For some time now it has occurred to me that the Jewish state should simply move itself to Florida. South Florida to be precise. Why, you may ask, would the fledgling state (Editor’s Note: hmm, what is the statute of limitations on using a word like that?) of Israel make a move over 6,000 miles from its current location to the lower half of the USA?

Here a few:

1) Jews would be welcomed. They are already there in droves, some 650,000, what’s 7 million more? And actually, there are more than enough zealots who would never leave the Holy Land, so that number may be closer to 5 million.
2) They would no longer face the grinding existential threat that surrounds it. Jews would be welcomed not hated.
3) The Jews of Israel would bring a scrappy startup mentality that existed long before the term startup was in use. Lots of good tech coming from Israel these days, too.

There could be some hurdles exiting one country and establishing the same country thousands a miles away. Not many, but some.

1) For obvious reasons Israelis and for that matter everyone else in the region are at heightened stress/rage levels. They would need some serious therapy to deal with the PTSD of it all before coming to a chill zone like Florida. Perhaps a transition phase at a Buddhist retreat as a mandatory first step to ensure that folks are calmed down.
2) The Palestinians who have sought their own homeland for some 76 years would now be in the position to run the place. They might find it tricky considering the history of the area and it’s many thousands of years of war. But, with hard work and determination and some love from some of their neighbors it might just work. Although if zealots stay there will be something to deal with, but not as much as an entire state.
3) Oh, and my least favorite, religion. That one always brings the pain. Okay, here is the solution: Jews don’t get to keep their spiritual homeland– BUT we bring the UN into to oversee the old walled city of Jerusalem. Make it like a Disneyland of religion. Christians, Jews, Muslims! Come one, come all! Think: Skip The Line passes at the Wailing Wall or unlimited visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. See? It’s not so hard.

Did you know: In the early days of Zionism, Israel wasn’t the end all be all location for a Jewish homeland. Before you get the idea that my tongue is stuck to my cheek so far that it may come out the other side, consider that in the 19th century there were efforts to create a Jewish homeland in areas in the United States, Buffalo, NY and Upper Mississippi. Don’t believe me?

Jewish settlements were proposed for establishment in the upper Mississippi region by W.D. Robinson in 1819.

In the United States, Mordecai Noah attempted to establish a Jewish refuge opposite Buffalo, New York, on Grand Isle, 1825.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

Are we doing this?