About
In the weekly podcast “What Matters Now,” hosted by deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan, The Times of Israel’s senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur explores a key issue currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World. This week, the podcast delves into the concept of optimism in Israel amid its current challenges.
Why It Matters
With the backdrop of significant turmoil, it becomes crucial to identify glimmers of hope and positive outlooks. Gur highlights several reasons for optimism that are pivotal for understanding Israel’s resilience during turbulent times.
The Happy Surprises
One noteworthy point of discussion is Israel’s impressive 5th place on the annual World Happiness Report. This ranking is not only based on self-assessed evaluations of life satisfaction but also on factors like GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels. Remarkably, these favorable self-reported data were gathered in the aftermath of the tragic events of October 7, where 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 252 individuals were held hostage by Hamas terrorists – underscoring the nation’s enduring optimism.
Economic Positivity Amidst Challenges
Despite a “negative outlook” from rating agencies like S&P Global and Moody’s Investors Service, Rettig Gur identifies promising signs within the Israeli economy, particularly through contributions from the Haredi community. This emerging optimism showcases the economic resilience and adaptive abilities of the nation.
Key Question
During this memorial week, the pressing question addressed by Haviv Rettig Gur is: what matters now for Israel?
Stay Informed
“What Matters Now” podcasts are readily available for download on various platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast outlet. Join the conversation and gain deeper insights into the Israeli context and its global implications.
Previous Episodes
Listeners are encouraged to participate in the ongoing discussions by checking out previous episodes of “What Matters Now.”
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.