Aliyah, Austerity and an Overriding Dream
In the first 44 months of Israel's existence  687,000 Jews arrived in the country – more than doubling its population. The new immigrants came from over fifty countries, speaking dozens of languages, with different cultures, and different expectations. The story of their absorption, of the years of austerity that followed, of the hardships that they were ready to endure, together  the old timers and newcomers overriding dream to create the Jewish State is one of the cornerstones of modern Israel.

The Five-Battle War
The Israel Defense Forces were created two weeks after the Declaration of Independence, while the War of Independence was already raging. Once the war was over Moshe Dayan was appointed as Chief of Staff. His basic assumption  was that a “second round” with the Arab armies was inevitable. Dayan lead the Israeli defense establishment for two decades - and his assumption of another round  turned into a war in every decade. This is the story of that ever-changing and ever-evolving war.

The Rebirth of a Language
Hebrew is the language of Israel. It is spoken, printed, sung, dreamt-in, and evolving every day. A century ago it was as dead as Latin. It's revival was not easy. The religious establishment condemned its daily use, the academic world in Israel preferred German, the Jewish gentry - French. But the visionaries, the poets, and the fore-runners of the State of Israel brought it to life. "Ivri daber Ivrit" (Hebrew speak Hebrew), was their motto - and they persevered.

High-Tech Wizardry
From the 1970s Israel has become a power horse of high-tech activity. Fueled by the tech-whizzes of the Israel Defense Forces, the laboratories of the universities, and the influx of academics from Russia the Israeli high-tech industry flourished. Since the 1980s and more so in 1990s the Israeli economy has grown largely due to this industry. But, for the last five years clouds have been gathering over the economy. 25,000 thousand Israeli high-tech worker have already immigrated to the United States and government short sightedness is hampering continued growth.
 

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Agriculture and Settlement

12 Israelis all born

Maps, insights, events,

The Years of Austerity

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in Israel in 1948

Aliyah

The Russian Aliyah

tell their story

Agriculture

The First Census

The Partition Plan

The Road to Peace

The War of Independance