Below is a message I posted on my Computer Jobs in Israel report
of April 28, 1998. (http://www.cji.co.il)

It reflects my thoughts about Israel's 50th Anniversary.
Jacob

Today is Remembrance Day in Israel. Over the past 50 years 
many soldiers gave their lives in protecting Am Yisrael in
Eretz Yisrael. This day comes right before Yom Ha'atzmaut and
this allows us to reflect on the many sacrifices people have
made to let us live safely in our homeland.  
Let the memory of the fallen be blessed. 

Tonight is Yom Ha'atzmaut and I would like to give you some 
of my thoughts about the 50th Jubilee. I have read various 
articles and seen various reports on television over the
past few days describing "troubled times" in the country.
The "troubled times" in these reports include the peace
process, religious and secular differences, unemployment,
expensive vacations, political maneuvering and more.
Yes, we have problems like everyone else but looking at
the whole picture I would say we are doing pretty good.
In fact, pretty good is putting it mildly, we are doing
great!!
How many groups of people over the centuries can claim
survival against all odds?? Look what has been done to
our people in this last century...and look....we are still
here. Look at a map of the middle-east and look at Israel.
My guess is that the world is bewildered that little Israel
survived the 48, 56, 67, 73, 82 wars against all odds.
I believe that our partner, up above, had the fix in :-)
I once spoke to a medic that was on one of the airplanes
that went on the Entebbe rescue. The medic is not "religious" 
but he stated that his only explanation for the success of
the mission was a miracle. 

Against all odds we developed the country and made it bloom.
This is truly the land of milk and honey. Travel across the 
country and look around - who would have believed this was 
all possible 50 years ago. Open a medical journal or a computer 
magazine and you read about Israeli companies making 
breakthroughs in the high-tech fields. Pretty good? 
No, I would say great!

Over the past decades, many countries have imposed immigration
quotas, limiting the number of people that are allowed into their
countries. In fact, there are many countries that enforced these
quotas just when the Jewish people needed a place to escape to.
If the State of Israel was available to us during the 1930's
and 1940's - who knows what could have been.
Today I look back over the great aliyah's and I am amazed.
I made aliyah in 1984 and witnessed the aliyah from the former
Soviet Union and the aliyah from Ethiopia. We may not eat the
same foods or dress the same or behave the same BUT.... we are
all Jews living in the land of Israel with a destiny. 

We have come a long way in the past 50 years and if the next 
50 years are anything like the past 50 years I am staying here
to be part of the adventure. Yes, many people look at the half
empty glass, but if you stop for a moment and look at the other
half you will be breathless.

So....what has all this got to do with Computer Jobs in Israel?
I am going to tell you something, that many of you may think 
is pretty silly. Back in the 70's when I was a tourist in 
Israel, I would hang out with friends on King George Street
in front of Richie's Pizza Store. Every once in a while I 
would see this young guy talking/preaching about aliyah. 
I do not remember his name and I probably would not recognize 
him if I saw him today. However, in the back of my mind I 
remembered things he said about living in Israel and they 
stuck somewhere in my head. I wish I could meet him today and 
thank him. In fact, I know there are other people and events
that influenced me in making aliyah. At the start of this 
message I mentioned the great sacrifices that our soldiers 
have made during the past 50 years. I wish I could thank them.
I believe that everyone has a purpose in the "master plan" and
everyone contributes in one way or another. If CJI helps one
person make aliyah (or helps one native stay in the country) then 
it is worthwile. In fact CJI is a fun hobby and I do not consider 
it real "work". No need for thanks when you enjoy what you are
doing.
One last point about Israel and Israeli society. In my opinion
the average Israeli may come across a little rough edged. However,
when things tend to be at the worst, Israel and Israeli's are
at their best. Whether it is rescuing Jews on the other side of
the world or helping each other in times of need.
I may not socialize a lot with the Israeli's in my neighborhood 
and I may not understand the slang of modern Hebrew; I may get 
ticked off when an Israeli makes fun of my American accent or 
I may question some of the cultural aspects of the society.
However, on the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel, I am 
proud to be part of Israeli society and would not want to be 
anywhere else in the world. I am proud to be a Jew and the home 
of all Jews is in Israel.
Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut,
Chag Sameach,
Jacob Richman
CJI Editor