'Lost Jews' video shows Israeli chutzpah towards Diaspora Jewry

Many Jewish kings married shiksas, and Esther married a Persian King. Why not in modern times? The "assimilation" is not just true for Jews in the diaspora, but also true for all religions. In the westernized world, your ethnicity is your heritage, but what you feel in your heart and soul and how you observe religious practices is up to you the individual. So Jews become Buddhists, Catholics become Baptists, and Scientologists become agnostic. BTW - regarding the statistic of the number of American Jews who won the Nobel prize? I don't know for sure, but I would bet a substantial amount of money that many on this board would consider them "lost" because they practice Reform or American-Orthodox, and/or they have intermarried, and/or have a non-jewish parent, and/or they are not practicing Judaism on a daily basis, or raising their children as observant Jews. Just sayin'.

Seems like just you and me here. There are some racists on every talk back no doubt. This one is surely no exception. That is no reason to stifle debate no matter how acrimonious it may get. Control freaks who wish to limit free discourse are a bigger danger than racists in most modern societies in my humble opinion. That said, your obvious confidence in 'your own ability' to decide who is a racist or a hater or baiter and who is a permissible participant in talk back is woefully misplaced. Laughably so. I have personal connections with Israel. I have visited Israel several times in the past, stayed on kibbutz l'hamai hagetot [spelling?]near Nahariya and I have other good and legitimate reasons to take some personal interest in what goes on in Israel. You are foolish to presume yourself judge and jury in these matters, sitting at your keyboard. As I say, there are many racists on here. I would say at least as many are Israel supporters as not.[something you CHOOSE to ignore] What I am grateful for is that pompous know-alls like you, don't get to decide who posts and who does not.

The fact that Haaretz Talkback is set up as an international forum means nothing. So were a number of African American web sites in the United States; a recent segment on public radio noted that these same web sites were deluged by race baiters and have a zero tolerance policy toward it, as they should, with none of the endless prefabricated excuses you use to justify your double standards and hypocrisy.

You need to take a 'reality check' Mr. sanctimonious. Assuming yourself as having 'higher' ideals than others on here (me) is an inadequate attempt to deflect any criticism of Israel whatsoever. You can not argue sufficiently well against the message, preferring to analyse and offer pretentious opinions about the messenger. "I will let them deal with their own problems" I'm sure Australians everywhere can rest easy now. Just to remind you though, this forum is set up so that people of all opinions AND origins (its an International news outlet don't you know) can debate and disagree over a variety of subject material, most of which is centered on ISRAEL. Surprised? However, if you are no longer interested in statistics on Australian immigration, perhaps you could sign on to the ever so slightly puffed up but adamantly pro Israel with no outside involvement forum. I believe it can be found at the no news is bad news Israel is wonderful website. They are looking for their first participant and you fit the bill perfectly.

I don't consider it a waste of my time to point out the appalling hypocrisy and double standards of the Jew baiters on Haaretz's Talkback, but I would consider it a waste of time to bait Australians about their brain drain. I will let them deal with their own problems and wish them the best without setting myself up on their web site and slinging mud at them, which is somehow your sad idea of a productive use of your own life and time on this web site.

"I have better things to do with my time" RC Seeing as I'm an Aussie in exile myself I wouldn't waste my time debating that issue, though there is a good forum popular with Australians that you can go to in order to discuss it at length if you wish. Why do you waste your time on forums by the way?

never mind, guy, & sorry, if i was a little bit pedantic about the categories. i think these terms are still valid & descriptive as to distinguishing between the different streams. but i agree, when the ideas are crazy & extreme it doesn't matter which group they came from. i have a good friend who's modern orthodox, an american-israeli living in israel for decades & who's also an anthropologist at bar-illan. he tells me about how the rabbis tend to invent things & about how his dad used to turn off his hearing aid when a rabbi started to speak.. i think the state of israel needs to come to the point where a clean break is made w/the rabbinate, putting an end to the stranglehold it keeps having on the state. a secular constitution could do that, making a plurality possible in the religious realm as well as true equality between all israeli citizens. there's a lot that needs an ovewrhaul, incl. immigration policy etc, & this wouldn't at all have to negate the state being jewish.

Tuesday 7 October 2008 "The Minister of Information released a new report today that shows Australia experienced its biggest annual exodus on record with 76,923 leaving the country permanently in 2007-2008. The Emigration 2008 report reveals that almost half the Australian residents that left were in skilled jobs and nearly two thirds were aged between 23 and 54." I guess I could spend half my life online baiting Australians about their problems now, but I have better things to do with my time.

Read this and you'll get it even less! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F

Just because this isn't an issue involving Hugo Chavez doesn't mean this isn't an issue. This add exposed a deep seeded Zionist belief that Diaspora Jews- by simply not be hardcore Zionists- are somehow lost, weak, etc etc. The unfortunate truth for Israel is that, while it is far from universal in the country, Racial and Religious prejudice is a widespread problem. It's neither as bad as crazy opponents of Israel contend, or as non-existent as a large chunk of Israeli supporters would like to believe.

"So, in 2007 Israel lost 5,600 people. It gained, however, about one million in the early nineties" S Busloads (or planeloads) were 'bought' in from the old Soviet Union, securing the political base of the far right in Israel. Including many who are not recognised by the religious authorities as being Jewish(they had a Jewish Granny or mother in law). Which is why today, (somewhat perversely) Israel has a problem with neo nazis of east European descent. So to sum up; you wish to focus on the massive and successful 'one off' efforts of Israel to 'buy in' it's population from abroad whilst ignoring that there is NOW only organic attrition of the population and that Israel has just about exhausted all major sources of large scale immigration with the Soviet exodus of the 1990's that you choose to focus on. You prefer to ignore that those who leave are predominantly young and highly educated. I always said that the wish is invariably father to the most fanciful of thoughts.

Your: "Many emigrants were recent arrivals who wanted to leave Israel again, the report said. In 2007, 14,400 immigrants are expected in Israel while 20,000 people are expected to leave the country, according to the report ...Almost half of the country`s young people were thinking of leaving the country..." (Roo) So, in 2007 Israel lost 5,600 people. It gained, however, about one million in the early nineties. Anyway, good work, Roo! As about the young people wishing to leave, who doesn't? They come and go all the time: post-docs, temporary assignments there and here, etc, isn't that nice all this wanderlust? I am stuck however...How about you Roo? But the great majority stays put... Most are doing quite well here, you know? And those who don't can't travel...c'est la vie".

I don't get it. Judaism is a religion, not a social club or financial institution. Jews received the Torah. That is who we are. If you do not want to follow the Torah, then don't call yourself Jewish, and do not insult or berate me for being Jewish. Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years. Why would any sane person, who does not want to follow the Torah, want to label themselves as Jewish? I don't get it. Can some "secular" (non-Jew) please explain why you would want to be labeled Jewish, with all the racism that exists today, if you do not follow Jewish law. It just does not make sense.

Why can't they call it by its right name -- evil?

Don't you people have anything more importnt to discuss? Instead of beating this subject to death as the Barbarians are at the Gate and as Rome is about to burn? Listen to what Hugo Chavez just said today about Israel. And THAT, my friends has very serious implications. Chavez is accusing Israel of wanting to exterminate the Palestinians and unfortunately many completely honorable people agree with him. Right or wrong, what are the implications for the Jewish people? And shouldn't we start treating the Palestinians with more humanity?

Enough of the new, aggressive Nazionism as displayed by MASA and much of the governmental coalition parties! Yes, I consider myself a lost Israeli (not lost as a Jew ...), since I reject the full pledged racism emanating from major parts of Eretz Israel. It's a catastrophy that so many Jews have forgotten that only Nazis tried to keep their "race" pure ... and they tried to kill us... And now we do ther same to others?

I agree with lots of the statements here. Yes- Israel is headed towards Religious concensus. It's going to do that by bending to high birth rates of ultra-orthodoxy, at which point Religion will be dictated to the country by a few Far right Orthodox Rabbi's. Meanwhile, Reform and Conservative Jewry in the States will have to accomodate the mad rush of non-Orthodox Jews who, with the rise of an Orthodox dictatorship, will want to emigrate. And then Conservative and Reform support and funding of Israel will slow or completely stop. Somebody ought to start funding reverse Masa trips. It's time for Israel to face the fact that American Jewry- and particularly Reform, Conservative, and unaffiliated Jewry- is not some mess around group who can be, because of their pluralistic views, continually pushed and prodded and milked. At some point, Israel is going to push to hard and lose the support of what is one of the largest, most affluent, and most important Jewish groups.

I think the term "ultra-orthodox" is a term that, like any "religious" term, is up for some debate. So perhaps I shouldn't have used it. However, the Israeli Rabbinate has moved increasingly to the "right" over the past few years, to the point that even Modern Orthodoxy in the States has been somewhat isolated, let alone Conservative or Reform. I went over the Israeli Rabbinate endorsed manditory reading list for Canadian Orthodox Converts. In them, Reform Judaism is blamed for the Holocaust, and Jews are described as being Holy to a degree that "makes them a virtually seperate species that are alone worthy of the title man." I'm not sure how to describe that. Maybe it's not Ultra-Orthodoxy. But it is crazy and flat out racist. Those books are, by being the direct reading list of the Israeli Rabbinate, directly endorsed and sponsored by the Israeli Government. Which is state sponsored irrationality and racism.

Living in the Diaspora for 42 years now and having emigrated with my parents from Israel in 1967, this whole notion of assimilation and disconnection from Judaism, the community and Israel has been an obvious concern and it's part of reality. But most vulnerable is that individual who grew up in the environment not making the efforts or having the pride in one's background and continues not to make the efforts of what it means to belong. I think any individual, whether born Jewish or converted Jew should be fully accepted into the community and it's not the Orthodox community which should solely give that designation. Collectively, assimilation has a significant impact on the Diaspora community but on an individual basis there has to be an understanding and we can't be judgmental about peoples' varied life circumstances. Also, if peace in the ME becomes a reality, then there are greater chances of having close affinity and belonging to the Jewish state or even making aliyah.

That's right, no where in this article. This article is about an Israeli group using media to promote blood purity. It backfired. Badly.

Now you are generalising.... I grew up in Holland and lived in Paris for many years and I know many European "kids" (now adults) from Jewish descent who are totally disconnected from Judaism. Then I lived in Israel for over 17 years and was converted there by the Orthodox Court against the advise of (and being declared crazy by)all my Israeli friends with the exception of one or two. For the most part they are very secular. I always say " I needed to come to Israel to become a Jew, but I needed to live in the US to become Jewish". I have learned more about Jewish Tradition in 5 years in the US than in 17 years living in Israel. But I am sure there are many who have had the opposite experience....It all depends on your particular environment and your inner drive / need to be Jewish.

why should i care what you think....do u care about jewish feelings ?

wow john you are so brainy..... i guess we should all listen to yr words of wisdom "herzl was wrong"....

Since world war 2 and the murder of 1.5 Million jewish children . More than 1.5 million Jewish children have been murdered by Abortion and no one is screaming from the roof tops . Assimilation pales into insignificance compared to the disgusting murder of over 1.5 million jewish children .

Such a thing shows that Israel has little positive to offer Israelis, many of whom want to go the the Diaspora. So, they just play the "fear" card instead of a positive campaign as to why Israelis should stay in Israel. Its laughable. Sorry to say it, but Ahad ha-Am was wrong - much of the Jewish creativity today comes from Jews in the US and not from Israel.

That is strange, because I have lived on both coasts of the United States and in the Midwest and it is difficult for me to imagine an American Jew who would not be familiar with the whole concept of the Jewish Diaspora; certainly no American Jew with any education and knowledge of history would be unfamiliar with the term or find it alien to any discussion of history, in which the Diaspora concept has been applied to many groups other than Jews as well.

Know what Canderra, you are right and you are wrong. You are right that Jews, under the pressure of anti-Semitism often come together for self-protection. That being the case, it makes sense. Once that happened they "remembered Jerusalem", the Land of Israel, and other recollections of that place that our Forefather Abraham was promised. The Enlightened Jews of the West promoted a kind of Diaspora Judaism that blended local patriotism and Jewish Identity. The Germans and the French told the lie of that notion, but, for some reason the Jews who weren't burned by the experience still hold on to that 18th century "dream". At best it's a debate between differing points of view, and one hopes it doesn't cause us to break apart.

Perhaps the number of Jews remained small because they did not feel the need to impose their religion on others on a mass scale. As for the benefits of assimilation which you view as a great favor to Jews, a "key cultural condition" in Jewish history was strongly to discourage intermarriage (10,000 Year Explosion, Cochran and Harpending, 2009, p. 193). Without benefit of your big favor, "Ashkenazic Jews have the highest IQ of any ethnic group known" (ibid., p. 188). "Although they [Jews] represent less than 3 percent of the U.S. population, they won 27 percent of the U.S. Nobel Prizes" over the past two generations and 25 percent of A.M. Turing Awards (ibid., p. 190).

,,,,22 jewish Nobel Prize Laureates, most of the german-austrian background/platform. But is the religion the deciting factor or the vicinity ? The Nazis were not even crazy, the were totaly wrong with the percetion, what the jews are thinking, confessing, doesnt matter, the race is the problem. The jewish religion gives an excellent training for very important management skills. Look communications etc. I feel sorry, that many restrictions build a barrier. But the narrow minded people with the just pure definitions prohibit an open at least exiciting jewish society.

"Israel, since 1948, has been a place to go TO, a destination - not a point of departure". MV "Tel Aviv- In Israel, the number of emigrants exceeded the number of immigrants for the first time in 20 years, the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported. Many emigrants were recent arrivals who wanted to leave Israel again, the report said. In 2007, 14,400 immigrants are expected in Israel while 20,000 people are expected to leave the country, according to the report based on figures for the first months of 2007. The last time emigration exceeded immigration was in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and in 1983 and 1984 when inflation was high. Meanwhile the Maariv newspaper reported that approximately a quarter of the Israeli population was considering emigration. Almost half of the country's young people were thinking of leaving the country, the report said. Their reasons included dissatisfaction with the government, the education system, a lack of confidence in the political ruling class and concern over the security situation." http://stlouis.ujcfedweb.org/page.aspx?id=144274 Sometimes Morris, it is best to research a little before posting. Things are not always as we imagine or want them to be. The modern trend is that the ultra orthodox will stay [waiting for moshiach] and the older population along with most of the poorest will most likely remain in large numbers. The younger and better educated are far more likely to leave than stay long term. The net inflow is no longer positive and this will not likely change without a comprehensive peace settlement, which many have given up on.

Just curious. After all, they seem happy to run a don't-marry-a-goy campaign, and it takes two to get married. If they ran a campaign trying to convince all us goyim not to marry Jews, wouldn't that do do their job just as well? Or would the ADL object to a don't-marry-a-Jew campaign? How does Masa think we goyim feel about their don't-marry-a-goy campaign?

The very term "diaspora" Jews is completely alien to any U.S. Jew that I know. I don't think I have ever heard this term spoken in the U.S. The word is your term, not ours. We are U.S. Jews, and the vast majority of us are very grateful for that fact. The cultural chasm between U.S. Jews and irredentist Jews appears to be unbridgeable.

Let's all just be human and humane and not allow religions to divide us and exploit us.

It's impossible for a Gentile women to run a Jewish household and raise Jewish children. That's a job only a Jewish woman can do. Your children know that you're not Jewish so they don't have a full Jewish identity. Your children's conversion at birth is not legit since real Jewish conversions are done with adults. Your children are Gentiles until they've had a proper conversion.

Jewish people living in the diaspora can and do assimilate. The success of the Jewish community in the United States proves that Herzl and all of the Zionists were wrong. Jews can assimilate into society and proudly retain thier own ethnic heritage.

The only way to stop assimilation is by having a religius revolution in Israel. It will happen sooner or later (whether you like it or not) because of the high birthrate among the Heredim. And when the state of Israel will have Halacha as its constitution, assimilation will definately stop.

Yep-the truth hurts, eh? It's not necessary to read MASA's hasbara-the critics have stated MASA case better than the organization itself! The Anti-Self Defamation League www.asdl.biz

I am a Jew on a New York college campus and all around me I see this video ringing true. It has stirred up immensely strong feelings because of its incontestable truth. American Jewry is assimilating at alarming rates, numbers and more importantly people that I see each and every day. Anybody who objects to this video is doing it squarely out of ignorance or blind-sightedness. The author of this article chooses to focus almost exclusively on the mixed-marriage angle, when in reality it is just as targeted at the children of two Jews as it is at children born of mixed-marriages. Shame on the American Jewish community for causing an uproar at something so true.

.... they just don't want to be Jewish. After all, if they inherited it from their parents, they should have the right to choose.

than wealthy gangs with their own patches. The Israeli Jews are merely trying to csore up their numbers within their own gang. None of the main gangs bring any good to the planet or her peoples.

The comments are more interesting than the article. Not one good word about Jews, about our culture, about our heritage. Relax dear reader and remember that 14 Nobel prize winners were of Jewish origin. We had a written language when the barbarians of europe were tribal primitives. Control your rage. I am very proud to be a Jew.

Avra-Chaim, commonly translated "Abraham" among "gentiles" like me, roughly re-translated from the original language is "A Toast." I've never set foot in a synagouge in my life, but I know the word "synagouge" roughly re-translated from the original language is "Genius." I know exactly what the arc of the covenant is, and most Jews in Israel don't know that. Point being there is plenty of opportunity in "The Diaspora" to learn about jewish stuff if you're interested.

just so you know, guy, the chief rabbinate of israel - the one politically endorsed & having a near monopoly (so far) on religious affairs in israel - has little to do w/ultra-orthodoxy. it's just orthodox, which itself has different shools of thought & is problematic enough. the ultra-orthodox are the haredim, the hassidic jews of several different sects who are a world apart from everybody else, have their own authorities & "rebbes". they're growing fast in numbers & are so far being tolerated (/just so) by the rest of israeli society as living off the state, w/most of them not working & not serving in the army. that may change. someone here on TB once thought the ultraorthodox were the messianic zealots who make so much violent mayhem in the territories, which is of course just as inaccurate. cheers,-

second sentence should say "the descendants of Irish people who emigrated to America some 150 years ago cannot expect to be offered Irish Citizenship.They are too far removed.

'The ancestors of Irish people who emigrated some 150 yrs ago cannot expect to get citizenship.They are considered too far removed.' Labhras, I keep telling you not to compare Eire and Israel. They're like cheese and chalk. But do you listen? (noooo...) Ireland, 150 years ago, was a very good place to be FROM. Israel, since 1948, has been a place to go TO, a destination - not a point of departure. Israel is to be the Jewish homeland, the in-gathering of exiles. Ireland isn't anyone's homeland, except for the Irish living there now; a place which, once again, people are anxious to leave. Don't knock your head on the Ha'penny Bridge as you float down the Liffey and away from Ireland.

Just had a thought. My sister's looking to find a nice non Jewish man. Fancy a date with a Yid?

and you think I need to focus? It's always amusing to read all the posts from people who claim to represent the World, sorry. The Universe. Perhaps Haaretz would consider writing an article which deals with this profound abuse of Women's rights. Maybe even extend it to Somalia, Sri Lanka, Iran etc....Would you be interested in responding? Would you care?

A nation can only be healthy and creative when its rooted in its own homeland. Life in "Galut" is worthless, "parasitic", and cannot bear fruit.

Same answer for 1, 2, and 3. There's nothing wrong with conversion. The similarity between Moses, Ruth, and all the brown, black, and white people who joined the Jewish people is that the were committed in every way, religiously, culturally, and spiritually, not just as a superficial label. As for 4, the problem of choice is related to problems of community. Jews don't feel the need to be part of a community anymore, so of course when they grow up surrounded by non-jews, that's where they'll look first. But there's no going back to the ghetto now, for better or worse. We have to put in the extra effort to maintain our people.

In Ireland we only issue Irish citizenship to those whose Grandparents were born in Ireland. The ancestors of Irish people who emigrated some 150 yrs ago cannot expect to get citizenship.They are considered too far removed. On the other hand--a Polish person who emigrates to Ireland and works and lives there for 5 years is offered citizenship. Israel should try this form of population control. It allows for blending but not self destruction. All the "citizens" of Ireland are allowed to vote in general elections.Residents, most of whom are citizens in waiting are allowed to vote in local elections. There are no arguments or friction between our Diaspora and the home front. Why is it that Jews have this enigma????. Shhhh---land theft perhaps.

In Ireland we only issue Irish citizenship to those whose Grandparents were born in Ireland. The ancestors of Irish people who emigrated some 150 yrs ago cannot expect to get citizenship.They are considered too far removed. On the other hand--a Polish person who emigrates to Ireland and works and lives there for 5 years is offered citizenship. Israel should try this form of population control. It allows for blending but not self destruction. All the "citizens" of Ireland are allowed to vote in general elections.Residents, most of whom are citizens in waiting are allowed to vote in local elections. There are no arguments or friction between our Diaspora and the home front.

Who is talking about blood here?! If you say that Rabbis deal with people so or so because of "blood purity" reasons, so the first mistake is that if one is a "pure" jew in your terms, Rabbis have no need to deal with him. The second mistake is the idea of blood you give us here. Has ve Shalom that readers and passers-by might think Judaism is about some sort of blood segregation...?! It's about the soul!! You misunderstood the Jewish concept I believe. The Rabbis' problems are their problems which affect on us (negatively, for sure), yet the topic of this video was assimiliation, not conversion difficulties. And certainly nothing connected to blood or purity. (As it is written, all of us are impure since we came in contact with dead and graves and the Temple hasn't been rebuilt since thousands of years.)

Modern judaism has been "purified" of any religious form and operates as a cult based on blood line. True religions are inclusive and derive universal morality from the notion of God. This Israeli cult form of judaism is based exclusively on rituals of self segregation and the fantasy of a "people apart". Hardly something that will attract new adepts.

The rabbis -who in their erroneous misunderstanding of Prophecy still persist on foisting the M'shich myth on Judaism ,do not understand the implacation of the Sar Hagadol prophechy in the last part of the Book Of Daniel...Yes -it is the duty of the jewish people to persist in existence in spite of enemy attacks UNTIL THE END -TIME so that the Saviour-SAR HAGADOL MICHAEL "stands up " for his people at THE END -but if he saves them -what came before cannot continue(else there is no END)..the implication is that after he saves JEWS continue but in a NEW calendar -meaning the OLD calendar and its religious holidays are replaced with something NEW. Hence rabbis are finished! If rabbis are "doomed" anyway,they ought to not worry about preserving the past too much ,but instead ought to "enhance" the Jewish nation to the greatest chance for producing this SAR HAGADOL MICHAEL! Solution:Marriages to non-Jews ok if the couple promise to name the 1st-born male MICHAEL!

Thank you for your comments! You have expressed exactly what I have been feeling for the past 17 years. I never converted, but my sons were converted in their infancy to Judaism and I have kept a Jewish home ever since my marriage to my very Jewish husband. How is it that my two children (one is attending high school in Israel) who live a fully Jewish life can be diminished in their "Jewishness" while others who were born Jewish and who have never seen the inside of a shul have all the rights and respect that my children are denied? Having spent two weeks in Israel this summer traveling from one end to the other (AND putting lots of American dollars into the economy), I do not believe the beliefs expressed in the video are indicative of most Jews in Israel, including native born Jews, but that of a narrow minded minority.

Answer: Nowhere. What is it with Israel's "supporters" that compels them to write about ANYTHING other than Israel and it's universally abhorred policies? Focus H, the article is about supporting blood purity.

First, what is your outrage actually about, dear Benjamin? On the fact that israel sees itself as the only home for Jews and finally, again after many years, says it out loud? Or about a condemnation of interrmarriage? Actually, I didn't notice them referring much to this topic. To be honest 1., Israelis themselves often "get lost" when feeling not at home anymore in Israel.The mass of chilonim who perfectly live a goyish life within Eretz Israel and then often leave it to live an even more goyish life. So, for sure, Israel is no guarantee, too. Quote: "can make the bonds stronger": Yet this does not mean that mixed marriage should become the Jewish people's most successfull method of preserving themselves! To be honest 2., the video, may it outrage or not, points to the opinion our Jewish Talmudic sages had on Jewry,intermarriage and Galut. If we want to search for authentic Jewish attitude, they provided it. I suppose,the sages wouldn't disagree much with this videos's message.

you may be right in that intermarriage leads to assimilation fast. but the uproar of the article isn't saying "let's encourage intermarriage", as if this was a good in itself. it's not about that, but about people being rejected who already are there & who identify strongly as jews, are really serious & knowledgable about it but don't see a need to convert any more than others w/a single jewish parent. & what do you know? people w/a mixed marriage background may want to marry within judaism, if only they were accepted themselves. they often aren't, while many others who automatically are don't give a d.. about their heritage whatsoever. the fallacy is this clinging to the one rule of origin (matrilineal & halakhic) as the only thing that matters /one that always matters more than anything else. the rule may've had its rationale once upon a time but it's meaningless in today's setting. as to assimilation in post-emancipation europe, it didn't need intermarriage to come about.

...the problem then is NOT inter-marriage per se in the diaspora (Proof: 50% of marriages even amomg jews end in dIVORCE=the same as in the general non-Jewish population)--so inter-mariage has ZERO to do with marriage failure or success... The problem is TRIBAL ...WHY can't the Jewish TRIBE accept in the "other" if that other is willing to take up the customs of the tribe? The argument then is :WHO sets the current customs of the tribe as opposed to the "ancient" traditional customs/prractices of a now much more diversified tribe? Do we allow rabbis to run roughshod over the rest of us? Rabbis tell us to preserve the laws of Judaism to preserve the tribe-they fail to tell us that laws can/even SHOULD change with circumstances and new knowledge -but the imperative should be to produce offspring to keep the tribe existing UNTIL the END TIME -when the SAR HAGADOL MICHAEL stands up to save the Jews who THEN (by logic) form a new CALENDAR (JUDAISM CHANGES/rabbinic era is over).

Sometimes, maybe, the children of inter-marriage remain part of the Jewish community, but not the grandchildren, except on rare occasions. My instinct is that the rate of inter-mariage among the Jewish children of inter-marriage is sky high, and beyond even that for the next generation. The reactions to this seem personally defensive rather than analytic.

First, the chief rabbinate of Israel definately has some sort of "blood" requirement. I think of Moses forcing the Israelites to eat the golden calf- to me it means that when one starts placing "Jewishness" in terms of race and blood, they are literally worshipping the same golden calf of old. Second- to the incredible idiot who suggested intermarraige led to Hitler and the Holocaust. That is just insane, and defines Judaism only in relation to Nazism. Judaism doesn't need to compare itself to Nazism to be Judaism. Third- Israel doesn't exist without Diaspora support, intermarriage and all. I don't think intermarriage is a good thing for Israel or Diaspora Jewry, but then again, I think the Ultra-Orthodoxy of the Government endorsed Israeli Chief Rabbinate is far worse.

1. "your God is ny God" -Ruth to Boaz -thus whe line to King David and the whole M'shich mishigas.. 2. Moses was allegedly born a Jew--got assimilated to Egyptian Prince and new less about Jews than the Shiksas these idiots are complaining about! but yet HE becomes the Deliverer/Lawgiver? 3. How come there are different skin coloured Jews from black to yellow to browm--not only white? BECAUSE at some point in history-they inter-married! This did not stop a jewish line from preserving... 4. The problem in a dispora is simply choice-in some regions the number of candidates for "matches" in a "normal" choosing situation is not great enough to solve the problem..YET you cannot simply mail order brides or male spouses from Irael because that would deplete the "normal" rom there... Because diaspora situations are not "normal" to a society,the few Jewish candidates become more like sisters or brothers...animal "atraction" gets supressed-hence the skiksa/shaygetz solutions.

You guys have it all wrong. The problem, very simply, is the accumulation and defense of the power of the Israeli rabbinate. As Lord Aston said,"power corrupts, and absolute power etc. etc."

- that is, assuming you're jewish (& having no idea where you live - in the US?). everything begins in the mind, & of course judaism is a culture, it's a whole civilization & the long jewish history, beginning w/biblical history, has definitely given rise to a whole set of distinct ideas & values (albeit w/variations & changing over time). the notion that it can be reduced to a few acts /deeds, disconnected from the whole of life, is a very false & recent invention. & the blood aspect did creep in as the obsession it's become in certain circles. nothing else matters, not how you behave toward your fellow man, not whether you cheat on your wife nor what you think about the world, only the right kind of pedigree is important. if your 4-5. generation grandma on mum's side was jewish you're "one of us". i'm not saying everybody thinks this way, though.

The most effective alienator from Israel is the current Israel, due to its obscurantist rabbinate, racist attitudes, rightwing fanatics and insane policies. Reform Jew

Talmud says the much-praised rabbinic leaders Shmarya and Avtalyon, in one era in ancient times, were descendants of converts. One problem today is validation of conversion done abroad, even by some US Orthodox rabbis. Rabbi Seth Farber is active in this. The main problem though is the marriage where the non-Jewish partner doesn't convert. That's what Masa's addressing. But not addressing the roots. A couple years back, a young Jew on a TV dating show in Canada got headlines when he said it was racist to date only Jews; he's part of a large trend. For quite a while, it's been very un-PC to date only Jews. A US Jewish psychologist lamented to me that his children all had married Jews. How unprogressive. It's the new melting pot. Other ethnic groups in the US see a similar rate of out-marriage. All except the Chinese in the US. You should study how the Chinese manage it.

This stuff always upsets me. Just because the "spoon feeding" campaign against intermarriage didnt work doesn't mean its not true. Judaism is more than personal identification, its a system of thought, values, traditions, and rules. To reduce it to something before or after a hyphen like Italian-American is to rob of its richness and render it nearly meaningless. And I'm sorry, I grew up in a reform synagogue with lots of intermarried kids. They sum of their jewish identity consists of rosh hashana, yom kippur, bagels, and seinfeld. how much could they possibly teach their kids, especially if they don't even have the support of their future non-jewish spouses? Sure, maybe 1 in 10 of these products of intermarriage will go to services twice a year. The rest will quietly slip away until everything is forgotten. Neither Israel nor the orthodox are pushing them away; they already chose to leave.

The intermarriage rate outside of Israel is so high that, in a few generations, practically the only Jews left outside of Israel will be Orthodox and Haredi Jews. Need I remind you of the tremendous assimilation of German Jewry beginning with the Jewish Emancipation and Enlightenment and ending with Hitler?

Bulna Hussein threatened with forty lashes and a fine under Article 152 of Sudan's 1991 Penal code. "Whoever wears an obscene outfit shall be punished with flogging which may not exceed 40 lashes or with fine". What was her terrible crime? I hear you ask Lou... Wearing trousers. Never mind, let's integrate. Mind you I thought Jesus the Jew did very well to further that cause. Salaam/ Shalom

What happens when 4 million American goys ask permission to Settle in Israel. The translation into English of Israel's Law of Return that I've read says no.

you are insane if you think that the concept of blood purity "crept" into jewish thought (what does that even mean?) Jewdiasm is not a culture it is a way of life. get over it

First of all, the ad was never even directed towards Diaspora Jews. Anyone wanting to make Aliyah is still welcome, stupid Rabbinical problems aside (and yes, I fully agree with you on that particular point). Second, the numbers speak for themselves - not only do Jews in the Diaspora tend to marry non-Jews, but the most important important fact of this - that about 75% of the children of such unions do not consider themselves Jewish or have anything to do with Judaism - isn't widely known. I'm honestly happy for you that in your case this hasn't happened, but what about all the cases where it had? Face facts - every single Jewish community in every country except Israel is shrinking, not growing. Maybe Diaspora Jews should keep that in mind before they start perceiving insults, and maybe Israelis who consider Yeridah (the target audience, remember) should do well to take that into account. "Purity" has nothing to do with it - Jewish consciousness and culture does.

Something is wrong here. And don`t point fingers at Gentiles. Assimilation is not a bad thing if your trying to improve the herd.

Ot is true that it is difficult to get a kosher meal in Tel Aviv, home of most of the leftists in Israel. However, that is the problem of Tel Aviv, not of the Diaspora. Here in the US, my children fear to take their kids to synagogue, after they were attacked during the Cast Lead riots, by Arabs shouting for them to be sent to the ovens. Here assimilation comes from wanting to fit into the larger group. In Tel Aviv, they seek to abandon their Judaism to appease the Arabs. who still call the city an old Palestinian town.

- by rejecting thousands of individuals, who wholeheartedly identify both w/the diaspora & israel, for reasons of blood purity only. a concept that has crept into jewish thinking & was never & never should've been part of judaism in the first place. we of all people should've known better. this is not about jewish values. it's about a belief in blood magic & a belief that the value of jewish continuity, based on that magic & as the last value left in the system will somehow save the people.

the missionary position in any realm is dumb and offensive. when jews apply it to themselves it is mind boggling. who is to say what true jewish identity is anyway: are chasidim throwing dirty diapers and stones at Israeli police yelling "nazi", Jewish? are the kippahed settlers ursurping Arab lands kosher? is the former President under indictcment for multiple rape Jewish? Is Ihud Olmert double billijng charities for pleasure jaunts a role model? I wrote a poem on the subject of the Jewish Non Jewish dichotomy. Please quote me and give me credit. The Goyem. Enjoyem.

A near impossible economy, high taxes, a vicious police force, and an arrogant government, all combine to make Israel a much less comfortable place to live than the US or other countries. That's without talking about the security situation, which most people are idealistic enough to put up with. What I don't understand is why a country who's people are suffering so much from security threats etc. can't at least make it comfortable and easy to live there... So the Israeli government pulls its standard trick. Instead of addressing their problems and trying to improve, they smear the potential immigrants and point all the blame at them. As if that'll make them want to come. Really.

"Justice, justice shall you pursue." Israelis' chauvinism would be less embarassing to the "galut" if Israel would get on with a two-state solution.

Benjamin Hartman has hit the nail on the head in this article. The Masa campaign is arrogant and offensive towards the Jewish Diaspora; so much so that the campaign creators even scared themselves into taking it down almost immediately after the humous hit the fan, hours after the campaign went public. On a positive note, perhaps this will bring about a much needed serious dialogue between Jews in Israel and in the Diaspora, one in tune with the realities of the state of the Jewish People in the 21st century.

Hate to say it but I've been here over 4 years, go to synagogue once a year and enjoyed a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs last Saturday in Tel Aviv (my friend had Shakshoukah with Shrimps). I can't help but to admit that I'd be leading a more Jewish life back where I came from than in Israel!

trying to tell them.

.

This ad is a generalisation. Most European Jews are proud zionists, most assimilated Jews are American, so I take a little offense but at the same time I think this is the reality in the US.

.

Isn't the Diaspora what enabled Jewishness to survive and (mostly) thrive? The greatest threat today is having too many Jews crowded together in one place. They fight among themselves and never stop to think how easy they are making it for the next psychopathic madman, and the next, and the next...

As a person who was also raised in a mixed marraige...Thank you. I saw the article on the ad campaign in Haaretz last week and was furious, but unsure how to express it. I have been on Birthright, and volunteer with my temple (which at my mid twenties I am already a member of). That I am lost to my culture for defying a fear mongering norm not only disturbs me but outrages me.

Something is wrong here. And don't point fingers at Gentiles. Assimilation is not a bad thing if your trying to improve the herd. Salaam/Shalom