How Did Israel Rank 5th in World Happiness During War?

Blood stained Israel’s streets. Hostages suffered in Gaza’s tunnels. Air raid sirens wailed daily across the country. Yet the World Happiness Report delivered a stunning verdict: in 2024, Israel was the fifth happiest nation on earth. With a score of 7.341, Israel outranked nearly every nation except Finland (7.741), Denmark (7.583), Iceland (7.525), and Sweden (7.344). In a list dominated by peaceful Northern European countries, war-torn Israel stands as the glaring exception.

How can Israel rank among the world’s happiest nations when it endured one of the most painful years in its modern history?

Walk the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv today, and you hear one song blasting from car windows and military bases alike. “Tamid Ohev Oti” (He Always Loves Me), also known as “Yihye Tov Yoter” (It Will Be Even Better), has become Israel’s wartime anthem. Its lyrics resonate across the nation: “God, may He be blessed, always loves me, and it will always be good for me. And it will get even better, and even better…”

This song—a defiant declaration of faith amid missiles and mourning—unlocks the mystery of Israel’s happiness rankings. Dr. Tal Ben Shahar, a leading positive psychology researcher, confirms what the Torah has taught for millennia: happiness stems not from material welfare but from a sense of meaning—a perspective woven into Israel’s religious identity.

From schoolchildren to soldiers on the front lines, “Tamid Ohev Oti” has become the soundtrack of Israel’s resilience. Released by Israeli singer Yair Elitzur, the song has touched a deep chord in the national soul. Its power comes from expressing trust in God’s love even in darkness—a hallmark of biblical faith that has defined Jewish survival across centuries.

The Book of Isaiah captures this perspective with searing clarity:

This passage illuminates the covenant relationship between God and Israel—a bond stronger than maternal love. The prophet’s words establish faith not as naive optimism but as a spiritual anchor in turbulent waters.

At the heart of Israel’s resilience lies emunah—a Hebrew term mistranslated simply as “faith.” Emunah comes from the root aman, meaning steadfastness and reliability. It’s not wishful thinking but a tested conviction that God remains faithful to His covenant promises. This emunah permeates Israeli society more deeply than outsiders recognize.

Recent polls show Israel ranks second in happiness among young people globally—a statistic that defies secular explanation. Since October 7th, 28% of Israelis report their faith has strengthened. The war has reversed years of secularization, especially among youth who increasingly embrace their Jewish identity and its spiritual resources.

Traditional Jewish teaching forges tools for processing suffering without surrendering to despair. The Talmudic sage Nachum Ish Gamzu declared “gam zu l’tovah” (this too is for good) while enduring crippling physical afflictions. Rabbi Akiva taught that “everything God does is for good” even as Romans hunted him and denied him shelter, forcing him to sleep in forests. These weren’t platitudes spoken from comfort but battle-tested convictions that proved Jewish optimism isn’t disconnected from reality—it’s born directly from confronting it.

Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning,” testified that faith and hope were crucial to his survival in Auschwitz. His experience demonstrated that meaning-making functions as psychological resilience, allowing people to endure unimaginable hardship without breaking. Similarly, Israeli hostages have reported that faith helped sustain them during captivity.

Brigadier General Effi Eitam offers a powerful metaphor for understanding Israeli resilience. He suggests dividing people not between right and left but between “delivery room people” (optimists) and “terminal ward people” (pessimists). In the delivery room, pain brings forth life. In the terminal ward, all interventions merely delay the inevitable end. Israelis, he argues, live with the delivery room mindset—recognizing that current pain serves future vitality.

Israel’s high happiness ranking reflects not denial but a profound spiritual heritage that transforms suffering into meaning. When Israelis say “yihye tov” (it will be good), they aren’t making superficial predictions but expressing trust in God’s faithfulness across generations.

Agam Berger, who spent brutal months in Gaza’s tunnels, wrote upon her release that her faith grew stronger in captivity. Her testimony cuts to the heart of what makes Israel unique: We choose faith as our weapon. Through faith we fight. Through faith we know—with certainty that defies rational analysis—that beyond today’s battles waits tomorrow’s victory.

Israel stood fifth in world happiness rankings while fighting a war on seven fronts because its people possess what no enemy can destroy: the unshakable conviction that God keeps His promises. When Jewish history is viewed not as random suffering but as the unfolding story of covenant, even rocket sirens cannot drown out the song that declares: “V’yihye tov yoter”—it will get even better.

As Israel confronts unprecedented challenges, the World Zionist Congress Elections (March 10-May 4, 2025) offer a crucial opportunity to transform faith into action. This democratic process determines the allocation of nearly $1 billion annually to support Israel. In our post-October 7th reality, your vote can help ensure that the biblical values sustaining Israel’s remarkable resilience continue to shape its future. Israel365 Action (Slate #7) stands firmly for these timeless principles—opposing a Palestinian state in Judea & Samaria while affirming the Jewish people’s divine right to their ancestral homeland. For Jewish Americans eligible to vote, this is your sacred opportunity to participate in the unfolding story of redemption. Vote Israel365 Action (Slate #7) today! For Christian supporters, please encourage your Jewish friends to vote and consider joining Ten from the Nations today.

When we declare “V’yihye tov yoter” (it will get even better), we aren’t merely hoping—we’re committing to action. Stand with Israel at this pivotal moment by casting your vote for Slate #7 and help transform the spiritual resilience described throughout this article into tangible support for Israel’s future.