As an American Jew, my recent trip to Israel highlighted similar issues facing both countries.
The dual events of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel and the opening of the Museum of Tolerance-Jerusalem brought to mind the pressing need for dialogue and a shared commitment to tolerance. These are essential values for our thriving but imperfect democratic systems.
The strength and resilience of this tiny democratic nation, the only one in the Middle East, cannot be denied.
Israel is the size of New Jersey and with a population of 9.7 million people. Jews make up roughly 7 million of the overall population. Despite its size, Israel is an economic and military powerhouse. Israel’s technology and innovation are the envy of the entire world. Israel was ranked the fourth-best economy in 2022 among a list of OECD countries, according to The Economist.
Israel also has one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Israel was ranked as the 4th strongest military country according to a roundup for 2022 published by US News and World Report, behind the Russia, US and China. And, they need to be, as they are surrounded by deadly enemies, principally Iran and its proxies who play the leading role in funding terrorists who attempt to kill Israeli’s and disrupt Israeli life on a daily basis.
Israel’s military strength was seen across the country as more than 100 aircraft, including dozens of foreign pilots from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, joined forces with the Israeli Air Force for an annual Independence Day flyover.
The day before its Independence Day, Israeli’s observed Memorial Day, as they remembered the price paid so they could have a sovereign Jewish state to defend its people. And, contrary to most Western reporting, Israel is a country where Jews, Christians and Muslims, live peacefully side by side.
I flew over the countryside and saw villages next to each other, experienced communities of mixed races and religions, and observed that all of these Israelis simply want peace. Against this backdrop, I was struck by the mission and vision of the Museum. Tolerance and constructive dialogue are desperately needed in today’s polarized world. Thanks in large part to Denver’s own, Larry Mizel, Israel is leading the way on that front too.
During this historic week of Israeli events, the Museum of Tolerance-Jerusalem, a unique $230 million structure was completed. The Museum will serve as both an multi-faceted educational institution and social laboratory.
Mizel, Chairman of the Musuem, was instrumental in developing and raising the funds to build this museum, which was a 23-year project. Built through private donations and substantial adversity, the intent of the Museum is to confront Israel’s most pressing issues such as extremism, hate, and social responsibility.
The Museum seeks to promote tolerance through regional stability, global harmony, unity and respect among people of all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, both in Israel and throughout the world.
I attended the Museum’s soft opening which culminated with a high level international conference that the Museum and the Jerusalem Post co-sponsored. Powerful words were spoken by Israel President Isaac Herzog and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, who aptly said, “as a Jewish state and a democratic state, we have the responsibility to all communities of this land to ensure equality built on a shared future with mutual respect and understanding.”
Mayor Lion went on to say, that the museum teaches tolerance and will build connections and shared spaces for the people of Jerusalem in the east and west, Jews and Arabs, and secular and religious.
The event also featured Mansour Abbas, Chairman of the United Arab List in the Israeli Knesset, who has been credited for bringing the first Arab party into a governing coalition, emphasized the diplomatic role he and his party could play as a bridge for peace between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians.
Yes, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and its Arab citizens sit in the Knesset and even on its supreme court.
To be sure, Israel has its challenges. For starters, they include resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as large protests erupting over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plans to tighten control over its Supreme Court.
Knowing Israel’s DNA, you can expect this remarkable structure will become a convening place where leaders can work together to solve these types of issues as well as come to find that we have more that unites us than divides us.
Doug Friednash grew up in Denver and is a partner with the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck. He is the former chief of staff for Gov. John Hickenlooper.
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