Spies!

Way back in the days of Moses, 12 spies were sent to the land of Israel to determine the status of the land. Was it livable? Could crops be grown there? Was it safe? What were the people like? Would they destroy us?

The spies came back and reported that there were giants that would consume any people who lived there. Rashi explains that they encountered many funerals and that it was a dangerous place to live.

Fast forward several thousand years and we are still here, inhabiting the land of Israel. There are millions of Jews living here and there are projections of another million who will make aliyah in the next decade (that number is likely to be exceeded). Chances are, Jews will continue to inhabit the land for thousands more years. We are here now and here to stay.

עם ישראל חי