The Golden Hamster Wheel

When asked what we are missing in our lives, few of us will answer: money. Many will say: my dream job, a vacation abroad, a new piece of furniture, perhaps even a home — but the majority will avoid explicitly using the word “money. When contemplating inwards, most of us understand that our happiest moments were not made possible by money or material items, but rather experiences requiring very few external resources — shared moments with loved ones or community.

Our daily routine does not encourage moments of simply being. We’re caught up in an endless rat race, always rushing, trying to earn more. And thus, those interested in preserving their individuality and humanity need to focus on developing localized solutions, often based on private initiatives. We live in a reality in which our success is measured by productivity and consumption. This is no coincidence! It stems from a capitalist socio-economic worldview that encourages competition; a world in which where everyone is out for themselves, justified by “consumer interest.”

Perhaps it’s time that we adopt a new method. This new method should reflect the values that represent who we are — and those we wish to pass on to our children. Take a moment to imagine your final days. Do you imagine yourself alone on a private island with a servant feeding you grapes?  Or do you see yourself in a more intimate setting, surrounded by those you love, where material things no longer matter? Most of us, it seems, would choose the latter.
This is why we must shift our perspective and view economic models not just as a “means to an end” — but as a way of life. One that can guide us to a better place.

Changing our current reality in favor of a world that is more egalitarian and more humane is a process both personal and political — and one cannot exist without the other. What does this mean for us as a society? In such a world, I imagine that my own personal home might be less fancy, but my neighbor would also be able to easily afford a new home or pursue higher education, if they chose to do so.

On a national level, we must create state-driven economic initiatives that benefit the entire population. This includes decentralizing economic power and investing more in manufacturing — not just in high-tech and defense. Moreover, our shared national assets — those belonging to all citizens — must be distributed more equitably.

Here is one example for better managing public assets: if we’ve already decided to exploit the Dead Sea, then why do royalties stand at only 5%–15%? According to a 2024 Knesset Research and Information Center report, between the years 2016 – 2023, billions of US dollars flowed into ICL’s company coffers — and yet, the state of Israel was only paid around $840 million.

And yet another source of inspiration: airlines. When landing in the Dubai airport, it’s hard not to admire Emirate Airlines’ ever-growing fleet. The company is wholly government-owned — and yet it is still profitable! Or think of models that divide control between the public and private sector, such as the Tel Aviv light rail BOT project.

I am not suggesting that we re-nationalize everything or that Israel becomes a communist nation. However, we do need to start conducting ourselves according to a social-economic model that reflects the world in which we wish to live: a model based on equality, solidarity, and entrepreneurship, complete with greater community responsibility.

And now, let’s point the finger towards ourselves. We can’t lament the high cost of living in Israel while simultaneously selling our goods for maximum profit. Remember: the customer being charged exorbitant prices may be a loved one — someone we would never sell out for any price in the world.

Change begins when we embody the very ideals we seek to uphold. As such, if we wish to transform our approach, we need to start living by the same principles we aim to promote. And since solidarity is one of our core values as the Jewish people, and we already know how to protect one another when needed — this is indeed possible.

Even on the economic front, we must take responsibility for one another. Rather than maximizing personal profit, we must share and distribute wealth throughout our communities. If we succeed in balancing our personal freedom with social responsibility we will feel better about ourselves — and about the path we’re walking.