"Is there any reason to lament the decline of a civilization that has contributed so much to its own demise?"
There is a major difference between a culture that sees people dropping babies into the river because they truly cannot raise them and a culture that is dominated by people who would rather have a third car than a third child.
Fortunately, there is a God in Israel.
Do the Israelis know that? I'm talking specifically about the ones who are shrinking in number by the day due to a loss of faith, low birthrate, etc.