We do NOT agree that the US did it better. We agree that the US did it the best way for the US. Don't put words into my mouth. You also have your history wrong. The first major Jewish immigration to that area was in the 1890's, at about the time of Herzl, well before the Shoa. They bought land and established settlement farms. The influx after WW2 gave this a boost, but the desire to return to this land has been there for generations (in our prayers, etc) and took hold in modern times well before 1948. Read some history, then post.

Equality for all should be the byword in a democracy. If you give a 10 year exemption to Yeshiva students then all college students should also get a 10 year exemption as well. This of course is impractical as youth is a requirement to make an effective soldier. Even in ancient times military service started around 18 years of age. The Torah requires men to support their families and defend their country. Full time Yeshiva students do not do any support of any kind. There is a need for rabbis and religious teachers so the government should set a maximum for those professions and only allow deferments for that numbs and as a matter of equality there should have a maximum number of deferments for other critical professions. All the rest of the able bodied population should serve either in the IDF or an approved alternative. Another possibility is to have an all volunteer IDF were those who serve receive a good living with good conditions so that being in the IDF is a desirable profession.

The first immigrant didn't establish a state in 1890. Serious land purchases were made at first by Baron Rotschild and his hated overseers. The "desire to return" was always secondary to economic and political realities. Contribution of religion to the establishment and support of Israeli existence always was and still is mostly insignificant. As I said before, the goyim in the U.S. did much better in everything. I am not responsible for your farmischkeit.

I never said they established a state; they couldn’t...yet. But the desire to return has always been there; Jews have always longed for Eretz Israel. Not all Jews were religious (although the first Yemenites to arrive in the 1800’s were), but the religion/tradition drew them. Hence the rejection of Madagascar in later years. Nearly all of the Jews from Eastern Europe before that time came from traditional Jewish families, hoping to improve their lives. The immigrants that were part of the First Aliyah (late 1800’s), however, came more out of a connection to the land of their ancestors. Most of these immigrants worked as artisans or in small trade, but many also worked in agriculture. Only some of them came in an organized fashion. A rapid increase in population had created economic problems in Eastern Europe, true. But Russian persecution of Jews was a major factor. Major anti-Jewish pogroms swept the Pale of Settlement. After the first wave (early 1880s) there was another spike in aliyah in 1890. Russian Jewry’s situation deteriorated: The authorities continued to push Jews out of business and trade (because they were Jews). Moscow was almost entirely "cleansed" of Jews. Economics indeed. The financial situation of some of the settlements from the previous decade improved due to the Baron de Rothschild’s assistance (orchards were planted, wineries started). ie AFTER Jews had already arrived and bought land. The US (goyim and Jews; look up Hayim Salomon for one) did better in what was good for the US. Period. I am not responsible for your fantasies. Read some history, then post.

İf heredim joins the army this will eventually unite the divisions of society like religious and secular and I believe at the end there will be more people in the Shul at Shabatz..