In October 1994, several days after kidnapped IDF soldier Nachshon Wachsman was killed in a failed attempt to save him from his terrorist captors, I was scheduled to teach my weekly graduate seminar at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. But given the horror of what had just transpired, I couldn’t even imagine simply teaching as planned. I no longer recall what had been scheduled for that day. But what I do remember is that I decided to scrap the usual fare and that I taught a text in memory of Wachsman.
As the seminar drew to a close, it was obviously quiet in the room. But just as the students were preparing to disperse, one looked at me and asked, What does any of this have to do with us?
More than 15 years later, I can still picture that moment, frozen in time. I remember exactly where she was sitting. I recall the looks of discomfort on the faces of some of the other students, but the nods of agreement with her question from others. And I remember that I had no idea what to say.
And I remember feeling unbearably lonely and wholly out of place. Lonely because it was clear that she was not the only one wondering why in the world we were thinking about Nachshon Wachsman, when my own heart was breaking, and out of place because I had no idea how to engage those students in a conversation about why he mattered to me. I didn’t know where to begin.
What I didn’t know then, of course, was that a question that seemed to me an aberration would soon become the norm.
BUT IT has. Among young American Jews today, the public discourse has been captured by the intellectual and emotional heirs of that graduate student. Today’s is a generation of young American intellectuals and communal leaders without the instinctive bond to Israel that my generation possesses, even when Israel infuriates or embarrasses us. This is a generation of people like the talented writer Jay Michaelson, who wrote in The Forward, “I no longer want to feel entangled by [Israelis] decisions and implicated in their consequences… count me out.”
Even in the moments of our greatest frustration with Israel, the people that I grew up with could never utter the words count me out.
Michaelson is but part of a massive wave. Prof. Jack Wertheimer, in presenting some preliminary findings from his newest study of American Jews (the specific figures are still being processed), noted a few weeks ago that most young American Jewish leaders (yes, leaders) do not see Israel as central to Jewish identity and peoplehood.
The evidence is virtually limitless. We’re witness to a tectonic shift in American Jewish life, but many people would rather ignore it than face the serious work that lies ahead. Thus, when I pointed out (If this is our future,Jerusalem Post, May 7) that following Brandeis University’s invitation to Ambassador Michael Oren to be its commencement speaker, the public discourse was captured by those opposed to his invitation, some people responded by pointing out the (obvious) fact that many Brandeis students (and probably the majority) supported the invitation. A petition in favor, signed by 5,000 people, was also reported. And a small number of articles in the Brandeis paper, opined one faculty person in a response to the Post, ought not be taken out of context. Imagine someone telling you it’s pouring rain outside and you stick your head out the window and see there are just a couple of clouds in the sky, he wrote.
But what we’re facing would be just a couple of clouds in the sky if the story that mattered was about Brandeis, which it obviously is not. Everyone knows that Jewish life on campus doesn’t get better than Jewish life at Brandeis. So why pretend that Brandeis is the issue? What is significant is that even at Brandeis, one of the crown jewels of American Jewish academe, as of the publication of my previous column, there had been four pieces in the student newspaper about the Oren invitation.The Justice’s official editorial and the head of the campus J Street chapter weighed in opposed. So, too, did a member of the computer science faculty. And a student representative to the Board of Trustees aimed to defend the invite by suggesting that Oren was being asked to campus not as a representative of the State of Israel, but as an academic.
WHY DOES any of this matter? Because in not one of these pieces did any of the four writers have a single positive thing to say about Israel. That, not Brandeis, is the story.
So instead of circling our wagons, seeking to convince ourselves that it’s not really raining and that there are only a few clouds in the sky, I propose that we ask ourselves a few basic questions: (1) Do we believe that the future of the Jewish people depends on what happens to Israel? (2) Do we believe that Israel can survive without strong and consistent support from the American Jewish community? (3) Given today’s younger generation, does a serious problem loom? (4) If we are facing a challenge, how did it arise? (5) And perhaps most importantly, what should be done?
To me it seems patently obvious that the secure, confident and creative Diaspora community that many American Jews now take for granted is directly dependent on a vital and flourishing State of Israel. Today’s young American Jewish leaders can neither recall nor imagine the days in which Jews hesitated to march on Capitol Hill, or the days in which one could not get a job on Wall Street wearing a kippa. That confidence is the product of Israel, and of the formative experiences that many American Jewish leaders have had in the Jewish state. The image of the Jew, no longer one of victim, but of utter confidence, was born in June 1967. In Israel.
Though many will disagree, it seems equally clear to me that were the State of Israel to be vanquished, the vibrant American Jewish life that we now too easily take for granted would wither away within a generation. And if that were to happen, the two great centers of world Jewry Israel and America would each essentially be gone.
And I believe that Israel’s military might, cultural flourishing, strength of spirit and more, important though they all are, are not sufficient to sustain the country. America’s support financial, military and in the increasingly hostile court of international public opinion is critical. Yet that support would be much endangered without an American Jewish leadership that instinctively feels deeply connected to Israel, that doesn’t ask, What does any of this have to do with us?
Today, we have that leadership. But the future is not as secure as many would like to believe. Nor is that future very far away.
SO HOW did this come to be? To be sure, Israel is partly at fault. It is notoriously horrendous at telling its own story, and has allowed those sworn on its destruction to capture world opinion. Nor has Israel been blameless in the interminable conflict with the Palestinians, of course. Israel alienates American Jewry with an anti-intellectual and often intolerant religious establishment. And the government still refuses to see the gradual distancing of young American Jews as a serious existential challenge, which it could become, if it isn’t one already.
But the responsibility for this widening fissure in world Jewish life cannot be attributed solely to Israel. Too many young American Jews have not been taught what they need to know to evaluate the conflict fairly. They know that they are opposed to the occupation, but they are much less clear on how the occupation began or what Israel has done in the past 43 years to seek to end it. Largely illiterate in Jewish texts or language, they are increasingly unaware of the cultural renaissance that Israel has made possible for Jews the world over.
Yet the problem is actually far more complex. At its core, the issue isn’t really Israel, or even American Jewish education. The real issue is the larger world in which today’s younger American (and Israeli) Jews live. Responding to Wertheimer’s study and the concerns it raised, Noam Pianko, a professor of Jewish history at the University of Washington, denied that there is a problem. As Gary Rosenblatt of the Jewish Week recently wrote, Pianko insisted that boundaries don’t match the moment of 21st-century America. His America, Pianko says, is “post-ethnic,” symbolized by President Barack Obama, who he said represents racial fusion rather than division.
Obama did not create this worldview; this Weltanschauung elected him. But Obama is perhaps the most eloquent spokesperson for this orientation, insisting, as he did in Cairo, that we ought not be “defined by our differences.”
Even if we set aside the obvious fact that it is precisely by pointing to differences that we define most things, Obama reflects the worldview that is shaping both young Americans and increasingly, young Israelis: Difference is not an ideal, but an unfortunate reality, best transcended whenever possible.
In such a world, it is no surprise that a successful young nation-state, which breathes new life into an ancient language, which fosters Jewish ingathering from across the globe and which enables a cultural regeneration unlike anything humanity has ever witnessed a state which, in other words, celebrates difference would be uncomfortable for many, and reviled by some.
All of which makes the challenge even greater. Because engendering the instinctive passion for Israel that many of us feel, and miss, requires swimming against the current of an intellectual culture now pervasive in America and much of the Western world. But Jewish history in general and Zionism in particular are proofs that the trends of Western civilization can be withstood, and even altered at times. The question facing us now is whether we plan to capitulate, or whether we’re willing to lace up our boots and enter the battle.
This will be no simple battle. But as Joshua said to the angel (Joshua 5:13), you are either with us or against us. Left versus Right, or Orthodox versus Reform are now secondary issues. What matters now is whether or not each individual, organization, movement, etc. sees defense of Israel’s absolute right to exist as a Jewish state as its foremost responsibility. Let all our differences abide. But let both leftists and hard-liners understand that today, they are not opponents, but rather partners, assuming that both are committed to Israel’s survival and to making the case for that survival day in and day out. The rest we can deal with down the road. For the moment, especially when any substantive chance for a peace deal seems remote, changing the Jewish conversation about Israel, and then the international conversation, is what matters most.
That will not be easy, but first we have to decide that that’s what we want to do. So let’s begin with honesty. We delude ourselves if we pretend that there are but a few clouds in the sky. The Jewish people will survive, and thrive, not by pretending that everything will magically work out, but rather by acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, and by then bonding together and resolving to meet them head-on.
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Dr. Daniel Gordis is Senior Vice President of the Shalem Center, where he is also a senior fellow. The author of numerous books on Jewish thought and currents in Israel...
The Jewish State must end, say its enemies, from intellectuals like Tony Judt to hate-filled demagogues like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even average Israelis are wondering if they wouldn't be better off somewhere else. 
Everything you say is true, but of course you make no suggestions for a fight that takes a generation.
even the weapons that once existed like the AZYF college division are long dead. The strongest Jewish presence on campus seems to be Chabad- not exactly a paragon of Zionism.
For 30 years people gave complained how little is spent on hasbara, but it never changes. I tend to be an optimist in life, but over my life I have tilted at a number of windmills in this area and I am not optimistic that there will be anyone who is willing to undertake the long term commitment it will take to fight this battle
If you don’t have any Jewish fervour, how can you have any Zionist feelings.
I’m from an Australian background which is infused with post Holocaust and recent South African Jewish immigration.
Most of the community affiliate with “orthodox” synagogues and day schools – even the “progressive” stream is very much to the “right” compared with the US. The rate of out marriage and departure is much less than the US and most of those who continue as Jews are strongly Zionist.
I look at this accident of place and time – the moulding influences of Jewish Australians and compare this with my understanding of what happened in the US.
Th US and other countries, as we know received an enormous Jewish immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries – and more people after WW2.
However there was a pressure to throw off all of the old-fashioned, un-American ways – a feature of the period. The intital Jewish strength of the new arrivals, was already dissipated by their children, their grandchildren and now their great grandchildren (if they are still Jewish).
There was available, a new, “modern” version of Judaism which did not require much Jewish knowledge, almost no Jewish education and not too much Jewish practise.
The die was cast.
You can’t really be practically Jewish in a vacuum. Of course there are always exceptions but the above effectively applies.
You then add a late 20thC twist – any vestiges of that inconvenient God stuff is really embarassing, and even worse, the nationality aspects – but there was that morality bit – so let’s take it and develop it as Human Rights.
When you read about the declarations at the meetings of “Reform” clergy, you see a group that doesn’t really want God in the equation, are petrified of being classed as an American with dual loyalty and have converted (freudian slip) Judaism to a version of Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International.
Together with that peculiar US Jewish family destroyer – the choice of College far from home – at a crucial age, the “anti” brain-washing received at College – often from “Jewish” authority figures, what chance does the non-Orthodox, or non-”Conservodox” (uneducated Jewishly) young person have.
I think that we are observing one of the cycles of Jewish history – a mass loss of Jewish souls – but by their own choice.
There will be a resurgence – of traditional Jews in the US – but it will be mostly from those I’ve labelled “nons” above.
I believe that we are witnessing a Jewish write-off!
I am in full agreement with you that the present generation of Jewish leaders lack the common vision of the of Israel’s centrality to both Jewish life and survival that earlier generations have and had. So start from this premise I would like to move forward with a statement of principles: 1) those of us who recognize the importance of the connection between a Jewish State, Israel, and Jewish identity, must develop a better understanding of the key factors contributing to this generational change in Jewish thought. 2) assuming some success in these endeavors, we must develop a plan of action to reverse the present mindset of Israel’s disconnection from Jewish identity around the world.
Daniel Gordis observes a broad based social, political and cultural movement towards blurring and eliminating racial, cultural, ethnic and national distinctions and differences. In keeping with Judaism’s historic role as a Light Unto Nations, I believe we must challenge the very fundamental premises of this movement from many perspectives. Let me start with the scientific perspective: any scientist with knowledge of biological systems will tell us that homogeneity within species is prescription for disaster, for it is diversity or heterogeneity that is the foundation of survival for species and life in general. The number of examples of the importance of biodiversity are almost too numerous to mention, yet it is incumbent upon us as Jews to support the dissemination of information in support of this profound truth that the very foundation of life itself is based on differences not similarities among organisms, species and the great variety of life forms. The same holds true from a religious and biblical perspective; the well known story of the Tower of Babel is often used as the prime example of Divine Will demanding diversity, but G-d’s reassurance to Hagar that her son will not only survive the wilderness but be the father of many nations (presumably many nations means many “different nations”, otherwise G-d would have said one vast and great empire. In fact the references throughout the Torah (the Bible or Old Testament as Gentiles refer to the Torah)are once again too numerous to mention in this commentary, but are worth great study and publicizing. The dynamic tension between humanity’s drive towards diversity and unity or commonality are at the very heart of the American experience. I would suggest that linking the education of our youth about American history and Jewish history would support the essential nature of diversity living side by side with common identity. How we educate our youth and our leaders about anything is another fundamental issue which must be addressed. Using innovative visual, auditory and new media are essential in communicating these messages of the importance of diversity versus uniformity.
Focusing on the unique nature of Jewish and Israeli culture may make the current generation squirm, yet placing this education within the context of embracing the unique culture of African American, native American and other unique ethnic groups is a way to highlight the acceptability of celebrating human and Jewish cultural differences. I will end on this note: the challenge is in fact clear, the willingness to embrace the challenge and to prevail is not optional but rather essential to not only Jewish and Israeli survival, but rather to the very survival of humanity. The enormous success of the Apple Macintosh Super Bowl ad, which so powerfully communicated the importance of individuality versus conformity, should give us both hope and direction for our efforts to revitalize the Zionist and Jewish vision of a world of diverse and unique peoples and cultures which necessarily would and could include the Jewish State and Jewish identity. I for one look forward to being a part of a movement to demonstrate the profound importance of the State of Israel and of the Jewish people, as much as I would strive to protect all endangered species in a world that has lost sight of the importance of the largest whale and the smallest toad.
If I may, here is my response:
“And I remember that I had no idea what to say… when my own heart was breaking, and out of place because I had no idea how to engage those students in a conversation about why he mattered to me. I didn’t know where to begin.”
This is a very accurate observation that many of us feel. I often say to my friends that if I only remembered all the facts, and if I only knew how to recite the facts, and if I only come up with the right answer at the right time – I would have saved Israel from the mean, or at the least, ignorant people. Being able to shine the light on the subject of Israel is an art that must have a solid foundation in facts and delivery of the facts. If there was only a monolog that I would memorize, filled with the historic facts. I don’t want to fall short every time I am called to defend the state of Israel, but as in any debate, the “wise” guys wins. The person who can spin, wins the applaud of the audience. The person who is perceived to be Liberal, captures the hearts of the people.
It reminds me a little of the Republicans and Democrats, the Conservatives and the Liberals. It reminds me of elections and talking points. It reminds of the charged political environment that we are experiencing now as Arizona if trying to remain a law-abiding state, only to be boycotted by the city of Los Angeles… There is so much going on locally, that most people cannot handle the far-away problems. Israel?… Let them deal with their own problems… When I see that one does not want to deal with the subject of Israel, I back off. But when I see that the manipulation machine is twisting the truth, and creating their own truth, I feel like shouting: Wrong, wrong, wrong — Shut Up!
But how do you explain the history of the Jewish people in 1 minute? How do you repeat the facts in 1 minute? How do you tell the Bible in 1 minute? How do you recite the events describing everything that happened after 1948? How do you clarify the facts of the Oslo Accord? How do you rationalize the Gaza strip? How do you defend settlements? How do you vindicate Israel – and all in 1 minute?… Nobody has the patience to hear “other people problems.”
In the USA, we live in a place that is removed from reality. We live in a time that is not existing. We operate in a space that is imaginable. We don’t understand good from evil. We lack the will to fight for principals. We like slogans like: Live and let live. We follow rather than lead. We are tired. We accept. We are numb. This naïve/remote mentality carries a heavy cost. There must be a way to wake up the sleepy before it’s too late. I do it a lot with my friends by email but I know it’s not enough.
LeShana HaBaAa B’Rushalim.
Adina
Excellent essay.
Why do you – especially as a Rabbi – make no mention of God as a factor in an Israel that continues to thrive?
When will you make your arguement that for a flourishing American Judaism the State of Israel is a necessary requirement?
Many of your statements regarding American-Jewish apathy and ignorance towards and about Israel can be applied to many younger Israelis. Agreed?
Thanks again for another incisive article. The fundamental issue is the concept of truth, which you alluded to in how we “define” things – that is, one must put boundaries around objects or concepts in order to distinguish reality. The reality is that Jews are not Arabs, Muslims, or Christians – they have “borders” that distinguish them from the rest of the world – To pretend that this is not the case is literally insane (contra to reality). It is our differences that give us our uniqueness, and combined with the unique nations of the world, provide humanity with the variety that fosters vitality. Of course differences have been used as a base for intolerance – but intolerance and strife are not intrinsic or necessary concomitants of variety – as is implied by this incessant rant about extinguishing differences implies. Part of the solution is what you have suggested in telling over and over the story of Israel and the benefits that have been brought to our world through a distinctly Jewish culture. Let us demonstrate how uniqueness and variety can contribute to achieving goals common to all nations of peace and truth.
Keep up the strong work.
Daniel Gordis used to write quite ‘fluffy’ pieces about how lovely it is to be in Israel, the crucial role the country plays in enabling Jewish Disapora communities to feel pride, flourish etc. One could smile, and move on to more serious analytical commentaries on the reality that Israel is, it’s contribution to the increasing alienation of Disapora Jews from it.
His later pieces, particularly since becoming identified with the right wing Shalem Institute, are increasingly shallow and bizarre.
Jews the world over increasingly feel that Israel does not speak to them becauase of the quality of its society, which they see as wholly at conflict with Jewish values – dreadful poverty, racism against Sephardi Jews, growing levels of illiteracy amongst Jewish children (when did the ‘people of the book’ allow that to happen in history?), the attitude to foreign refugees fleeing (if there was an Evian type conference today for the children of illegal workers and / or Sudanese and / or the women trafficked through Israel, would the country that Daniel Gordis is so proud of do anything about it? {not, individuals, as Daniel Gordis will assert, of cours there are always righteous individuals who will assist, I am talking about the Government, the Establshment], the growing number of children entering the ‘children at risk’ register, aggression, violence against women, ecological indifference, voting against the Armenians who wish the massacre of 1.5 million of their people to be recognised (ah, but we need the Turkish vote).
And lets not forgot the Palestinian issue, the road blocks, the appaling treatment of the local population by both the army and the settlers (unlike Daniel Gordis I served there, I saw it).
It is astounding, absolutely shameful, that Daniel Gordis makes a side reference that Israel contributes to this. But how? BECAUSE WE DON’T EXPLAIN THE HISTORY, THE CONTEXT. What on earth justifies the ongoing occupation, the continued building etc.
I too love Israe. Or loved. The values that Israel strove to live, well they are collapsing quickly. More quickly than the kibbutzim are throwing their elderly members away, more quickly than US support for the country is collapsing, and more quickly than Disapora Jewry is holding its nose.
This is what Daniel Gordis should be worrying about, not people being turned off by his seminars
Once again, an excellent, and insightful essay. And the agonized, and agonizing comments by Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Reis, and Adina make salient points, that are left hanging in the air, like a wisp of smoke, drifting away.
It all comes down to Question No. 5 that you raised, Prof. Gordis., but which you have not attempted to answer with a detailed, concrete approach. How do we convince others, Jewish and non-Jewish, of the absolute truth of our deeply held belief that the future of world Jewry depends on the survival of the Jewish state? And, most importantly, given the current state of affairs, what do we do about it?
[...] Gordis weighs in on Israel-Diaspora relations here. So instead of circling our wagons, seeking to convince ourselves that it’s not really raining [...]
As head of a major jewish High School, I observe that the students entering High School now were born in 1995-1996. OUr youngest parents were born in 1970 or thereabouts. Both students and parents grew up in a very different ‘Israel frame’ than my contmeporaries (I was born in 1949). For me, Israel was post-Holocaust, pioneering, Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, Peace with Egypt etc. For them, Israel is Lebanon War, Intifadas, terrorism, Gaza, Palestine…….
I think that that is a major factor. In the Orthodox world, the pernicious anti-Zionism of the ‘Artscroll”, neo-Haredi world has also taken its toll. Others have commented on the failures of the ISraeli establishment to even communicate with the Diaspora, and their short-sighted attitude to ‘hasbara’.
As they say in Ivrit — it is all a ‘b’chiyyah l’dorot’ — an eternal shame.
If Israel had a thousand Adinas and Daniel Gordis’ to go out among the people and tell the story of Israel, it might help but so many minds are closed that it’s frightening.
What Daniel says so eloquently is so true but I’m 77 and can still remember a Monday morning in June,1967 when I woke up and heard Michael Elkins on CBS radio screaming “it’s over, it’s over.” The Israeli Air Force had destroyed the Egyptian, Syrian, and Iraqi air forces on the ground (Nasser hadn’t yet conned the Jordnians into the war). Every Jew walked taller after the 6 Day War ended. My friend Joe Hyams of Honest Reporting tries to get out the true story of Israel but like you, he seems to be swimming upstream against the tide. Tell us what we can do to help.
What is happening in the American Jewish community is alarming indeed and all the power to those who are trying to stem the tide through such organizations as Birthright, Hillel, etc. American Jewish students, like all American students, have fallen prey to a well-greased Islamic propaganda machine. Eager to do what is “politically correct,” they haven’t the depth of knowledge to keep them on a the track of Jewish and moral clarity.
In just 30 years we have seen the Jewish population of Israel increase from 3 million to 6 million. Concurrently, the Jewish population of the US has fallen from 6 million to 5 and a half million, many of the latter assimilated. The historical truth is that there have always been large amounts of Jews who have assimilated out of existence throughout the history of the diaspora. Ironically, this has been most prevalent in the areas where Jews were most accepted (later followed by tragedy)- such as in Spain and Germany…and now the US. Even thousands of years ago in Babylon, only a portion of the Jews returned to Israel: the rest became Babylonians.
At the same time, every superpower rises and falls. In our own lifetime, we are witnessing the decline of the American superpower, hastened by Obama’s insistence that the USA is no different from any other nation and the abnegation of world leadership. But this niche is always filled and China and India, with their billions, are on the rise.
If we take a broad approach to history and see demo-graphical trends for what they are, we see that we are in transitional times. America is declining as a place of relevance for world Jewry while Israel, rightfully so, is once again the heart of the Jewish people. With future world leadership probably residing more in the east than the west, the role of American Jewry in ensuring a Jewish future will not be as key, and it will be Israel’s relationship with the far eastern superpowers which will help to keep her secure. As for American Jewry, one can only hope that as many as possible wake up and reclaim the relevance of their identities before it is too late.
However, a Jewish future is not dependent upon that: as history shows, Jewish population relevance, like superpowers, are always transforming, morphing, rising and falling. The rebirth of the ancient State of Israel is an occurrence unparalleled in history and nothing short of miraculous: as such her continued existence relies on a power far greater than a relatively young and short-lived super power.
As usual, a very thought provoking article. However, I agree and disagree.
What bothered me most about your graduate student’s question, and those that embraced her sentiments, is the lack of compassion for a fellow Jew. Putting Israel aside for a moment. We are in terrible trouble, as a people and as descendants of Avraham Avinu, when our response to the horrific fate of Nachshon Wachman is: “What does any of this have to do with us?” I may be missing your point, but I see this as American narcissism displacing a Jewish soul and conscious. To me, this is the bigger problem, coupled with the utter lack of a sense of achdut. As much as America is helpful, financially and militarily, I don’t think that American support plays an existential role when it comes to Israel. If Israel operated by derech teva, then yes, you are 100% correct. However, Israel operates by derech HaShem. That is why the narcissist attitudes and lack of achdut in our minds, hearts and bones is by far a greater danger.
I would like to make another comment.
I have 2 experiences which negate those comments which either blame Chabad etc, or the real, everyday Israel as a reason to explain and excuse those who are tired (usually without trying to) of loving Israel – the country and the people – and really Am Yisrael.
In Australia, many of the “orthodox” congregations are led by Chabad-connected rabbis, (each congregation is autonomous), often the Kashrut organisations etc. Without exception, they are as Zionist as the rest of the community. They may have a problem with a verse of Hatikvah, but we feel that they and we, share every heartbeat in Israel.
The other dimension is that many of us, myself included, have children who have made aliyah. I have 4 wonderful young Israeli grandchildren – and absolutely no other personal connection. But I started visiting Israel long before my daughter’s move.
So my wife and I visit Israel, particularly Jerusalem, almost every year. We love the country and its people. We “check in” each trip with the first taxi driver. We understand immediately Dr Gordis’s “fluff” pieces. We feel “at home” in our land – without any diminishment of our pride in being Australian citizens. We understand the differences – but see the commonwealth.
My daughter married another new arrival – originating from French North Africa – Sephardi – stock. What they experience, is a merging of all the backgrounds – their children are proud Israelis, proud Jews.
I see a thread in those Jews who find fault with Israel. They basically, are ashamed to be Jews – most often through ignorance – sometimes because they have walked away from the community – sometimes because they have crossed a line – usually marrying out (or their children doing same) and they can’t understand why the general Jewish community does not celebrate with them.
And this applies to a significant minority in Israel also.
Regardless, the problem is not the state of Israel, not the citizens of Israel, not the people of Israel. The problem is with the giant number of “lost souls” who don’t acknowledge the reflection in the mirror, who mask their own inadequacy by blaming the largest easy target.
Without some sort of Pied Piper or other charismatic person to change the ways of these people, I see their imminent departure from the Jewish people – unfortunately sometimes via a J Street or a bogus Tikun Olam or a “religious” organisation without any real Judaism or an Israeli political party which hates its own country or ….
We don’t need better reporting, better hasbara – though there’s nothing wrong with… We need something to pierce the soul of these millions of empty Jews – or sadly, we need to face the fact that they are gone and hope that they go quietly.
I think Caroline Glick has it right ( http://www.carolineglick.com/ ): the left has robbbed everybody of the language. I guess Orwell expressed it before. I cut my ties with MIT because of Chomsky and their recent anti-Israel exhibit. I am surprised there are no anti-Left demonstrations anywhere on the Columbia campus. I am surprised antisemites like Ali al-Amin Mazrui get to do whatever they want. I am surprised that people still buy the New York Times. I am surprised that leftists cannot utter “communism was wrong”. I have written many letters and op/ed pieces and feel I had no impact whatever. I am tired too!
Lots of good commentary and as usual, your articles, for me, represent a refreshing and elevated commentary on Jewish life.I have a less optimistic view. There is a certain genetic makeup we possess in which our capacity for gratitude diminishes over time and our capacity for cognitive dissonance and/or denial gets in the way of recognizing the lessons of history. Every few generations seem to need to relearn how fragile Jewish existence is . This seems to mirror the demise of our Western culture in general.
Daniel characterizes the Jewish experience at Brandeis with the phrase “life on campus doesn’t get better than Jewish life at Brandeis”, I beg to differ. When was the last time you took at look at Yeshiva University? Brandeis doesn’t come close to YU as a center for vibrant Jewish learning, Jewish life and academic pursuit. Most important, the objections to Ambassador Oren’s appearance would not surface at YU. Brandeis, for all of its Jewish funding and accomodation to its Jewish students, reflects the sickness of liberal relativistic thinking that afflicts today’s campuses. It does not deserve to be characterized as Daniel has done.
I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Gordis. However, as others have stated, he offers no solutions. I myself am proud to be an American Jew (which is by choice). I have a strong committment to Israel and the Jewish people, unlike many of my Jewish friends by birth. I find it particularly sad that someone who is born Jewish would want to throw away such a wonderful and rich heritage. I know that it isn’t considered “ethical or moral” to criticize the Israeli government — but sometimes I feel you need to “call them to the carpet”, because they are living in a bubble in my opinion. They need to think “outside the box” and go against what they’ve tried to do in the past; because that philosophy isn’t working. I feel they need to admit their mistakes (when they are wrong), promote the hell out of themselves in all types of media, respond to each criticism and veiled threat like their life depended on it (which it does), and not let other venues distort who and what Israel is. They need to defend the land not only through the military; but through their heart and souls. L’chaim!
Can you forward my email address to Michael Lewis.
Even though I’m a New York Jew, and he’s from Australia by way of South Africa, I feel a very close affinity to him.
I, too, have 4 grandchildren who are a bit too young to make aliyah but are much better Jews than I ever was ( that’s due to my wife who got her Zionism with her mother’s milk).
How does one implant the sense of pride that I have after reading “Starter Nation” and seeing how Israel has grown despite their archaic legislative procedures.
Every country needs a guy on a white horse to come along. We thought it was going to be Obama ( so far he’s still trying to get up in the saddle) but Israel had two — a short, stubby guy with white hair and a skinny bald headed guy with glasses, Ben Gurion & Begin. Ironically,they hated each other’s guts but loved Israel a lot more.
Young people are usually more liberal in their thinking until “the reality of life” kicks in…but OUR young people are being led and taught by elitist idealogs who have lost their grasp on reality to join a populist movement that is extremely dangerous and bears the fruits of evil.
I think we are in for more trouble than anyone can even imagine…both in the USA and in Israel.
> Though many will disagree, it seems equally clear to me that were the State of Israel to be vanquished, the vibrant American Jewish life that we now too easily take for granted would wither away within a generation. And if that were to happen, the two great centers of world Jewry – Israel and America – would each essentially be gone. But let both leftists and hard-liners understand that today, they are not opponents, but rather partners, assuming that both are committed to Israel’s survival and to making the case for that survival day in and day out. <
Ah, but there's the rub: so many Israelis are not thus committed, and many are in the "with friends like these, who needs enemies?" camp. As always, our existential problem is within us: we will succeed when united, we will fail when not.
(2nd try
— I’m changing angle brackets to quotation marks…)
– “Though many will disagree, it seems equally clear to me that were the State of Israel to be vanquished, the vibrant American Jewish life that we now too easily take for granted would wither away within a generation. And if that were to happen, the two great centers of world Jewry – Israel and America – would each essentially be gone.”
One reason those many may disagree: centers of Jewish life in the Diaspora were created, flourished, and withered/were destroyed many times over while no such animal as a State of Israel existed. A (if not the) problem with the center known as American Jewry would be more tied to a “Berlin is Jerusalem” philosophy than to lack of identification with the State.
– “But let both leftists and hard-liners understand that today, they are not opponents, but rather partners, assuming that both are committed to Israel’s survival and to making the case for that survival day in and day out.”
Ah, but there’s the rub: so many Israelis are not thus committed, and many are in the “with friends like these, who needs enemies?” camp. As always, our existential problem is within us: we will succeed when united, we will fail when not.
Israel and the Jewish people in totality are in extreme peril. There is a conspiracy by very powerful elements in the world to utterly destroy the remnants of those Jews who have survived the twentieth century.
This worldwide conspiracy being orchestrated by an extremely powerful and influential group of genetically-related individuals (at least at the highest echelons) which include many of the world’s wealthiest people, top political leaders, and corporate elite, as well as members of the so-called Black Nobility of Europe (dominated by the British Crown) whose goal is to create a One World (fascist) Government, stripped of nationalistic and regional boundaries, that is obedient to their agenda. Their intention is to effect complete and total control over every human being on the planet and to dramatically reduce the world’s population by 5.5 Billion people. While the name New World Order is a term frequently used today when referring to this group, it’s more useful to identify the principal organizations, institutions, and individuals who make up this vast interlocking spiderweb of elite conspirators.
The Illuminati is the oldest term commonly used to refer to the 13 bloodline families (and their offshoots) that make up a major portion of this controlling elite. Most members of the Illuminati are also members in the highest ranks of numerous secretive and occult societies which in many cases extend straight back into the ancient world. The upper levels of the tightly compartmentalized (need-to-know-basis) Illuminati structural pyramid include planning committees and organizations that the public has little or no knowledge of. The upper levels of the Illuminati pyramid include secretive committees with names such as: the Council of 3, the Council of 5, the Council of 7, the Council of 9, the Council of 13, the Council of 33, the Grand Druid Council, the Committee of 300 (also called the “Olympians”) and the Committee of 500 among others.
In 1992, Dr John Coleman published Conspirators’ Hierarchy: The Story of the Committee of 300. With laudable scholarship and meticulous research, Dr Coleman identifies the players and carefully details the Illuminati agenda of worldwide domination and control. On page 161 of the Conspirators Hierarchy, Dr Coleman accurately summarizes the intent and purpose of the Committee of 300 as follows:
“A One World Government and one-unit monetary system, under permanent non-elected hereditary oligarchists who self-select from among their numbers in the form of a feudal system as it was in the Middle Ages. In this One World entity, population will be limited by restrictions on the number of children per family, diseases, wars, famines, until 1 billion people who are useful to the ruling class, in areas which will be strictly and clearly defined, remain as the total world population.
There will be no middle class, only rulers and the servants. All laws will be uniform under a legal system of world courts practicing the same unified code of laws, backed up by a One World Government police force and a One World unified military to enforce laws in all former countries where no national boundaries shall exist. The system will be on the basis of a welfare state; those who are obedient and subservient to the One World Government will be rewarded with the means to live; those who are rebellious will simple be starved to death or be declared outlaws, thus a target for anyone who wishes to kill them. Privately owned firearms or weapons of any kind will be prohibited.”
The conspirators know with certitude that the Children of Israel and the Jews in the diaspora are the only ones standing in the way of the completion of their nefarious deeds. We must remain steadfast in our opposition.
Our enemies are.–
The Bildenberg Group.
The Council on foreign relations.
The illuminati.
The international Freemason movement.
Henry Kissinger.
All liberals
We have an electorate who refused to accept the negative factors in our current president’s background.
We have an enormous population who views themselves first as Americans and somewhere down the line will acknowledge some relationship to Judaism.
We have a huge number of individuals who want to acknowledge their interest in religion if it doesn’t inconvenience them in any way. Their loyalty to Judaism in the classical sense and to Israel in any sense is certainly somewhat specious.
I agree with Barbara Friedman’s comments. We are in big trouble and without the existence of Israel we would be in worse trouble, if we survived at all.
This column is very disappointing.
Everything evolves, it follows that the Israel – Jewish world relationship must.
Uniqueness and meeting its challenges are central to the Jewish experience.
Meeting the challenge is central to our existence.
Specific, current, novel suggestions in doing so, would have made this the enlightening column I count on from Daniel Gordis.
Albert Einstein is credited with the phrase “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”.
Rabi Tarfon, in the penultimate Mishna in this week’s Perek 2 in Avot, is also apposite.
Enjoy a beautiful day, a Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorach and a relaxing and pleasant weekend.
Moishe
I was brought up in a home that was secular – G-d didn’t live there. Israel was not talked about, but I do remember my mother’s reaction in June of 1967. She was deeply affected and I felt it. I ended up traveling to Israel, not out of a feeling of kinship, but on my way to India, to find the spirituality that I never found through bagels and lox. Hashem saw to it that I stayed in Israel. I fell in love with the land, with the people and lived there for 14 years. As life happens, I am in in Oregon. I am always swimming upstream here, defending Israel mostly to American Jews. I did, however, bring up my son with a deep sense of spirituality and connection to G-d thanks to Renewal Jusaism, and he is fiercely proud to be an American Israeli and has been to Israel many times with his dad. He has the very same feeling among his peers that you describe – of being utterly alone. Not only among his peers, but among his teachers whom he adores. Across the board his teachers have expressed anti-Israel attitudes.
We need to get into the schools and educate these teachers. I have heard this from other students as well. People who have no knowledge of the history are passing judgement and passing it on to our kids. My son, thankfully, asked for my help and I brought in a team of pro-Israel activists who did a great presentation for his class. We need more of this.
Education is one key – in our Hebrew school we teach our kids, whose parents are basically disconnected, not only about having a personal relationship to G-d, but about why Israel is important to them.
There needs to be a nationwide movement to do this, so that when they go off to university they are not overwhelmed and unable to respond intelligently to anti-Israel attacks.
I remember back in the 70′s when I was backpacking in Europe, I was in a youth hostel in Switzerland. There were 3 Arab guys and 2 Israelis engaging in a heated, passionate and respectful dialogue. The Israeli young men were so powerful – they knew the history, they knew the Torah, they knew our story. That’s what it takes. We need to know our story.
Regarding youth in the USA, whether Jewish or not, there is a lack of feeling of belonging. This has been brought about by there not being a sense of place. We are now taught that we are part of the world. Hilary Clinton said that it takes a village to raise a child. If this is truly the case then we don’t know where we came from and have lost our geographic identity. We are no longer Americans or Jews we are assimilated into a New World Order that has no borders and there are no differences to make each unique.
This attitude is explicit in the Obamas, both the President and his wife. The first time that she was proud of our nation is when her husband was elected president. All of the great things that this nation has done and represented for centuries meant nothing to her. She and the President are looking to the New World Order and are setting a precedent for youth and young adults. Don’t be Americans, don’t be Jewish, don’t be unique.
We are taught that one of the reasons for the death of Rabbi Akiva’s students was that they no longer appreciated the differences among themselves. They saw themselves as a whole and not as individuals with unique traits. This is what is happening today, nations do not see themselves as being distinct and their citizens even less so. The left wing is promoting this attitude. Socialism and communism removes the value of the individual; thus, homogonizing the society into an indistinct mass.
I appreciate especially the thoughtful acknowledging of the pain in finding that some young Jews are clueless about the history of Israel and the significance to all Jews. While stunned by that young woman’s question, it was still important not to be silent but to answer with the pain that was felt. Indeed, too many teachers expect their students to already know what must be taught. It was a good question giving the opportunity to explain what appears to be so clear to us but not to others. Too many Jews are stunned and are silent. There are great generational differences among American Jews with the oldest immigrants seeking to keep their religious practices and identities which can be extremely difficult given the community. Many were isolated from other Jews.
I know in my family, my father’s generation, extreme assimilationist; my generation: angry because we were not taught anything about being Jewish though some of us didn’t try very hard to learn; and my children’s generation returning to Jewish identity in spite of being raised in a vacuous community, attending a top University which tended to be anti-Israel; (maybe because of this) making aliyah and marrying Israelis. Though they live here in the US, they send their children to Jewish schools. This returning to a strong Jewish identity (with some disdain for parents who neglected their Jewish identity)is fairly common among the people I know.
Maybe it isn’t rain nor merely clouds, but fog which we see. This fog needs to be cleared away by Jews speaking out.
Mr. Gordis you write, “What matters now is whether or not each individual, organization, movement, etc. sees defense of Israel’s absolute right to exist as a Jewish state as its foremost responsibility.”
But, that is not what your column preaches. It demands blind obedience to the current Israeli government.
Yes, you pay lip service to the fact that Israel has made some mistakes. But only lip service.
What you refuse to acknowledge is that the great majority of American Jews are fully committed to Israel’s absolute right to exist as a Jewish state, BUT, are absolutely not committed to the Likud government, or to the haredi strangle hold on the governance of the state, or to the Messianism of the settlers.
The controversy regarding Mr. Oren speaking at Brandeis has to do with who Mr.Oren represents, not with the absolute right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state. I am wondering if there will be a controversy if Brandeis (ever) invites a representative of J Street to speak at the university.
The reality is that most American Jews, who are progressive in their politics, are unwilling to blindly follow the rightists Israeli government course that will lead to an apartheid like state. One that is Jewish in name only, but haredi/rightist in practice.
And that Mr. Gordis is simply unacceptable.
What American Jews don’t get is that until you live in Israel, raise your children there and suffer the consequences of the choices the government makes, we have no right to tell Israelis what to do. Voting Israeli citizens voted in this present government. Our job is to support Israel, our spiritual homeland and members of our tribe, not one government or another. That is the privelege of being an Israeli.
So, Rabbi Gordis, it is now some 16 years after that seminar. The same question might be posed to you today. How would you answer it now?
Although I certainly share your concern, there are bright spots that you did not mention: AIPAC has strongly encouraged pro-Israel activism on college campuses for several years. CUFI is embarking on a serious effort to raise the level of understanding, acceptance of and support for Israel at the college level. Campus Watch and Stand With Us are a couple of organizations who are acting as both ‘shomrim’ and resources for those who recognize the dangers of the blame-Israel gang.
American Jews need an issue to rally around. This may be it, but it lacks the glamor and appeal of rescuing Soviet Jewry–until we start making people realize that we are attempting to not only rescue world Jewry, but save ourselves.
We will accomplish nothing, however, if all we do is cry wolf but never arm ourselves with the means to shoot it. Every Jewish organization should be putting this issue on its agenda and discussing how it can address the problem locally. Rabbi’s with pulpits should be in front of us, encouraging our support for the organizations I mentioned and others that are well situated to be instruments for change. The government of Israel should be doing more to not only publicize Israel’s contributions in science and technology but to recognize that ALL Jews have a stake in the Land of Israel and de-emphasize the efforts of the Israeli haredi community to de-ligitimize diaspora, and particularly secular and non-dati diaspora Jews.
Enough with the questions, Rabbi Gordis. It is time for some answers.
Mr. Gordis, shalom
No one is perfectly right or wrong on any issue. But I think that you miss an important point regarding what shapes the American Jew’s relationship to Israel. To a young Jew, the issue is not what Israel is or has been to the world Jewish community, but rather what it is becomming and what it will be in the future. Young people look forward to what will be, for they will live long and their investment in Israel is long term.
They see, clearly, that Israel is becoming hostage to the right wing messianic fanatics who live in the West Bank and, in God’s name, sabotage any effort to reach an accomodation with out foes on the palestianan side. They sabotage any effort to bring Israel’s Arab population into a finer accommdation with the Israel state. The ignore, with vehemence, once again in God’s name, the most important promise in our Declaration of Independence, without which, no country would have recognized the young state, that being, the promise to forever insure full rights and liberties to all citizens regardless of their race, sex or religion.
They also see, clearly, that Israel and the entire Zioniist Idea is under existential threat from the non-sionist Haredim, who, among other changes, would withdraw that new breath of life that you state that Israel has breathed into to our ancient language. They would make us the Jewish version of Iran.
Our Jewish bretheren want to cling to what our government tries to promise when it describes Israel as a “democratic and Jewish state”. Mr Gordis, all (I mean all) really democratic states, states where you or I would want to live if we could not live here, have separated state from religion and left religion where it should be, a choice of the heart and the soul, and not an irrational doctrine forced on the public.
American Jews want their Jewishness and their democracy to be separate. They want to choose to be Jews; they want to choose to not eat Hamets during passover, and not have some government religious functionary decide for them the measure of their Jewishness, or what they should eat.
This is why they become skeptical about Israel, its future, and their relationship to it in its and their future. This is why many of us, here in Israel, both newcomers and veterans alike, are becoming skeptical about our future.
Sincerely
In response to question five: I’m an American Jew with two teenagers and I accept that Israel is imperfect and in a challenging if not impossible situation. I also am proud of what Israel has accomplished. I also recognize the reality that many America Jews are embarrassed by Israel and/or disassociated. I strongly believe there is hope. I’m part of a leadership team at a reform temple in Massachusetts and we are working towards addressing this challenge and the tensions within our community based on feelings towards Israel.
I believe my temple has developed an education program for children that teaches and gives our kids an opportunity to take pride in Israel. What we know that works towards developing a healthy understanding and an appreciation of Israel is a strong Jewish camping program that is works in conjunction with the yearly school program. Not every child will fully participate but my temple does the best with what they have to work with. In my opinion, we are raising a generation that will be proud of Israel and hopefully willing to participate in making it a better place.
The kids in college and the adult community that do not have a sense of pride for Israel requires a different strategy. What we’ve learned is that taking the political issues straight on is not always the best solution. We’ve learned that we have to turn the heat down and expose people to reasons to enjoy and be proud of Israel. Its a long process and all I can say is that we’ve started the journey.
In the end, all we can individually and collectively do is be the most righteous people we can be. I do hope that the people in our community that are dissatisfied with Israel will work towards making Israel a better place. Less talk and more action would go along way. Shabbat shalom.
With an Israeli religious establishment intent on defining most North American Jews as not Jewish, living off the largesse of the State, insisting on practices foreign to most North American Jewish practice; and with Israeli governments that make commitments they will not keep, many American Jews are washing their hands of Israel. Gordis is correct about the impact. But coddling the Ultra-Orthodox and overselling the threat of the Palestinians are the two major causes.
I simply say, count me IN.
I have read all the thoughtful responses to Dr. Gordis’s piece and think of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. In his many conversations with G-d, he recites “on the one hand, and on the other hand” and wisely and with great humor comes to the conclusions for each of his first daughter’s suitors that while this is not the son he dreamed of for his daughter, they will somehow make it work for themselves. What a great metaphor for the survival of the Jewish people. Alas, the third daughter then makes a fateful decision to go outside the faith and with much palpable pain, Tevye says NO! this can not be. He instinctively knew that the values of his life and the lives of the rest of his family and community depended on him making a stand which might just save his other 2 young daughters from assimilation. Another great metaphor to me of what it takes going forward for us. Tevye’s leadership is what we need from our Jewish-American leaders,, but more importantly, parents. Many of our kids grow up without any firm direction. The liberal model of “live and let live”, “we are all the same”, let’s not offend anyone by keeping score, is not the way the world works. Too much of Jewish America live in a fantasy, and so do Israelis when they think that when they go overseas they are seen by other communities as Israeli, instead of Jewish. Wake up, the rest of the world will keep reminding us of what we should be reminding ourselves. We ARE different. The way forward is to celebrate our difference, not with hubris, but humbly walking in the ways of Hashem.
Daniel,
I greatly enjoy your columns and read them, well, religiously. As a Jew raised in a conservative home and fairly literate Judaically thanks to Solomon Schechter elementary education and subsequent learning formal and informal since then, I appreciate the dilemma you’re posing. I also have so much family in Israel that for their sake above all others I’m deeply connected to the country and its well being.
One angle which I don’t think has been explored properly is the problems with American Jewish education. It has been fundamentally flawed in two key areas:
1) It’s very literal. Joshua 5:13 is all too symbolic of what we’re spoon fed. One’s right and the other’s wrong. It’s very George W. And it’s intellectually dishonest. The gravitation toward Obama, who espoused an idea that we can lead by example and take pride in what we believe in but we’re not always unilaterally right, is a repudiation of that thinking.
2) It’s contrived. It’s about being marketed this Jewish stuff to do with other Jews in a way that separates Judaism as better than everything else and Jews as better than anyone else. The whole notion of the chosen people is horrible marketing for the younger generations; there’s even a sense of fear that we’ll wind up believing it. We’ve got our criminals, our flaws, and setting ourselves apart so much from everyone else winds up leading dangerously into racist territory. If we’re better, someone else must be worse. That didn’t work out so well when taken to the extreme in Germany, or during the pograms, or the Inquisition, so the way we rise above that notion of chosenness is to celebrate that we’re not better than anyone else after all. We’re just trying to do the right thing. Kumbaya.
You talk about 1967. You know what I long for? 1963. “I have a dream.” You see a lot of those white folks marching side by side with Dr. King, and you look closely or you hear the stories and you realize they’re Jews – rabbis and Jewish layleaders marching hand in hand to unite for racial equality under the law. That’s what we need. We need to be standing up for immigrants, for gay marriage, and for those globally who the world too often turns its back on especially when we have the power to help them. That’s how we want to feel better, to live up to that idea of being that light – because it is still ingrained in so many of us Jews, one positive development from the cultural spoonfeeding. Maybe we can earn the right to at least feel like we’re better than just about everyone else, even if this generation won’t want to ruffle any feathers by saying that aloud.
If Israel wants to be part of that vision, a real light unto nations – as it was so heartwarmingly in Haiti (please, whoever did Israel’s PR then, hire them full time!) – then we’ll rally around it. The fact is with Guantanamo and tea party fringe candidates going mainstream and all these states saying no to marriage equality and spending cuts on education while increasing military investments, we’re worried about the American dream too. We want to keep dreaming though. We want that hope, that optimism, that big idea to believe in. Give us that – not some treatise on who kicked who out of whose home 60 years ago – and we’ll be on board.
Shavua Tov,
David
“Do we believe that the future of the Jewish people depends on what happens to Israel?”
I wish I did, because it would make my life as an American Jewish Zionist and advocate for Israel so much easier. The Jewish people survived for two thousand years without a Jewish state, so that’s clearly not a requirement. Also, many young, non-Orthodox (i.e., assimilated) American Jews (and non-Jews) would say, “Who cares?” The Jewish people–as a people, not as individuals–may be an anachronism in today’s (American) progressive, post-religious society. The Jewish people (again, as a people) is shrinking at an unprecedented rate due to intermarriage and assimilation, and in liberal circles people really don’t seem to care much about religion — any religion — one way or another, seeing it as the source of conflict and violence rather than of values and spirituality, not to mention self-identity.
I agree with the harshest critic of Israel’s bad behavior toward children at risk or toward the Palestinians (I also served in the territories). The reason, I believe , that American Jews “want out” derives from the “religionization” of Judaism. More than anywhere else American rabbis and intellectuals reduced Judaism from a polity to a denomination. Hence, a graduate student at the University of Judaism could ask: what does this have to do with me? Reminds us of the evil son at the seder, who clearly distances himself from his nation, history and culture. The dilemma for many people derives from the unreasonable notion that Israel is all about being nice. Actually, our great nation builder Moses would have argued that the prime commandment can be interpreted from the verse that reminds us that God is our liberator God. In other words, the first commandment is not be “nice”; it is actually be free. And freedom is a complicated campaign; it exhausts our bravest young men and women and breaks the hearts of bereaved parents. Being nice was easier in the ghetto and shtetl. It is easy to be nice when you are powerless. I can tell you about instances where our soldiers behaved rudely and harshly. Then again, their mission was not social work; but to intimidate an alien an hostile population because the mission of the IDF is to deter war. But, I can also tell you about the many times I saw compassion in armed soldiers for the Palestinians they were supposed to “oppress”. How many times were our enemies airlifted from the battlefield to our hospitals? How many times were our convoys ambushed because the lead driver would not endanger a child in the road. These are common tactics of the Palestinians. Of course, we are at each others throats, infuriatingly arrogant and simultaneously so pathetically low in self-esteem that we imitate Americans and their street culture. But, with all our glaring imperfections, Israel is proof of the genius of the Jewish nation and for those who want to credit God, evidence of a Divine insistence that we not only survive, but flourish. I do not think that Israel is responsible for the decline in passion and concern for her welfare. I think it is the work of American Jewish leaders and teachers who pandered to a hyphenated identity; never called for aliyah as a part of any synagogue mission statement and now as the power of our enemies increases, the anti-Israel sentiments and attitudes are simply, what Bruno Bettleheim would have called “identification with the aggressor”. Sadly American Jewish life as it should have been in coming to an end. What ever hope we might entertain that America will continue to support Israel reposes upon the incontrovertible fact that America is profoundly Judaic (Biblical) in its moral and political foundations. The only people who realize that now are our Christian friends and I trust that they (unlike the Jews) won’t let us down.
I am one of some 2,000 North American veterans of the Second World War that volunteered to go to Israel in 1948 and participate in the War of Independence.
The problem you are writing about occured to me (an ordinary citizen) many years ago, shortly after my return to Canada and I am very surprised that it has taken so long for the American leadership to recognize this situation.
I commend you for your artcile and for bringing this out in the open, I hope other persons of influence will pick up your torch and help solve this huge problem.
By the way , here in Canada, this problem is not nearly as acute as it is in the States. I wish you continued strength and good health.
“Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
“Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” That might have been my answer to the student who questioned your presentation. That would certainly be my answer today.
To Stephen Breitstein: I must point out a factual error in your post,
>> “all (I mean all) really democratic states, states where you or I would want to live if we could not live here, have separated state from religion and left religion where it should be…”
This is simply incorrect–such democracies as England and Finland have a state religion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion
Excellent article as well as comments!
The Jews must have a leader of the same caliber as Moshe. From what I have read in the books of the Prophets, this is bound to happen. Anyone want to lead? I personally think this will not be one Jew alone , but Jews as a collective, a singular collective.
I think it is all part of finding and defining our identity.Something is going to have to give… or bust.
COUNT ME IN.
I’ve read the responses and comments and think that I can deduce – amongst the male responders, a generation gap – no a discontinuity – which in the younger set, is not related to their Jewish educational starting point, but to their inherited fear of US (really 1930s and 40s) “right wing” manifestations and their “leftist” brainwashing at university.
It is evident in the giveaways – likening George W to the devil incarnate and the reduction of historical events to a competition of narratives and most fundamentally, the elevation of the concept of differentness as the ultimate sin.
That Jews are different (that they might think that they have a special role in the world), that they have a set of moral rules – (which an individual may possibly disagree with) though not the basic ones – that they are not about competing narratives – that (Heaven forbid) a large number of them believe in God, that the very worst of all, they are a nation with a right to “nationalism” (aka Zionism) is so embarassing, is so disgraceful that all communal connections, unless they are watered down to nothing, must be severed and those foolish enough (or evil enough) to want to remain old style Jews, those who see Israel as direct kin, must be re-educated and in extreme, ostracised.
The cruel paradox is that the most strident, the most influential of the Jewish / Israel naysayers are amongst the most intelligent of Americans – displaying that biggest Jewish taboo, greater than nationalism – the most disgraceful – the one that is immediately declared as racist.
Short of an actual Government inspired physical attack on Jews – which will not happen, I can’t see any way of convincing these Jews following the New religion that they’ve got it wrong. They are as committed and as fundamentalist as a Szatmar chosid.
Young people are constantly exposed to so many negative images in the media of course it can raise doubts. The Real Jerusalem Streets strives to post photos of what is really happening in Jerusalem, usally not what the media is showing.
A comment to Nevet
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that someone has read my post regarding this article.
But , as we say in Yiddish, “Vive la difference”. The queen in the head of the Church of England ,and hence, as you note, England has an official church. Finland too has a legislated relationship to the Lutheran church.
But no official in the government of either of these countries dictates to its citizens who is who and who is what. No law in these countries requires adherence to religious law, constarins religious marriage, divorce, or death, and on official in these countries prohibits one citizen from marrying another of his own choice. The connection between the State and religion in the countries you mention is cerimonial and historical only and has no legal control over the religious behavior of the citizen.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could say the same about Israel?
To the point of the article. American Jews do not consider the status of religion in England and Finland when shaping their attitude and relationship to Israel.
Sincerely.
My son is young – 28. He was brought up in a traditional Jewish, Zionist home. He became religious, moved to Jerusalem, became a Rabbi. We have discussions, and he is quite insightful (from an Orthodox viewpoint,) and raised 2 questions.
1) What proof is there that the Jewish people will wither away if the State of Israel were to cease to exist? After all, the Jews survived 1900 years without a Jewish state.
2) Who cares if the Jewish people does not survive?
Can anyone try to provide some answers?
To Stephen Breitstein, again: Point taken.
It seems that liberal, mainly Reform American Jews have an affinity for Israel as a pretty minor (if any) component of their Jewish identity. To them Judaism is about culture and heritage, not practice or spirituality or community, and certainly not nationalism. In parallel (not as a response, though it would have been a fitting one) Israel has defined Reform Jews (at least those who undergo conversion or divorce) as not Jewish enough for purposed of citizenship under the Law of Return. So the disaffection (alienation?) is mutual.