lerusalem Post, May 6—This Independence Day finds some of us in a funk. The prime minister is under intense police scrutiny. Faith in the basic decency of the men and women who lead the nation has waned. The political system has been irresponsibly undermined by elected officials, judges, holy men and the media. Some in the national-religious community' still feel alienated by the trauma of disengagement.

And yet a degree of perspective is in order. From 70 CE, when most lews were exiled, until 1948, when Jewish sovereignty was regained, this land remained at the epicenter of Jewish aspirations. Absent the collective dream ofa ret^im to Zion, the Jewish people would have long ago disappeared from history. And, by the grace of God, we have retumed!

The process of state-building remains incomplete — but look how far we've come. Tbe Jewish population in 1948 was 650,000; today it's G million. In its first 44 montlis, while practically bankrupt, Israel absorbed 700,000 Jews. In just 30 years, a million lews from the fonner Soviet Union were absorbed. And in the past six years Nefesh D'Nefesh has brought 15,000 olim from affluent countries to Israel.

In 1948 there were two universities; today there are eight. Hebrew is now spoken by millions. In transportation, educadun, tourism, industry and public healdi, Israel's progress has been phenomenal. Per capita, our GDP places us in the top der of nations

Sixty years on, Israel is a regional power, yet still not at peace witli all its Arab neighbors. The fight against terrorism demands unrelenting vigilance. Sderot and other southern communities are under intermittent bombardment from the Gaza Strip.... That the Jewish people have sovereignty and the chance to enjoy a civilizational renascence in this land after a millennium in exile is — quite literally—a miracle.