ROB, you wrote:
“The Jews lived in Germany in great harmony and “coexistence” for centuries…” until that changed drastically for the worse.
But you didn’t write the reason our gedolim gave for this change, which applies elsewhere, too. I forget now where I saw this, but I think it’s from the Bais HaLeivi.
In Mitzrayim, too, the Egyptians treated us well…until all of a sudden they didn’t. What was the turning point there? Klal Yisrael stopped performing Bris Milah to better integrate with the Egyptian culture. That’s the point when the Egyptians began to despise them.
The simple reason is that as long as we maintain our distinct Torah identity, the umos treat us well. But if we get too close to them by destroying our identity as the am haNivchar, that’s when, CH”V, Hashem puts sina in their hearts to ensure we remain a distinct people.
Germany is the same idea. There’s nothing wrong with being successful in your host country. That’s not why they hated us there. But you still have to maintain your identity as a Jew.
Zionism, as well, is all about changing Jews into a goyish nation, as has been discussed earlier. If it were possible to reverse Zionism, as Health points out, it would obviously be far better for the Jewish people.