What relationship does the nation of Israel have to Jewish identity and faith?

Answer 1

The Modern State of Israel has little to do with Jewish faith, but a lot to do with Jewish identity. Israel is the only Jewish State in the sense that Greece is the only Greek State (except perhaps Cyprus). Israel actualizes many of the ideals of Jewish leadership and society and represents what being Jewish means as a group of people and a society. However, according to Jewish faith, there is no need for a State as God will protect His people. This is why Israel has little directly to do with faith. Regardless, much of the religious Jewish decisions and schools are in Israel and Israel's Jewish orientation facilitates the growth and development of these institutions.

In terms of Jewish identity, Ahad Ha'am explains that the Jewish Soul is intrinsically connected to his history and in the same way that a German-American can never be as properly German as a German in Germany, the People of Israel can never be as properly Jewish if they are not in the Land of Israel. The relics in that land speak to a Jewish sensibility and character.