“A Storybook Dream Coming True”
Experiencing Israel for the first time
through the 1957 letters sent
by Bob Jacobs
to his family in the USA
ENCOUNTERING A NEW WORLD
Life in the new State of Israel during the 1950’s was drastically different than it is today. Then, Israel was mostly undeveloped and considered a third world country. The socioeconomic disparity between the US and Israel was vast. Yet, it was the age-old dream of returning to their ancient homeland that inspired the Jewish People to overcome the awesome difficulties and build its new state into a modern entity which it has become today.
The letters of Bob Jacobs captures the striking developments of 1957 Israel through the eyes of a young Jew coming from a modern and established America. He encounters a newly founded State working to build itself amidst a hostile, third-world style Middle East. Yet, despite the lack of material amenities, one clearly senses the Jewish pride in seeing the age-old dream of the return to Zion coming true before one’s eyes – a “storybook dream coming true”.
We welcome you to join us in this adventure back in time. We invite you to read our comments and follow our media links which provide an interesting comparative analysis of what was then – and what is today . Through this, we hope to encourage those Jews to actualize their “birthright” and come see the Land of Israel in person.
Israel 1957: A Different World
1957 – Tel Aviv – Israel’s leading metropolis
Bicycles, few cars, low buildings and limited commodities
1957 – New York City – America’s leading metropolis
Modern vehicles, tall skyscrapers and everything to buy
The Kotel (“Western Wall” or “Wailing Wall”)
1957 – part of Jordan, only Jordanian soldiers are present
1967 and until today – the Jewish People’s heartfelt return