Incorporating the population of Israel into The Big Move with an even division across the three habitable planets while maintaining the option for the physical state of Israel to return adds a profound layer of cultural and political significance to the process. Here’s an exploration of how this decision could impact both the people of Israel and the broader societal dynamics on these new planets:
1. Preservation of National Identity in a New World
The even distribution of Israel’s population across Arrakis, Terminus, and Gaia is a deliberate strategy to preserve the nation’s cultural identity while integrating its people into the broader cosmopolitan populations of the new worlds. The Jewish population is accustomed to the complexities of diaspora life, and this scattering across the planets may feel like a continuation of that history—except now, it’s done under the guidance of a highly advanced alien civilization, the Justified and Ancient.
This offers an opportunity to create Israeli enclaves on each of the planets, where the traditions, language (Hebrew), and religious practices of Judaism can continue and adapt to these alien environments. However, the even division also ensures that no one planet becomes a new “Israel” in the political sense, preventing the replication of old tensions in these new worlds.
2. The Option for Return
By offering the option for the physical state of Israel to return if the population so wishes, The Big Move acknowledges the emotional and historical attachment to the land of Israel. This is crucial because, despite the allure of new opportunities on habitable planets, the connection between the Jewish people and their ancestral homeland is deep and spiritual.
The idea that the state of Israel could be reconstituted on Earth at some point in the future—likely after The Great Grief—gives the population an emotional safety net. They are not being permanently separated from their homeland; instead, they are being given the choice to thrive in new, unexplored lands while keeping the door open for a potential return.
This flexibility recognizes the trauma of past exiles and offers a sense of security—a rare privilege in Jewish history. It allows the population to approach The Big Move with less resistance, knowing that their fate is not entirely out of their hands.
3. Cultural Integration and Influence
As the people of Israel are dispersed across the three planets, they will contribute to the cultural and intellectual life of their new homes. Jewish intellectualism, innovation, and religious thought are likely to have a significant impact on the early development of Arrakis, Terminus, and Gaia. Their contributions in science, technology, medicine, and the arts will enrich these new societies, and their experiences of resilience and survival will offer moral and spiritual leadership during the difficult years of The Great Grief.
In particular, the role of Judaism as both a religion and a way of life will provide ethical frameworks for grappling with the existential challenges of a mass relocation and the loss of billions of lives on Earth. Jewish rituals of remembrance, mourning, and rebirth could find new resonance in these strange new worlds, offering the broader population guidance in their own grief and renewal.
4. Political and Diplomatic Implications
The even division of Israel’s population also has political implications. By ensuring that no single planet becomes a new Israel, it mitigates the risk of replicating Middle Eastern tensions in the new system. The dispersed population can serve as diplomatic bridges between the planets, fostering interplanetary cooperation.
Israel’s role as a nation with a strong military tradition, advanced technology sector, and long-standing diplomatic experience will likely position them as key players in the new power structures on each planet. This, combined with their historical ties to both the Western and Eastern worlds, will give them a unique perspective in the shaping of the post-Big Move society.
5. New Forms of Zionism?
The dispersal across three planets might inspire new forms of Zionism—perhaps not tied to a physical homeland on Earth but rather the idea of creating thriving, self-sustaining communities wherever they are. The idea of “Zion among the stars” could emerge, blending the concept of Israel as both a homeland and a spiritual mission.
New generations born on these planets may still feel the pull of Earth, but they could also develop a more cosmopolitan identity that sees The Big Move as an opportunity to spread their cultural and religious ideals across multiple worlds. This might lead to a redefinition of Jewish identity—one that embraces a more universalist vision while maintaining its core traditions.
6. Challenges of Assimilation and Retention
However, dispersing the population also presents challenges. There will be concerns about the dilution of cultural and religious practices as individuals assimilate into the diverse and rapidly evolving societies on Arrakis, Terminus, and Gaia. Maintaining Jewish continuity across three planets will require effort, and it’s possible that divisions could arise between those who adapt to their new homes and those who yearn for a return to Earth.
To counter these challenges, Israel’s cultural and religious institutions will likely need to evolve. Synagogues, cultural centers, and schools will become crucial in ensuring that future generations retain a connection to their heritage, even as they integrate into the broader planetary society.
Conclusion
The even distribution of Israel’s population across the three planets is both a pragmatic and symbolic move. It acknowledges the need for integration into a new world order while allowing the Jewish people to retain their unique identity and cultural influence. The option for a return to the physical state of Israel provides a psychological anchor, ensuring that this transition feels more like an opportunity for expansion than a forced exile. Ultimately, this plan offers the potential for Israel to thrive in new ways, both within the new planetary societies and in a possible future return to Earth.