Report: Israel-Diaspora relations sink to new low
By Cnaan LiphshizDespite appearances to the contrary, Israel's relationship with Jewish communities abroad has in fact reached an all-time low, a policy paper finds.
The conclusion comes from the paper by a group of researchers from the Van Leer Institute, an advanced studies center in Jerusalem. The group proposes some urgent and unorthodox solutions before the issue becomes a major rift.
In their paper, which was published earlier this month, the researchers propose three alternatives aimed at giving Diaspora Jews more control over what's going on in Israel in an attempt to salvage the relationship.
A new approach
"The many institutions and organizations entrusted with keeping this bond alive suffer from an acute case of Israelo-centricity," said the man who assembled the team, Professor Gabriel Sheffer from the Hebrew University's political science department. Sheffer said the Jewish Agency and Minister Isaac Herzog's newly formed Ministry for Diaspora Affairs are relics of an antiquated world that need to be replaced.
"These organizations encourage immigration to Israel and advocate keeping Israel stronger. But Jews abroad are losing interest in Israel, so that's exactly the wrong strategy," Sheffer told Anglo File with regard to drumming up support overseas. "We need to appeal to the Diaspora on a common Jewish platform and give them more control to rekindle their interest."
Sheffer concedes that the leaders of many Jewish communities, especially in the U.S., are at present very committed to Israel. But it's the future that worries him. "It's the old guard's children and grandchildren that Israel needs to win over," he said.
In reaction to the policy paper, Herzog's office told Anglo File that the minister "is open to any original idea that can help bolster the bond with the Diaspora." Herzog added: "I see the Diaspora as a central and crucial element in Israel's character. We need to remain very attentive to shifts and changes in Jewish communities abroad."
But so far, Israel has failed to do that, according to a number of polls mentioned in the policy paper. A Jewish Agency poll from 2002 which surveyed Jews in the U.S., for example, shows only 31 percent of respondents as saying they feel "very connected to Israel."
The team also points to an apparent change in the charity habits of Diaspora Jews when giving to Jewish groups. "Only 25 percent of all donations reach Israel, compared with 75 percent a couple of decades ago," Sheffer said. "It's not uncommon to hear Jews saying they would simply not care if Israel suffered a major catastrophe."
The first step to reversing that, Sheffer said, is to admit that Israel is not the definitive center of the Jewish People, as it has always presumed to be. Moreover, Sheffer says that even Israel's alleged status as the only Jewish safe haven in the world has been severely undermined.
"When tens of thousands of South African Jews emigrated after the fall of apartheid, most preferred Australia or Canada to Israel," Sheffer said. "And when the Argentina economy collapsed, most of the Jews who left headed for Spain and North America."
Sharing power
Some of the nine researchers who contributed to the paper said they believe that in order to solicit more involvement from the Diaspora, the state should pass a law - possibly a basic law - to cement Israel's ties with Jewish communities abroad.
Shmuel Shenhar, one of the paper's coauthors and former deputy chief of Nativ, the semi-covert governmental organization for encouraging immigration, advocates forming a new state authority headed by six Israeli representatives and six representatives from the Diaspora. That body, which would be sponsored by the state, would completely replace the Jewish Agency and other organizations.
Funding for Shenhar's new group - which would have a council of about 200 people - would come from Israel and the Diaspora. "If the Diaspora would feel that it is let in on crucial decisions and that its voice is heard here, then it will produce massive funding. I'm thinking about a budget of $4 billion," Shenhar told Anglo File.
But despite his desire to give Diaspora Jews more power at the helm, Shenhar - who used to be the absorption ministry's deputy director - is not prepared to allow them to openly influence security matters.
The question of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, for example, would not come up for discussion in Shenhar's theoretical council. "The organization will have a charter that will define its mandate. Anything security related will not be included. But the council will have clout over education, finance, development. You name it."
The heart of the problem
The growing indifference to Israel's fate on the part of Diaspora Jews stems, according to the paper, from globalization, assimilation, slow population growth and secularization. The absence of state-sponsored anti-Semitism in the West also seems connected.
But another crucial reason for the weakening bond is indifference in Israel to the fate of Jews abroad, the paper says. As evidence, the paper points to an opinion poll from 2001 in which only 48 percent of Israeli respondents said they felt they "belong to the Jewish people at large." Less than 30 years earlier, the figure was 66 percent.
"The solution to this indifference lies in education. Also abroad, but first of all here, in Israel," Sheffer said. "We need to teach our kids about the Diaspora. Most high-school students don't care about the Diaspora. No wonder then that their Jewish contemporaries abroad have little concern for Israel."
Both Sheffer and Shenhar say they are aware that focus on Israel's identity as a Jewish state, first and foremost, would likely invite more criticism from abroad in light of the country's commitments to its Arab minority. According to Sheffer, this shouldn't rule out the tactic.
"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't care much about that," Shenhar said.
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I have to say that although the Jewish Agency has done a deplorable job in encouraging Aliyah at least from North America, I simply cannot understand the idea of giving Diaspora Jews say in the way the country is run. How can you ask me to abide by policy that was even partially influenced by people that do not nor have any intention of living in Israel. I agree, the Jewish Agency must be disbanded, there are private organizations that in a very short time have done a far superior job in fulfilling the JAFI's mandate than the JAFI itself, and all JAFI does is complain and excoriate them (see Nefesh B Nefesh). As far as the Rabinate is concerned, people are forgetting, Israel is the JEWISH homeland, and therefore must keep it's Jewish identity. Otherwise there is no purpose for it's existance. Again Diaspora Jews should keep their opinions to themselves or make the commitment and move to Israel
It woul seem thats YOU are the one with the short memory. Judaism flourished in the diaspora for 19 centuries without a country called Israel, and there is really no reason to believe that it will not continue to do so.
the problem is assimilation. most american jews could care less about israel because most american jews are goyim. they have no judaism at all and are mostly intermarried. similarly, secular jews in israel could care less about jews outside of israel because judaism and jewish identity means nothing for them. religious jews in the US (regular orthodox and haredi) are very closely connected to the jews in israel. they travel there, have relatives there, go to yeshiva there and probably know more about what's going on there than many israelis
from Israel. The suffering of the Pals is not amusing, and there's no doubt the settlers and their supporters want to intensify it. Old school liberal ideals are still pretty strong in the U.S. Jewish community, so the sharp economic swing to the right in Israel is also not that well received by many.
As a leader in my Conservative shul and a strong supporter of Israel over the years, I am continually sickened by the local Israeli politics and Orthodox/Secular power struggles. The Israeli religious establishment and the secular leaders who appease them have absolutely no idea how much damage they do to their support in the Diaspora. Or they don't care. It brings to mind Kissenger's comments about Israel having no foreign policy, only domestic politics. Yes, I can educate my kids to be Jews and appreciate everything Israel has accomplished. But in the end, the Jewish state is morphing into something unrecognizable - an intolerant, draft-dodging ultra orthodox heirarchy that acts like the ayatollahs wishing to revive a caliphate, and a secular, self-indulgent population that is alienated from the faith (who wouldn't be?) and therefore has little in common with the diaspora. I believe Israel will survive, but at this rate, it'll be without much of the Diaspora.
The only thing certain diaspora Jews find less palatable than criticizing Israel is actually living there.
If Diaspora Jewish charity is now 75% for local causes that's because we need Jewish schools etc. and no longer feel that Israel is a 'charity case'. When Israeli government ministers tell us Israel no longer needs our charity, that's good enough reason to finally help our own impoverished institutions.
What holds Jews together worldwide is their Jewish faith. Even secular leaders like Ben Gurion had learnt in a top Litvish yeshivah and understood Judaism. Today's secular Israeli has little feel for Diaspora Jews, and today's secular Diaspora Jew has little feeling for Israelis. Here in London almost every attempted boycott of Israel has been led by Israelis or British Jewish Leftists. Corruption has damaged Israel's image abroad. It's hard to identify with a country whose president is accused of rape, whose prime ministerS have been repeatedly accused of corruption, whose Left wing newspaper attacks everything Israel does. Where are the Abba Ebans or David Ben Gurions or Rav Kooks of today?
The heart of the issue is Jerusalem -- the very thing he says Diaspora Jews can't discuss is the thing they care most about! The other issue is that most American Jews -- unlike me-- are not Orthodox and therefore feel rejected by the Israeli religious establishment. With Israel's Chief Rabbi trying to reject even Orthodox conversions in America, it's no surprise Americans feel alienated.
It seems like the only place to get a Jewish education in the United States is at the local temple. Most Jews in America are not religious. If there is going to be any educational program, it should not be associated with the synagogue. This way, it will not be seen as a way to win converts. Of course you can't convert a secular Jew because he/she is Jewish. For many, the idea of trying to make someone else more religious is offensive. Why not create a program where Jewish children learn to read and speak Hebrew. It must be fun! Kids much rather play soccer and football or play blow them up video games than be behind books and sitting in a classroom. This way you can create a 1) secular education that not offensive to the non-religious 2) possible reduce the barriers of aliya - Hebrew is not the quickest language to learn 3) Jewish children will have a common bond with each other in the United States but also with Israeli Children
Indeed, as you say, the centrality of Israel in Jewish life abroad is increasingly questioned, as Israel itself becomes polarized between the orthodox - who tolerate little by way of Jewish progressives - and the secular, for whom Judaism is but a set of nice quaint old customs. One could even say that paradoxically, it is israel that's moving further away from traditional Jewish values, becoming mired in narrower, more nationalistic, even parochial concerns. Those traditional values included, I believe, strong emphasis on evolution and universality, among others, themes well reflected in the lives, openness, contributions and deep involvement in their home countries of the diaspora Jews. By contrast, one could say that it is the Jews in Israel who are in the process of moving away from the best of Jewish values, succumbing to forces of geography, demographics and conflict dynamics. May not be anyone's fault, but the schism is bound to increase, I/P conflict providing more fuel.
Gordon, I was going to reply to Poppy's comments about Israel vs. Phoenix, but yours was so perfect! Thank you, it gave me a good laugh and made me able to dismiss Poppy's as simply not worth the time to explain.
You write that Israel has "beauty, freedom and culture" and is "a place they can call home" and that you are sure "you don't have that in Phoenix Arizona." Well, I have only been in Phoenix three times - I live a few thousand miles away - but I recall that it has "beauty, freedom and culture", and I am darn sure that its inhabitants - including its Jewish inhabitants - call it home. I can say with absolute certainty that my own city sure has "beauty, freedom and culture" - or at least, all the "culture" we want, although we are not exactly London, Paris, or New York - and I and my family happily call it home. I get the impression that people like you believe that Jews cannot be happy unless they are surrounded entirely by other Jews. Honest, non-Jews don't all have bad breath. Some of them are even literate. One or two are reputed to have had university educations. Some even love their parents and their children. And rumor is that several of them are not anti-Semitic.
I am sorry if I have offended you by saying that we should show the children in the diaspora the beautiful side of Israel.( I did not mention the word pretty.) Have you every been to Israel??? Have you ever seen how the TV depicts Israel??? You must only be thinking of the religious side of Israel, well there is another side. Especially for the diaspora children. They want to come to a land filled with beauty, freedom and culture and a place they can call home. I am sure you dont have that in Phoenix Arizona
RealCurious: The change in perception has occurred as the wall of censorship(voluntary and through intimidation and harassment) crumbles in the USA to any challenge to the monolethic AIPAC narrative. As to what Israel's first interest should be, that will be decided (and the consequences lived with)by the Israelis. My role as an American-Jew is to encourage my country's leadership in promoting PEACE WITH JUSTICE .
perception? What do you and/or they think Israel's first interest should be?
In my N. California Jewish community,the tide has definitely turned.Formally vocal Israel apologists have become suddenly publicly silent and are "hunkering down" under a rising tide of public opinion that Israel is not interested in peace AND JUSTICE with the Palestinians.
A President accused of rape. A PM accused of financial crimes. A defence minister who can,t evevn operate binoculars.I need not go on.Who wants to be associated with a criminal gang at the helm of Israel.Elections now and win back the hearts and minds of embarassed Israel supporters worldwide !!
My children support Israel, because (a) they are Jewish and (b) the North American press is uniformly and dramatically biased in favor of Israel and they are influenced by it. But yet they would not dream of emigrating there. It is impossible to imagine even one reason why they should. It's peaceful? Not! Jews live there? They live here too. Jews are free there? They are free here too. Jewish religion is more widely accepted there? No, they can understand the Orthodox, but they see the Ultras as crazies no more akin to them than the Saudis are. The country is beautiful? So is southern Utah, Banff, Northern California, ... Israel as an ideal, a theme, a hope, is great, but the country itself, as a political entity, has no attractions; emigration there is not even imaginable to them. And they are the people whose minds you must change if you want to avoid greater and greater isolation.
You did nothing the hard way. You thrive now thanks to the charity of the Diaspora. It is true that the Diaspora is now weakened, and like fools we continue to pay more attention to supporting you than in strengthening our own communities. Yes, Israel is a strong state and therefore no longer should require our help. So stop asking for our money and stop soliciting our political support.
To # 2 Evildoers multiply,but good is relagted to oblivion.
Nobody wants you.
who you prefer to "racist Israel". Go on and help him destroy his country and people and promote the madman from the funny farm in Iran. Go on, Tova, GO! HOP ALONG NOW!
"Diaspora Jews care for decent countries only" And you put Venezuela, ruled by a piratic buffoon, in the category of decent, law-abiding countries, while Israel is in the same kettle of fish as Saudi Arabia?! I guess Israel administers 200 lashes to unmarried female rape victims, ha? Haven't you got a rally to go to? You know, one of those do's organized by a coalition of "Self Hating Jews against Israel", Leila Shahid, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the 4th International ,and " Anarchists in Favor of Turning the World Upside Down". You're not a Liberal. You have no right to call yourself a Liberal. That word has been assassinated by Left Wing Fascists.
You welcomed home everyone BUT the American Jews. We have been used, abused and who needs Israel? We are the Jewish stepchildren and you need us more than we need you.
Diaspora ! Many Lebanese abroad have made great achievements, but the fact is that they have forgotten Lebanon. If there were a massive immigration in Lebanon of these Lebanese, everything would change, but above all, we would have in Lebanon the economy of a very developped country.
What happens in and to law abiding societies like Belgium, France, Scotland, Spain, Germany, the Chech Republic, Poland, Holland, Luxemburg, Venezuela... that is important to liberal thinking Jews the world over. What happens to racist societies like Saudi Arabia and Israel is probably of less concern. To loose a few fundamentalist madmen on the whole would be beneficial to the peace of the world.
I have teetered on both sides of this debate. I do see items of Israeli culture, such as movies or music, to be more dynamic than the schmaltz offered by, say, the American Jewish community, which is passed off as culture. However, as an American Jew myself, I have to agree with Sharon in Phoenix. The only branch of Judaism that is given legitimacy in Israel, and by Israelis themselves, is Orthodoxy. Why would I want to live in a country which does not recognize the more innovative forms of Judaism? Why would I want to live in Israel, when every non-Orthodox Israeli I've met embraces no Jewish values and views Judaism with nothing but derision? America is a very accepting place, and my Conservative brand of Judaism holds a legitimate role here. Why would I want to live in Israel, where Jewish identity seems so starkly split? Why also would I want to ghettoize myself when I can succeed in the larger world?
I'm left stunned by Poppy's suggestion that we show Diaspora children movies of pretty Israeli scenery as a way to move them to identify with Israel. In all my studies of Judaism, I've never before heard the idea that the reason we should identify with "the land" is because it's pretty. If "pretty" is the best Israel has going for it, then it doesn't deserve any more connection from Diaspora Jews than does Jamaica or Switzerland or Holland, all pretty places.
number 2 response ------ STOP YOUR PROPOGANDA -NOT EVERY ISSUE IS GEARED UP TO IRAN -YOU ARE RIDICULOUS. Jordan.
Think about how our ethnic religious jews in Israel REFUSE to allow conservative and reform jews entry into israel religious life. Yet these same ethnic religious jews in Israel accept with open arms all the donated millions of dollars from the very jews they deny . What reaction can you expect ? ALLOW WESTERN JEWRY TO FEEL A PART OF ISRAEL. Certainly as much as SHASS etc. Jordan.
i totally agree with comment from number 12 a case in point, were the remarks of that ex chief rabbi last week who said we smell of hell, if there is such a thing, than i hope i wil meet him there and knock his teeth down his nasty mouth ,as i know for sure, if there is a god, he will send him also to hell and not to heaven, with poeple like that in positions of power israel will over time lose all the help and support it gets from reform and conservative jews in the rest of the world. joseph theeboom
I agree with the comments and observations from Steve from Raleigh. Despite intermarriage and assimilation the future of Judaism lies in the Diaspora. The vast majority of Israelis are secular to the point of being antagonistic towards their own faith. In North America many parents pay out of their own pocket for jewish day schools and other arrangements. Even if 10% of jewish parents send their kids to such schools there is bright future for judaism in North America. HOWEVER THE BIGGEST ISSUE PREVENTING ME AND MANY OTHERS FROM SUPPORTING ISRAEL, IS THE ATTITUDE THAT IF YOU MAKE ALIYAH YOU ARE SEEN AND TOLD YOU ARE A "FRIAR" BY NATIVE ISRAELIS. I WANT TO THANK THESE SABRAS HOWEVER FOR ADVISING ME OF THE ERRORS OF MY WAYS SO THAT I COULD RETURN HOME TO CANADA WHILE I WAS STILL YOUNG! I HAVE NOT SET FOOT IN ISRAEL IN 17 YEARS AND WILL PROBABLY NOT SET FOOT THERE FOR ANOTHER 17.
If a secular Jew lives in Canada or the USA, why would they want to move to Israel? Since most religious Jews in the US aren't Orthodox, let alone Ultra, why would THEY want to move to Israel, where their form of Judaism is not tolerated? As a non-Orthodox religious Jew, I feel perfectly at home where I am, and see no advantage to me in Israel, nor would I be an asset to Israel. Is there some reason that Jews in Israel are more entitled to my charity than Jews nearer me? When Messiah comes, so will I, but until then I can be Jewish where I am.
This is sad but not suprising. One of the key problems lies with the Israeli Rabbinate. As long as the Israeli gov't continues to give the "keys to the kingdom" to a few who think they have the right to say who is Jewish enough then this problem will exist. My own giving to Jewish causes has increased over the past few years but I have almos entiely stopped giving to any Jewish causes based in Israel.
Why should American Jews feel so connected to Israel? We are mostly Reform and Conservative and are excoriated by the Israeli Ayatolas who have their coercive hands in every aspect of the country. David
when Donations of hundreds and thousands are being made towards the Jewish State....and less of it finally appears. This seems to be so on occasion and therefore it is a great disappoontment to those who give and ultimately and unfairly the name of 'Israel' becomes the victim of someone's greed. Greed is an international affliction, but when it comes to the Jewish State - IT IS A CRIME! as everything always is.
wow, it really saddens me to hear this type of things. We have very short memory. I just hope that the new generations grow up with much stronger connections to Israel and the Jewish people.... if not, Diaspora is doomed....
Israel has gone out of its way to exclude us, to refute us, to tear up our conversions and tell us all to go to hell. But when we try to support Israel, the Haaretzniks call us fascists and racists and extremists. Of course you still want our funding. And in the article itself, all the Israeli experts have determined that the fault for all of this lies with us. Well let me be the first to say that the rift is nearly complete. There will be TWO Judaisms soon: Israel and the diaspora and never the twain shall meet.
Give credit to the Jewish people in the diaspora. Then, also give credit to the state of Israel. Twenty years ago diaspora Jewry recognized Israel needed the bulk of their charitable funds. Today, Israel is a strong nation. It is the diaspora communities that are weakened. It is logical that the bulk of funds raised should be used to support the local communities. We should be proud that Israel is strong. No comfort that the diaspora is weak, but don't let's use this argument to place further burden on the state of Israel. We have done it the hard way and succeeded. Perhaps others should study our methods.
Here they come.
best marketing - use SEX. Sex sells and young female and male models should be blasted on TV and billboards. This would be the first step to reach the high school and college students. Leonardo DiCaprio is the best example - all the women he had and look who he's with... his hot Israeli model... and they're serious! so she'll settle him down and expect a dicaprio residence somewhere on the Tel Aviv and Eilat beaches soon thereafter.
second submission - i accentally didn't complete my last point, which was: a RETROACTIVE PAYMENT to Jewish Americans who have immigrated to Israel at the level the Russians were receiving since 1990 and this policy should be in place for all Jews in the Diaspora. There is a discrepancy in money - Jewish Americans live comfortable lives and have time too much time to complain. They are incessantly Democrats and liberals. To change this, a JEWISH CONSERVATIVE PRO-ISRAELI TALK SHOW RADIO PROGRAM supported by Jewish and Israel advertising needs to be established. It is a long process, but the neoconservative movement was only the beginning.
there is only one answer to this problem - jewish americans are 70-80% liberal. they vote out of the old fear that chistians have been historically "problematic" towards jewish americans. this is NOT the case with the neoconservative and post 9/11 world. there needs to be a unity between the christian right politicians (i particurlarly am voting for Mike Huckabee), a program to re-educate through books and online content to change through intellectual arguments on why Christians are good for Israel; and most of all - a RETROACTIVE PAYMENT
The most important are the children in the Diaspora.. they should be taught more about Israel and shown DVD's, videos and other form of visual material to show them how beautiful the country is and not as it is shown on TV. Our children watch TV and only see the bad side of Israel and especially they see the conflict with the Palestinians. Which child would want to come to a place that looks so ugly and always in conflict. There are so many beautiful video's etc of the countryside, the sea side, etc which would impress the children. Also of course the most important is to bring the children to Israel to experience the country first handed. I have seen many children from all over the world going back home from Israel and you can see they have fallen in love with the country. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY - EDUCATION BUT WITH ONLY POSITIVE AND BEAUTIFUL IMPRESSIONS.
Many people in the world expect Israel to make an attack upon Iran. This would have all manner of negative results, but the most important result to diaspora Jews is this: Diaspora Jews are the most available, the most accessable, and the likely targets of an Iranian response to an Israeli attack. This sort of thing has happened before, but not on as large a scale as is likely to happen in this current scenario.
Just like any other recovery program, it is necessary for us to take specific steps to strengthen the tie between the Diaspora and Israel. I would contend that the identification of a Diaspora Jew with Israel is conditioned upon his personal identification with the Jewish people. There is no identification without education. No one strongly identifies himself with America unless he has been educated about American ideals and history. The lady does not curtsy before the Queen if she has not been schooled in the tradition of Queenly protocol. Instead of demanding of the Jewish Diaspora to send money to Israel so as to dedicate forests, cultural centers, schoolyards and basketball courts, we should demand of the to dedicate their fundraising for Jewish education in their own communities. 1. Their children must be taught Jewish History and culture. 2. Only then will they identify themselves as Jews. 3. Thereafter, they will realize that they are part of the local and the national Jewish community. 4. Only then will they realize that they have obligations towards Jews ? not only the Jews in their families or their communities or their county of birth. 5. Only then will they accept their obligation towards Jews in other parts of the world. 6. Only then will they become excited at the magnificent achievements of the largest grouping of Jews in the world. Those living in Israel We have to understand that identification of the Diaspora with Israel is caused by the presence in Israel of so many Jews ? not because the country is called Israel or because it is a democracy or because it is surrounded by enemies. Unless the Diaspora child is educated to be proud of and love his unique culture, the Diaspora adult will not take pride in those others who similarly practice that unique culture.