Steve Conover: Thank you so much for joining us for the Friends of Israel Today. I'm Steve Conover. With me is Chris Katulka. I'd like to encourage you to take note of our website, FOIradio.org. You can listen to over nine years worth of content on the site featuring Chris Katulka's teaching and insightful interviews with a host of great guests. Again, that's FOIradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Steve, this episode, we're actually focusing on Israel's Independence Day. Israel will be turning 76 years old. They were founded on May 14th, 1948. That's the modern state of Israel, and so what we're going to be looking at today specifically is some of the historical events that were taking place, not only leading up to Israel's independence, but also what happened after that time period that really produced what I believe are the common Israeli people that we see today. I really think all that stems from the background going back to 1948.

Steve Conover: But first in the news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently delivered his Holocaust remembrance speech at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. His message was focused on the war with Hamas who he labeled “modern-Day Nazis.” The speech took an unusual turn when he changed from the Hebrew language to English, and he used this as a platform to speak to the entire world.

Chris Katulka: Well, Steve, here's my take. It was an opportunity for Netanyahu to speak to the whole world because if there's any time for him to make a plea on behalf of the Israelis and Jewish people all around the world, it's standing in Yad Vashem, which is Israel's Holocaust Memorial on Holocaust Remembrance Day. The world needs to hear loud and clear, the real Nazis in this battle between good and evil are Hamas, Hezbollah and the Ayatollahs of Iran. They are bent on the genocide of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel, which is why this is Israel's existential war with Hamas.

Chris Katulka: In honor of modern Israel's 76th birthday, I want to take you back to those early years of the infant country. In fact, let me connect you with a man, Levi Eden, an Israeli. Eden was a young Hungarian Jew who immigrated to Israel in 1948 after surviving the brutality of the Holocaust. Eden and 700,000 other Jewish refugees flooded Israel's shores doubling Israel's population in just three and a half years. The mass influx of Jewish people left very little room for planning or infrastructure that would accommodate and absorb the waves of immigrants forcing the newly formed state into growing pains and maturity. Jewish immigrants would not be deterred from coming to Israel. Instead of turning away the masses, Israel scrambled to provide lodging, food and basic needs for its new citizens. Former Israeli President, Chaim Herzog stated it perfectly. He said this, "Absorbing these immigrants would have been beyond the ability of a well-established prosperous country, let alone one newly born and struggling to defend itself."

When one thinks of Israel's early years, the word that comes to mind is austerity. Austerity is the only way to describe the mid-twentieth century way of life in Israel. In the first 10 years, the government would tackle large waves of immigration, housing shortages, food and clothing rations, and an economic crisis. Life as an immigrant was penniless and deprived. But any difficulty in Israel could never be compared to Hitler's genocide in Europe or Muslim oppression from the Middle East and North Africa. When Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence on May 14th, 1948, he vowed Israel would be a home to all worldwide Jewry wherever they come from. He said, "The Nazi Holocaust, which engulfed millions of Jews in Europe, proved anew the urgency for the reestablishment of the Jewish state, which would solve the problem of Jewish homelessness by opening the gates to all Jews and lifting the Jewish people to equality in the family of nations."

Now, after World War II, more than 250,000 Jewish displaced persons living in camps in Germany, Austria and Italy for nearly seven years between 1945 and 1952, these 250,000 refugees were looking for a home. Zionism was a hot topic among the Jewish refugees after the Holocaust. They wanted to live in the Jewish state. The problem was the British government severely limited immigration into the land according to The White Paper of 1939. When the gates finally opened after May 14th, 1948, when Israel declared independence, 140,000 Holocaust survivors made Aliyah. They immigrated to the Holy Land, to Israel. The Middle East and North African Jewish communities were dealing with their own form of persecution and antisemitism at the same time. The plight of the Jews in these Muslim countries during and after the Holocaust, is actually a tragedy of epic proportions that is rarely taught in any history lesson. The Middle East and North Africa were home to the Jewish people since the Babylonian exile, which is recorded in the Old Testament dating back some 2,600 years.

Well, violent riots targeting the Baghdad Jewish community started in June of 1941, it was known in Arabic as the Farhud. Nearly 180 Jews were killed. Thousands were injured in this act of antisemitism that was actually influenced by Nazi propaganda. That's right. By this point, Mein Kampf, which was Hitler's work, had been translated into Arabic and published in an Arabic newspaper. So Zionism quickly became banned in Iraq and Jews that actually had seats of power in government were barred from their positions in government. The Farhud coupled with this anti-Israel anti-Zionism law, sparked a mass Iraqi-Jewish emigration out of Iraq between 1948 and 1951. An estimated 120,000 Jews fled Iraq for Israel. When the Jewish community arrived in Israel, many were forced to actually live in these tent cities called Ma'abarot. These tent city absorption camps were scattered throughout the land, and despite their temporary nature, they remained vital communities for the first decade of Israel's modern history. Let's go back to Levi Eden from the very beginning of our conversation here.

He actually policed one of the Ma'abarot tent camps after his service in the Israeli Army. He spent most of his days apprehending youngsters who were stealing food to feed their families. As a law enforcement officer, Eden was sympathetic to the plight of these immigrant families, but he was actually kind of firm with these little culprits who were stealing food. Eden would often have flashbacks actually of the Holocaust when he would catch those kids stealing food, and he would relive the moments of himself stealing food just to survive the Nazi ghettos. Now, Israeli parents weren't just encouraging their kids to commit crimes. I promise. It sounds cruel and irresponsible. But they knew that the fourth time that their kids were caught by someone like Levi Eden, they would be sentenced to a home with lodging, food and education. That's right. They understood that a better life was waiting for them outside of Ma'abarot if they were captured for stealing food.

That's why they would often encourage them to go steal food for their families. Well, by the time Eden patrolled the absorption camps, Iraqi Jews were the new tenants of the tent cities. European Jews had already moved through the temporary housing into more stable accommodations. Moroccan Jews would replace the Iraqis. Then Yemenites followed and finally Persian Jews. Now, scholars estimate, check this out. Scholars estimate that somewhere between 850,000 to 1 million Jewish people were forcibly removed from their homes in the Middle East and North Africa, and the only place for them to go? Israel. Now, let's talk about the housing in Israel leading up to their independence in 1948. Under British rule, modern sophisticated cities like Tel Aviv were developed. The pre-state Jewish government managed to provide adequate housing, food distribution and work, but nothing could have prepared them to handle the numbers of Jewish refugees after Israel declared independence.

Immediately a housing crisis developed, and there were too many people and not enough homes. And many of those in need of shelter couldn't afford a home to begin with. And to make matters worse, Israel lacked the basic building materials for construction like lumber, steel, and plumbing, and even the currency to purchase them. Housing developments materialized. These were one, two-bedroom apartments that averaged between 150 and 300 square feet. And amenities included a cold water kitchen with an outhouse.

I love this story. Golda Meir, who would later become Israel's fourth Prime Minister was tasked as the labor minister to oversee the transition of immigrants from the ma'abarot, those tent camps to permanent housing. Well, building contractors feared the woman when she would arrive on these building sites. She was opinionated about every detail of construction. Once Golda was touring the construction of new housing in Tiberias, which is a beautiful city that sits right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. And when she was walking through one of the apartments, she stared at a kitchen window, and Meir called the contractor and lectured him on the placement of that window screaming, "It's too high."

She scolded the contractor saying this, "A woman stands in the kitchen five hours cooking, and you're forcing her to see the wall and not the beautiful Sea of Galilee?" Well, immediately blueprints were altered. The window was lowered. And to this day, those windows are called “Golda windows.” Golda pushed for a modern standard of living out of fear that neighborhoods would crumble into slums. The cost was always the issue. Most immigrants arriving had nothing, no money to their names. Apartments were barely big enough to house families, let alone a place to host guests. Small spaces didn't stop Israelis though from socializing. Local cafes always bustled with activity and conversations, and they became extended living and dining room spaces as well. I love this story because it's personal to me. Israel investigated prefabricated homes, affordable living spaces, constructed in little time. Well, the Jewish agency and American real estate developer Levitt & Sons actually were in talks to invest $25 million into developing a Levittown, Israel.

William Levitt, a Jewish man himself is considered one of the most influential people of the 20th century for creating the American suburban culture and lifestyle. He mass-produced homes like Henry Ford built cars. Well, Levitt proposed 600 square foot dwellings that were double the size of the Israeli home with an American-style kitchen. The Levitt's and the Jewish agency were overwhelmed with the response. Israelis with cash in hand were ready to buy into the American/Israeli dream, but the agreement never got off the ground. That means a lot to me because I was born and raised in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Now, listen, new housing jobs and assimilation help the process of absorption into Israeli culture move more effectively. The numbers of immigrants living in temporary housing drastically declined by the mid 50s. Some of those tent camps developed into Moschavs, a cooperative community of farmers, while others converted into suburban neighborhoods while the rest were simply taken down. The housing crisis lingered for a decade, but by 1963, only 15,000 immigrants remained in those temporary tent cities.

Now listen, when we come back, we're going to talk about the economic crisis that Israel faced in their early years. But before we get there, I want to share with you an opportunity. If you want to keep up on what's going on with Israel and the Jewish people, especially during this difficult time as Israel is under attack by Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, I want to encourage you to sign up for our magazine, Israel My Glory. Israel My Glory is a biblical worldview on what's going on with Israel and the Jewish people around the world.

This issue actually that we want to put in your hands is called Israel My Glory, Modern Israel 101, an introduction to the history of the Jewish State, very apropos to what we're talking about right now. Now, if you've never subscribed before, we want to give you a one-year, free subscription to our award-winning Christian magazine. This either is a print edition that you can subscribe to or our digital edition. If you subscribe to our digital edition, you get nearly 45 years of Israel My Glory content right at your fingertips on your laptop, computer, smartphone, or tablet. I encourage you to get our magazine, Israel My Glory. If you've never subscribed before, we'd love for you to see what God is doing in the land of Israel.

Steve Conover: You can go directly to that site at IsraelMyGlory.org. That's IsraelMyGlory.org. Again, as Chris mentioned, nearly 45 years worth in the archives of our magazine, and you can subscribe either print or digitally for free. If you've never done so, again, visit IsraelMyGlory.org. We'll also link to this free offer from our radio site, FOIradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Welcome back everyone, as Israel celebrates its independence and 76th birthday, I thought it would be good for us to go back to those early years of the country. Have you ever heard of Israeli couscous? It can be found on most grocery store shelves all around the world. It's actually a staple in the Israeli diet and cuisine, but it didn't originate with a Jewish mom in a Jerusalem kitchen. Israeli couscous are small pearl-shaped spheres made of baked wheat. It has a litany of names like ptitim or Ben-Gurion's rice. What's funny is only non-Israelis dubbed the small orbs Israeli couscous. What's even funnier is that it's not made of couscous or rice. Israel's infatuation with ptitim started with a conversation between Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, and Osem, one of Israel's largest food manufacturers and distributors. The dust barely cleared after the War of Independence in 1949 when the Israeli government had to manage another crisis. The state had no line of credit and they were on the cusp of bankruptcy.

The government initiated a strict austerity program they called Tzena, which means austerity, in order to feed the rapidly growing population and kickstart economic growth. Dov Yosef, who was the head of the ministry of Rationing and Supply, well, his reputation among Israelis went from respectable lawyer and one of the country's founding fathers to scum overnight. Every Israeli felt the pinch, or better yet, the stranglehold on basic goods needed to survive. It didn't matter if you were a veteran in the Israeli army who lived during the British mandate and fought in the War of Independence, or an immigrant who just arrived at the conclusion of the war. Everyone received the same rations for the betterment of the Jewish state. Grocery stores functioned more like DMVs. Citizens were assigned to an authorized grocery store where they received a coupon book, and if you didn't have your coupons, you couldn't purchase your food.

Lines of people formed outside grocery stores waiting to receive their rations of food and basic needs. Some waited hours only to hear nothing was left on the shelves. Food controllers were stationed at grocery stores to handle rationing issues, complaints and questions. Broth cubes replaced chicken soup. Coffee companies converted to chicory. Powdered eggs and milk were swapped out for the real stuff. It was at this time that Ben-Gurion spoke with Eugene Propper, the Founder of Osem Food Company, to develop an inexpensive replacement for rice, which is an essential grain in the traditional meals of many Middle Eastern and North African immigrants, the Jewish immigrants that had come into Israel. What came out was a rice shaped wheat pasta that was dried and toasted. It was so popular with customers that Osem developed the orb shaped replacement of rice, and since then, Israeli couscous has remained a mainstay in Israeli cuisine to this day.

The government agency would expand into rationing clothes and food and shoes and furniture. The restrictions forced many Israelis to go underground to buy luxuries that were limited to the masses. The Israeli government fought profiteering to stifle the influence of the black market. Police raided homes, vehicles were stopped and searched. Businesses were closed down. By the beginning of the 1950s, nearly 5,000 charges were brought against law offenders. The government officially ended the era of austerity in 1959. But by then Dov Yosef's Tzena plan was considered nostalgic. However, Yosef's reputation remained stained for the rest of his political career. Israel was in desperate need for financial assistance in its early years as well. Ben-Gurion commissioned Golda Meir to raise significant funds among the Jewish communities around the world. She returned with tens of millions of dollars in support. Additionally, Germany agreed to Holocaust reparations, money that financed Israel's electrical development, railway, mining equipment, and port development.

Holocaust reparations, according to the Bank of Israel, accounted for about 15% of Israel's gross national product growth, creating 45,000 jobs during the 12-year period. Financial help from the United States also helped jumpstart the Israeli economy into their second decade. Austerity measures marked Israel's first decade. The government decision to embrace massive immigration in its early years of the state was the right long-term choice. The human capital alone would prove to be beneficial to Israel's growth. However, the immigrant influx was very costly and weighed heavily on Israel's economy. But fast-forward 76 years, and God has been faithful. Today, Israel is a large economy, with a successful tech industry and much hope for the future. Here's to looking forward to another 76 years of Israel as Israel celebrates their Independence Day.

Steve Conover: Now Apples of Gold, a dramatic reading from the life and ministry of Holocaust survivor, Zvi Kalisher.

Mike Kellogg: It is 63 years since Israel became a state. Much time has passed and after everything I endured in my life, I am humbled and amazed I am still alive. I grew up in Poland and have been without parents since the age of 10. Realizing the Nazis were going to invade Poland, my mother brought me to a Polish orphanage. I was very blonde and did not look Jewish. She told me, "Be strong, you are no longer a child. You are a man." And with those words, she left me. I never saw her again. Soon the orphanage was disbanded and I was alone. I had no money, no food, and nowhere to go. Often, I was jealous of those who had died. But I remembered my mother's words, "Be strong." For six years, I lived on the edge of death. When I arrived in Israel, I thought I would have rest.

I wondered, "How am I still alive? Who was on my side protecting me from all the dangers I faced?" In Israel, however, the situation was also dangerous. It was 1948. We were a mere half million people, and when we declared our independence, eight Arab countries descended on us like locusts determined to destroy us. We went from the ship into the army. My job was with the strike force clearing minefields. I was told, "You have only one chance. If you make a mistake, you are no more." I was very careful. I never made a mistake. I kept asking myself, "Who is on my side? Why am I not dead yet?" One evening on Israel's first Independence Day, I was in Tel Aviv. An older lady approached me and gave me a Bible. "Read this, soldier," she said, "So you will know who is on our side."

It was the first time in my life I ever opened a Bible, and this is what I read. "When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me." I had finally received the answer to my question. The Lord was on my side. I began to read the Bible. I've had many troubles in life, but the Bible has been my greatest comfort and showed me the way to redemption. I never dreamed I would live long enough to grow old.

I have a wonderful wife, three sons, one daughter, 16 grandchildren. They all love the Lord and are active believers. We started a congregation a number of years ago with a handful of people. Today, we are almost 300. One of our sons is the pastor, and some of our grandchildren minister there in music. After the long Via Dolorosa I passed through in the Holocaust, it is my greatest joy in life to see my family serve the Lord. It is my greatest joy to see what the Lord has done for us here in Jerusalem. And today we are able to help others. I am also thankful to the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, which has been with us from the beginning. As it is written, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Steve Conover: Thank you so much for joining us for today's episode of The Friends of Israel Today. We wish Israel a happy and safe Independence Day. And next week we'll answer the question, do the Gospels portray Jesus as a Zionist?

Chris Katulka: That's right, Steve. To be a Zionist means that you believe that the Jewish people have a right to exist in their ancient homeland. Well, I'm going to argue from the scriptures that I think Jesus was probably a Zionist, so you'll have to come back next week to hear why.

Steve Conover: I hope you join us then. Our host and teacher is Chris Katulka. Today's program was produced by Tom Gallione, edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music, Mike Kellogg read Apples of Gold, and I'm Steve Conover, Executive Producer. Our mailing address is FOI Radio, PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey, 08099. Again, that's FOI Radio, PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. Our web address is FOIRadio.org. Again, that's FOIRadio.org. We mentioned Israel My Glory earlier. If you'd like to subscribe, you can go directly to IsraelMyGlory.org. Again, that's IsraelMyGlory.org, or you can call our listener line at (888) 343-6940. Again, that's (888) 343-6940. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. We are a worldwide evangelical ministry, proclaiming biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while bringing physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people.