Amid Air Raid Sirens, Why Does Israel Rank So High in the World Happiness Report?

The jarring sound of air raid sirens pierced through the night, jolting me and my family from our sleep. We rushed to our home’s bomb shelter, a routine that has become all too familiar for many Israeli families. As I sat in that reinforced room, surrounded by my loved ones, I couldn’t help but contemplate the unique reality we live in.

The following morning, as I scanned news reports to understand the extent of the night’s events, I encountered two starkly contrasting pieces of information. The first was a CNN report highlighting Israel’s impressive ranking as the 8th happiest country in the “Happiest Countries in 2025” report, based on findings from the World Happiness Report. (America ranked #24.) The second was an image circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showing a map dotted with impact locations across Israel from the previous night’s attacks.

How can these two realities possibly coexist? How can a nation whose citizens routinely run to bomb shelters in the middle of the night rank among the world’s happiest countries?

This apparent contradiction actually illustrates a profound truth that lies at the heart of Jewish wisdom and is supported by modern Positive Psychology: true happiness and life satisfaction don’t stem from an absence of challenges but rather from how we respond to them.

This Too Is For the Good

Central to understanding Israel’s paradoxical happiness is the Jewish concept of “gam zu l’tovah – this too is for the good.” This phrase isn’t mere positive thinking; it’s a profound worldview with deep roots in Jewish tradition.

The Talmud tells the story of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu, from whom this phrase originates. No matter what difficulties befell him – and many did – he would always respond with “gam zu l’tovah – this too is for the good.” His unwavering faith that everything contains purpose, even if we cannot immediately see it, exemplifies a distinctly Jewish approach to adversity.

This doesn’t mean we welcome suffering or dismiss genuine pain. Rather, it reflects the Jewish understanding that every experience has meaning and potential for growth. When Israelis emerge from bomb shelters and continue building their lives with determination and even joy, they’re embodying this ancient wisdom.

“Gam zu l’tovah” teaches us to look beyond the immediate circumstances to find purpose in every situation. It’s about maintaining faith that our challenges serve a greater good – whether by strengthening us, bringing communities together, or leading to unexpected blessings. The siren that disrupted our sleep wasn’t good in itself, but our response to it – the family cohesion, community support, and perspective it generated – contained seeds of goodness.

Wisdom from Jewish Tradition and Positive Psychology

Modern Positive Psychology aligns with this ancient Jewish wisdom. The concept that psychologists now call “adversity-activated development” – the remarkable human capacity to find meaning, purpose, and even joy amid difficulty – echoes what our tradition has taught for millennia.

The Torah teaches us that it’s our response to life’s inevitable challenges that defines us. Similarly, Positive Psychology research reveals that sustainable happiness comes not from avoiding hardship but from:

1. Building strong community bonds: The support system that ensures no one faces difficulties alone
2. Finding meaning through challenges: Seeing purpose even in our struggles
3. Practicing hakarat hatov (gratitude): Acknowledging the blessings that remain even during difficult times
4. Developing perspective: Gaining wisdom through overcoming adversity

A Uniquely Israeli Perspective

Perhaps what the World Happiness Report is capturing something deeper than the threat of war. When we rush to shelters, neighbors check on elderly residents. When areas are impacted, volunteers mobilize immediately. The fabric of Israeli society strengthens in response to challenges rather than deteriorating.

This is the lesson Israel offers the world: happiness isn’t the naive belief that everything is perfect; it’s the profound understanding that meaning, connection, and purpose can flourish even – and sometimes especially – in imperfect circumstances.

The Balance of Realism and Hope

As I reflect on that night in the shelter and the contrasting news reports the following morning, I’m reminded of the delicate balance Judaism always maintains between clear-eyed realism and unwavering hope. We don’t ignore the reality of our challenges, but neither do we allow them to define us or determine our capacity for joy.

In a world increasingly focused on comfort and convenience as pathways to happiness, perhaps Israel’s paradoxical joy amidst challenge offers a more sustainable model: happiness built on meaning, community, resilience, and the uniquely Jewish ability to find light even in moments of darkness.

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