Let's abandon the misguided fantasy of mass aliyah from the U.S.

- More than I've ever seen in my entire life. Israel NEEDS a *major* influx of Western Jewish immigrants, possibly now more so than ever. It needs such an influx to improve regarding its Jewish society, politics, economy, self-defense, and international relations... improvements that are sorely needed for its long-term stability. The country and its government should be trying to develop new structures and programs to encourage such immigration, targeting particularly those Western Jews - ESPECIALLY Reform and Conservative Jews - who have steady sources of income that would remain in place upon immigration, as well as those who have badly needed skill sets of all sorts. To expect that the country will remain strong, vibrant, socially healthy and JEWISH over the long haul WITHOUT such efforts would be delusional.

Fact of the matter is that the US is bankrupt, its present economic course based on more than trillion $ deficits financed by newly printed $ is unsustainable and will collapse likely within 2 years at most. US Jews will run to Israel just like the Jews from the Soviet Union did and will be just as destitute because the US$ will implode

But dont move to a conformist neighborhood like Nofei Aviv. You are better off moving to a mixed and diverse neighborhood. We moved to Aviv and it was a horrible experience for my husband and myself as well as our kids. The people there are very close knit - to the point they are closed minded and if someone doesnt like you well then you are socially ostracized. The Aviv people believe every rumor they hear and are followers and conformists.

i read yesterday in the NY times about renovation of an ancient synagogue in Queens: this is pathetic, renovating a building that is almost empty and will soon be completely empty as the Bukharian community there dwindles. Jews in Germany used to think that they could be german [most were realistic enough to understand that one cannot be both Jewish and German and many converted to get to study in Universities that were open only to Christians) Jews in France begin to understand that if they want to stay in France they have to be Muslim

American Reform ascribes no special status as "holy places" to what remains of the Temple in Jerusalem. From the Philadelphia Conference of 1869: 3. The Aaronic priesthood and the Mosaic sacrificial cult were preparatory steps to the real priesthood of the whole people, which began with the dispersion of the Jews, and to the sacrifices of sincere devotion and moral sanctification, which alone are pleasing and acceptable to the Most Holy. These institutions, preparatory to higher religiosity, were consigned to the past, once for all, with the destruction of the Second Temple, and only in this sense—as educational influences in the past—are they to be mentioned in our prayers.

Jews in the U.S. better not come to Israel. In their mind & hearts they are "Galutniks", only they believe the U.S. public at large has accepted them as equal...the Truth is: they remain Jews, despite the enormous wealth of a few prominent yidalach...those Jews can never feel at home in Israel. Just as Jews from Poland never felt home in France.

Who cares if the American Jews make mass aliyah or not, as long as their money does.

Assuming you are halachically jewish, i am very happy that you found your way back to israel. However, this does not mean i support how you got here. Had you been brainwashed by fairy godmothers into thinking you would turn into a pumpkin had you come to israel i would support the fact that you had arrived but not how you get here. Nor would i feel any sense of obligation to the fairy godmother. The reform movement have stolen the word 'judaism' and used it to name their new religion. You may be jewish but so was jesus. This does not mean that what you practise is judaism. The reason why rabbis are so against the reform is that you try fooling genuine jews that they can still practise judaism but without the ancient core philosophies and laws of judaism. Secular jews don't follow the laws. Reformers state that there aren't any. It is a big difference.

I am very glad to see an answer to those two foolish articles, but at the same time it is important to recognize that Israel is changing because of the increasingly aggressive religiousity of a portion of the population that has disproportionate power, and is using it to intrude on the lives of Israeli and world Jewry. The result is a fast eroding of democratic, pluralist, inclusive values that many hoped would characterize a Jewish State. If progressive Israelis and World Jewry do not mobilize quickly to push back against the intrusions of the ultra Orthodox, Israel will soon not be recognizable or easily supportable. The Federations, Reform, secular and Conservative/Masorti movements, in the diaspora, seem to be sleep walking during these threats, and not funding and supporting the progressive forces in Israel. Groups on the right are flooded with funds. Progressive groups are being starved by their natural constituencies. What is needed from world Jewry is a multiyear effort similar to Project Renewal. If this does not happen, they will simply walk away in disgust without having made a massive effort to save a democratic, progressive Israel at a time when it is still possible to make changes in the government, the Knesset, the education system and the courts. Anyone listening???

interesting article

Great article. We here in Israel should indeed not bite the hand that feeds.

If you will it, it is no fantasy.

Oh, wait, that one actually happened. But seriously, why abandon a good fantasy?

We Jews are not a bit bothered by commenting on events and politics in every corner of the world. It is only when we comment on Israel that our own leaders ( right wingers , for the most part) accuse us of near treason . How is it that our tikkun olam instincts have to be shut down and suppressed when we think or ( horrors) talk about our concerns ? It is not even a double standard, it really is repression which approaches Soviet madness.

You can complain about living in the best place for a Jew every day. Or not.

We know how the imported bandof Judaism works in the States--a largely gnorant jewish community, for whom even Bilalik's Cultural National vision of a genuinely Secular Judaism has not taken root among the erstwile educaed Jews in that mega community. The cosces are there, except the patter of an offical Rabbinate is what we get here. As it is, Conservaive and Reform congreations can find themselves a friendly Communiye Cetner set up shop, and benefit from all the goodies that most Orthodox synagoges can only dream of getting--regular budgets aIt would seem that the people who be Secular and non-Observant and still want to claim some kind of Judaism forget that all the Traditional texts speak of Jews as "servantts of God", and not the other way round. Then too, its obvious that some Haredi and other Halachically observant Jews are oot innocent in the game for budges and the claim to "nearness to God", You don't have to worry any, the Jewish demography is clearly in favor of the Traditionally Observant and Halacically Observant Jews over the next seveeral decades. That the Amereican Jewiish numbers is declining is clear and the greater proportion of Olim from North America are Hallacially Observant coming here to fulfill the Mitzvah of Yeshivah b' Eretzyisrael, as you,did, in your way.. Stop chepping, accept the facts around you learn to be more tolerantof Jews who disagree with you.

Another non-Orthodox oleh from the US agrees.