At one of the Panel discussions at AIPAC gulag suvivor, Israeli leader and author Natan Sharansky noted two distinctions that the American and Israeli nations share, that lead them to their phenominal success.

One that I have already mentioned is that both are nations of immigrants, and that the confidence and courage that drives one to seek a new homeland also drives their economic success.

But secondly Sharansky noted the spiritual commitment common amongst their citizenry. He noted ( I am paraphrasing), ” On Saturday the synagogues are full in Jerusalem. On Sunday the churches are filled in America. But the churches are empty in Europe.”