In the various happiness and optimism indexes published by international organizations including the United Nations, Israelis practically always end up near the top. Despite Israel being the only state in the world whose existence is still not a foregone conclusion, being constantly questioned and having its entire population under the continuous threat of hundreds or thousands of rockets and missiles, Israelis display a great deal of vitality according to the various happiness indexes, coming in way ahead of peaceful European states and powers like the United States and Russia.

This is a well-known Israeli paradox that makes the tiny country, surrounded by enemies and in a constant state of war, a type of paradise tinged with hell. This impossible mixture occasionally produces miracles. A recent family life index by the Expat Insider publication InterNations ranked Israel fourth among the best countries in which to raise a family. Austria came in first, followed by Finland and Sweden. Israel was well ahead of Britain, Germany, the United States and other economic powers. If you ask the average Israeli, he or she will tell you that they are afraid of threats to the country's security, stressed by economic pressures, on edge because of constant tensions — and that’s why they’re happy. Yes, that’s the way it is.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on Sept. 22 is an excellent opportunity to reflect on this issue. On Sept. 13, Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, two major polls in Maariv and Haaretz sought to get a read on the average Israeli’s soul. Both surveys, but particularly the Maariv one, reflected an amazing internal paradox. In the Maariv survey, respondents were asked how things had changed over the past year in three areas: personal finances, personal safety and the general state of the country’s defense. Respondents reported a decline in all three areas. Some 35% said their personal finances had deteriorated (only 26% said they had improved); in terms of their personal sense of security, one-third reported a deterioration (only 23% felt an improvement) and the responses involving national defense were similar. When asked whether they were better or worse off in general today compared to the end of the previous year, 29% reported being better, and 22% said things had gotten worse. Even in the broader context, when people were asked how they think Israel will fare a decade from now, one finds optimism. Of the respondents, 39% think things will be better than they are today, whereas only 26% think things will be worse. In other words, Israelis are reporting that they are doing worse in terms of finances and personal security, but then claim that their overall situation has improved.

All of the above is being conveyed at the same time, by the same people, about the same questions, in the same place. Not only that, Israelis are convinced that the future augurs well, even as the Middle East is crashing down around them with explosive force, terrorist organizations are massing along the fences of the only truly democratic state in the region, Iran is getting an international license to establish a new Persian empire stretching from Tehran to Beirut and the campaign of de-legitimization against Israel continues full steam ahead around the world. There is good reason why Israelis often end a conversation or a meeting with the expression “Things will be good.” Indeed, they seem to believe so.