastern complexion and culture. They ate Eastern foods, 41 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: they lived according to Eastern family traditions and society, and 42 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, they're over fifty percent of Israel. 43 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: There was a great clash of cultures taking place there. 44 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: And then in the late eighties when the Iron Curtain 45 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 2: fell in over a million Russians have immigrated to Israel. 46 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: Just in the nineties or early two thousands. They came. 47 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: They had grown up under Communism. They didn't know the 48 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 2: first thing about Judaism, they had no religious understanding. They 49 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 2: didn't know the Hebrew culture, they didn't know the Middle 50 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: Eastern culture. They were very, very different. They brought with 51 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: them eating pork and drinking vodka. Honestly, it was very 52 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: very different. Another clash of cultures. And then they're in 53 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: the immigration absorption centers and who do they meet. Israel 54 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: had just airlifted fourteen thousand Ethiopian Jews out of a 55 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: very simple agrarian society in Ethiopia, and they find their 56 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: way into the absorption centers with the another major clash 57 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 2: of cultures. And that's what makes Israel so fascinating. And 58 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: while you have this great ethnic diversity, just the geography 59 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 2: of the state of Israel is very diverse. You go 60 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: from Mount Hermone up north where you have snow capped 61 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 2: mountains and ski resorts down to just I don't know what, 62 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: a couple of hours away. You're at the lowest point 63 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: on Earth, down at the Dead Sea, where they never 64 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 2: see snow or cold weather, they hardly see rain. And 65 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: it's the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea. And 66 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: then you want to go to Jerusalem. You climb up 67 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: the Judaean cliff sides of this barren Judaean wilderness. In America, 68 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: for us, a wilderness means like a forest with all 69 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 2: kinds of green and vines and trees. You can't make 70 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: your way through the wilderness. No, no, no, that is not 71 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: what wilderness means. In Israel, the Judaean wilderness is a desert, 72 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: but it's a mountainous desert and it goes all the 73 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 2: way from the Dead Sea Valley Upstraort cliffs, up into 74 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 2: the hillside leading up to Jerusalem to the south that 75 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 2: goes down into the Negev Desert. Fascinating place. I love it. 76 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 2: And then on the other side of Jerusalem you have 77 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: the rolling hills. You can actually see the Mediterranean Sea 78 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: from the other side of Jerusalem, and you just can't 79 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: get this type of geographic contrast all squeezed into this 80 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: one little nation about the size of New Jersey. Then 81 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:53,559 Speaker 2: let's talk about the religious diversity. Well, a few weeks 82 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 2: ago I talked about Judaism and the great diversity within Judaism, 83 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 2: and so I'm not going to repeat that, but you'll 84 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 2: see that in Israel everything from the ultra Orthodox, who 85 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 2: dress in black coats and white shirts and black hats 86 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 2: and the curls and very very strict adherence to the law, 87 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: but also to the teachings of their rabbis that they follow. 88 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 2: And you can tell which rabbi or which school of 89 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: thought that they follow based on how they dress. And 90 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: then you have the more everyday Orthodox that wears a 91 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: keeper and maybe a white shirt and business pants, but 92 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: lives a little bit more integrated into society. And then 93 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 2: you have the more everyday traditional Israeli that maybe wears 94 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: a keeper when they go to synagogue, but not everyday life. 95 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 2: And then you just keep moving into more and more 96 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: of an everyday modern Western adherents, very little observance of 97 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 2: the law, and all of this diversity in Israel here 98 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: in this one state, and sometimes they disagree with each other, 99 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 2: and politically they're kind of fighting it out right now, 100 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: should the ultra Orthodox serve in the army or not. 101 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: Should the ultra Orthodox have their own schools and their 102 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: own system or not? And they fight it out amongst themselves. 103 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: But there's also other religions in the land of Israel. 104 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: So we have almost twenty percent of Israelis are not 105 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 2: even Jewish. Most of them are Muslim, So there's many 106 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: mosque throughout Israel. There is a whole Muslim society within Israel. 107 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: And then there's a much smaller minority that are Christians. 108 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: And when I say Christians, I mean of Arab descent 109 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: or of Aramaic descent, of Middle Eastern descent. They've been 110 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: living in Israel all along. They have Israeli citizenship. And 111 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: then there is that let me segue into talking about 112 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: the Arab minority in Israel. There is twenty percent, but 113 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: they are full Israeli citizens, They have Israeli passports, they 114 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:11,239 Speaker 2: have voting rights, they have their own political parties. Right now, 115 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: in the Israeli government, there is a coalition government, and 116 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: that coalition has one Arab party in the coalition. In 117 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 2: the government of Israel, there is an Arab party. Today, 118 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: there are Arab Supreme Court Justices. There are Arabs in 119 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: the police forces. There are Arabs in the border patrol forces. 120 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 2: There are Arabs in the Israeli Foreign Service, they serve 121 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 2: as ambassador. There are Arab minorities that are former Miss 122 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 2: Israel was an Arab Israeli. It goes on and on 123 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: and on. So they have opportunities. Yes, they suffer, as 124 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: any minority in any country in the world has some 125 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: level of inequality. It's just part and parcel with being 126 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 2: a minority. But in Israel, this minority has even an 127 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: additional obstacle, an additional difficulty, and that is that they 128 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 2: are of the ethnicity and the language and maybe of 129 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: the religion of the surrounding countries that Israel has been 130 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: at war with and still at a state of war 131 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: with some of them. And so this minority has a 132 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 2: special security risk associated with it. Israel has to keep 133 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: a close eye on them. Is there any radicalization taking 134 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 2: place within the mosque that Israel sees as a security threat. 135 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: And you see an Arab on the street, it's not 136 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 2: always obvious. Are they Christian? Are they Muslim? I mean, 137 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: even sometimes it's hard to tell the Jews from them 138 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: because of the similar ethnicity. So I want to make 139 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: another point here about the Arab minority. There is a difference, 140 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 2: and this is a real confusing point for a lot 141 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: of people. There is a difference in being an Israeli Arab, 142 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 2: which is this minority of the that have citizenship in Israel, 143 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: and in being a Palestinian. A Palestinian doesn't live inside 144 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: Israel proper. They live inside what are called the Palestinian territories. Now, 145 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 2: I know some of you listening believe that all of 146 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: that should be Israel. I'm not debating that. I'm just 147 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: saying that there is a section of the country that 148 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 2: over the last twenty years, Israel made an agreement and 149 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: turned part of its government governing over to the Palestinian authority. 150 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: So today ninety eight percent of the Palestinian Arabs live 151 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: in cities and territories that are under a Palestinian government. 152 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 2: It's largely in the territory you've heard of called the 153 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 2: West Bank, and then we have the Gaza Strip, which 154 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 2: I'll talk about in a minute. Right now, I just 155 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 2: want to talk about the Arabs that are in the 156 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: West Bank area, and they're called Palestinians, and that's because 157 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: they are not Israeli citizens. Now there is a minority 158 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 2: of Israeli Arabs that are Israeli citizens that call themselves 159 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 2: Palestinian in solidarity with the Palestinian movement, and so, I 160 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 2: know it gets really confusing, but when you're talking about 161 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 2: Israel's treatment of the Arabs or the situation of the Arabs, 162 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: you must understand that there are these two main categories 163 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 2: Israeli citizenship Arabs and Palestinian Arabs under Palestinian government. Then yeah, 164 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 2: there's a little bit of an over lapping and there 165 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 2: are some gray areas in between the two. But once 166 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: you understand these two different then you can begin to 167 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: understand some of the issues we're going to be talking 168 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 2: about in the coming weeks. 169 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: Let's take a break and hear a message from one 170 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: of our sponsors. Welcome back to the Out of Zion 171 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: podcast with Susan Michael. 172 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 2: Now, let me talk about the Israeli government, because for Americans, 173 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 2: we have a hard time understanding the Israeli government because 174 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 2: we have a different system. Their system is the parliamentarian system, 175 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 2: and so in Israel, you don't vote for a prime minister, 176 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 2: you vote for a party. And so you vote for 177 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 2: a party and then they add up the votes and 178 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 2: there may be fifteen to twenty different parties running in 179 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: an election, and some of those parties will it's so 180 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: few votes that they don't even earn them any seats 181 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 2: in the government. So they're like, they're not even in 182 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: the parliament. But if you get enough votes, then based 183 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 2: on how many votes your party gets, you get a 184 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 2: number of seats in the parliament. So Israel has never 185 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 2: ever had a party that got enough votes to be 186 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 2: the majority in the parliament, which they call the Kanesset. 187 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 2: In Hebret's called the Kanesset. There's one hundred and twenty 188 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 2: seats in the Kanessset, so you need sixty one seats 189 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: to be a majority. There has never been a party 190 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 2: to have that many seats. So how do they form 191 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 2: a government. It's through coalitions, and so the main party, 192 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 2: the party with the most seats, which in the last 193 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 2: few elections has been liqud party, they then have to 194 00:13:55,240 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 2: make agreements with some of the other large parties. They 195 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 2: get sixty one seats in their coalition, and so there's 196 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 2: a lot of negotiating that takes place. One party will say, okay, 197 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: I'll be a part of your government. But I want 198 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: to make sure that we are in control of this ministry, 199 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 2: in that ministry education or whatever. And they bargain with 200 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 2: each other, and they barter and they come finally they arrange, Okay, 201 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 2: we've got a coalition. These are the parties. It's enough seats, 202 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: and this is the coalition government. So today there are 203 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: I think thirteen parties in the Kanesset and the ruling coalition. 204 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: I may be wrong, but I think it's close to 205 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 2: eight parties. So when you have that many parties in 206 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 2: a coalition, it means that there is a lot of instability. 207 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 2: All it takes is one party and they may only 208 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 2: have three or four seats, but if they pull out, 209 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 2: the whole government collapses. And so that's the Israeli political system. 210 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: You know, the system is full of negotiating, a lot 211 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: of playing politics, and you really have to be a 212 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 2: strong politician. To become a leading political leader in Israel. 213 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: You got to know how to navigate this system. You 214 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 2: got to know how to negotiate, how to put together coalitions, 215 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: how to fight it out, how to threaten people, how 216 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 2: to get your way when you need it, how to 217 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: give in when you need to. There's a real art 218 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: to it, and the Israeli political system is absolutely fascinating 219 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 2: to watch. Now, I've given you a picture of a 220 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: country with a lot of diversity. What brings it together, 221 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: what unifies it? How do they hold it all together? Well, 222 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: there's a couple things. One is serving in the Israeli 223 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: Defense Forces. The IDF is the Israeli Defense Forces is 224 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 2: what it stands for, and it's compulsory service. So men 225 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 2: have to serve three years and I think women serve 226 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 2: two years. And then after they get out of their 227 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 2: army service, for the next twenty twenty five years they're 228 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: in reserve duty. And that means that every year, for 229 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: a whole month, they leave their work, they leave their job, 230 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 2: and they go and they serve in the military. Now, 231 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: how does this affect Israeli society? In about three different ways. 232 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: One is it's a real equalizer in society. So you 233 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 2: may have I'll just make up an example, but you 234 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 2: may have a medical doctor that has to serve in 235 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 2: the reserves, and in the reserves he's actually answering to 236 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 2: someone who is an engineer in real life. Or they 237 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: may own a car mechanic place. So it cuts down 238 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 2: on a lot of the class that happens in societies, 239 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 2: and the Israeli people formed more of a cohesive unit. 240 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 2: It's not based so much on your profession or your job. 241 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: There's not as many classes, and the idea serves as 242 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: a lot of a unifier of society. It is also 243 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 2: like a right of passage. And so there are two 244 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 2: groups of people in Israel that do not have to 245 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: serve in the military, and in a way that leaves 246 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: them out a little bit in society. And one is 247 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 2: the ultra religious. They are opposed to serving in the military. 248 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: They don't want to serve in the military. They want 249 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: to insteady Torah. And there's a small faction of ultra 250 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 2: Orthodox that don't believe in supporting the state of Israel 251 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 2: because it wasn't formed by the Messiah, and so they battle. 252 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 2: Then they don't have the same entree into Israeli society. 253 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: The other group that does not have to serve in 254 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: the military are Israeli Arabs. They are not required to. 255 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 2: But what we see happening now is more and more 256 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 2: Israeli Arabs are volunteering to serve in the IDF. Why 257 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 2: because number one, a lot of them just appreciate the 258 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 2: freedoms and the opportunities they have in Israel, and they 259 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: want to protect them. But secondly, a lot of them 260 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 2: know that it's true your military service that you meet 261 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: people who then after military service might help open doors 262 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: for you to get a job, to advance in your 263 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 2: career these types of things, and also your training in 264 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 2: the military, so it really helps you to become better 265 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 2: integrated into Israeli society. So more ThM are volunteering. There's 266 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 2: one other way that the IDEF has influenced Israeli society, 267 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: and that is that it has produced a young people 268 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: that realize the only way that they're going to keep 269 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: their country safe. And let me tell you, let me 270 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 2: just say one thing quickly. When if you're in a 271 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 2: war in Israel and you're serving in the IDEAF, your 272 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 2: family is probably about an hour away from the battlefront. 273 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 2: So these young soldiers they know they are fighting for 274 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 2: the lives of their families. It's a different feeling for 275 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 2: us as Americans. Our wars are on the other side 276 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 2: of the world. They feel it as a direct threat 277 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 2: to their families and their communities. So these young people 278 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: have learned the only way that they can keep their 279 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 2: families and their communities and their nations safe is by 280 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 2: staying one foot ahead, one step ahead of the enemy, 281 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: and that means in technology and in a weaponry and 282 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 2: in technique, and so they are always looking for ways 283 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 2: to develop technology and to develop new weapons with new 284 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 2: capability to stay one step ahead. Wellin that young person 285 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: leaves their military service and goes into the private world 286 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 2: and they take that same drive with them. And that 287 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: is why Israel has become known as the startup nation 288 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 2: because they have so many young people. They're developing new 289 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: technology as a business and then once they get it 290 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 2: up and running, they usually sell it to a big company. 291 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 2: So these big companies like Microsoft and Intel and name them, 292 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: they have R and D research and development centers in Israel, 293 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: and they're using this very drive in the young people 294 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 2: that is birthed in them in the military. One last 295 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,360 Speaker 2: thing I'm going to tell you quickly about Israel. So 296 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 2: Israel's not only leading the world in innovation and science 297 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 2: and medical technology and all these wonderful things that they 298 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 2: are inventing and discovering, but Israel is also leading the 299 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:42,239 Speaker 2: world in volunteerism. And this is not because of the 300 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: army so much, although The army does play a part 301 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 2: in this. The army teaches them how to deploy, how 302 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 2: to take a makeshift tent and set up a mobile hospital, 303 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 2: and these things. They learn all this in the military, 304 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 2: so then they get out as a young person and 305 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 2: they want to help the world, and so they are 306 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 2: the first if there's an earthquake in Haiti, or in 307 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 2: Thailand or Malaysia, or wherever in the world there's a 308 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: tidal wave, there's whatever, they're the first on the scene. 309 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 2: With this advanced technology of these these hospitals that they 310 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: can just put up in a matter of hours and 311 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 2: be fully ready, not to treat injuries, but to do surgeries. 312 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: Even why is that, well, the military, But secondly why 313 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 2: is it. It's because of the Jewish DNA that for 314 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 2: centuries the Jewish people have prayed for tikun olam in 315 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: Hebrew and I will translate it. It's translated as repairing 316 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 2: the world. They have a drive within them to make 317 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 2: the world a better place. They are driven and to 318 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 2: help people that are hurting. They want to repair the world, 319 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:09,239 Speaker 2: and so they are leading the world in volunteerism and 320 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 2: little Biddy Israel has taken humanitarian aid to over one 321 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 2: hundred and forty countries in the world. That is amazing. 322 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,959 Speaker 2: And now my very last point to you before I close, 323 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 2: is about the Israeli people. They have been referred to 324 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 2: and they call themselves actually sabra amongst themselves. That a 325 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 2: sabra is someone who actually was born in Israel. There 326 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 2: are real Israeli because they were born there. The others 327 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 2: are Oleine, they are immigrants they've come in, but their 328 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,360 Speaker 2: children are going to be sobra because their children will 329 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 2: be born in Israel. What is a sobra, Well, sabra 330 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 2: is a cactus fruit. It's very very prickly. On the outside, 331 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 2: it's got thorns, it will hurt you if you try 332 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 2: to but on the inside it's very soft. It's very kind. 333 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 2: And that's the people of Israel. They're known for being 334 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 2: kind of brusque, but on the inside they're very warm, 335 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 2: they're very caring, they're very friendly. And so I hope 336 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: you can go with me one day to see all 337 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 2: of this for yourself. I want you to know we 338 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 2: have a tour going later this year. I invite you 339 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 2: to go with me. Down below, in our show notes, 340 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 2: we're going to give you a link to a tour 341 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: interest sign up. Sign up today, get on that list, 342 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: because just as soon as we have dates and pricing, 343 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 2: we're going to send it out to everyone. So get 344 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: on the list, and if you can't go this year, 345 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 2: maybe you can go next year. We'll keep you informed 346 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 2: when we have a tour for you to go. Go 347 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 2: with me experience the miracle of this most fascinating place 348 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: on earth called Israel. So with that, I'm going to end. 349 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 2: I can't wait to see you back here next week. 350 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: And in the meantime, God bless and I want to 351 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 2: offer you a free download. We have a download ten 352 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 2: reasons to Stand with Israel, and actually it's ten reasons 353 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: why Christians should stand with Israel. Get your free download 354 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: by going to the link in today's show note, or 355 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 2: go to www dot out of zionshow dot com and 356 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 2: click on the tab for resources. We'll have it there 357 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 2: as well, but be sure download this free resource for you. 358 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 2: We're going to be talking about some of the points 359 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 2: in it in the coming week, so we want to 360 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 2: make sure that you have it. You can print it out, 361 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 2: you can share it with friends and family, invite them 362 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 2: to join us here on the Out of Zion Show 363 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 2: for our Israel Answer Series. So we'll see you back 364 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: here next week and until then, God bless. 365 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: We hope you have enjoyed this episode of Out of 366 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: Zion with Susan Michael. Be sure to subscribe to out 367 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: of Zion now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pray dot Com, 368 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: Salem Oneplace, Salem, Life Audio. Out of Zion with Susan 369 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: Michael is a production of ic Ejusa. All rights reserved. 370 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: This podcast is presented in partnership with Life Audio to 371 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: explore a wide range of faith centered podcasts on prayer, 372 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: Bible study, parenting, and more. Visit lifeaudio dot com.