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MIsh’a’s comments go to the core of the issue and I strongly concur with his position. We can all get past the controversy created by the advertising campaign. It was not executed well and that is why it was withdrawn. So be it. What does require our attention are the issues Misha notes in his commentary. We must focus on the cause and effect of the current state of affairs that results in decision makers concluding the advertising campaign was necessary. Only then will we achieve a stronger Israel and a stronger diaspora.
While Mr. Galperin does make many good points in this article, he fails to mention that less than 10% of American Jews have ever come to Israel. Those who do come are mainly return visitors most of whom comebecause they have family in Israel.
With Birthright, there are those who feel that it was begun more to get UJA contributions from growingly assimilated Jewish youth rather than to bring Jews back to understand their Jewish roots or to connect with Israel. Many of those who came on Birthright returned to their previous lives and married their non Jewish partners.
Having worked in hi tech with many young new olim from the former USSR I was always surprised at how many of them left Israel after a few years here and moved on. They felt little connection to Israel nor were they appreciative of what grants they had been given. On the other hand, those of us who came from North America at the same time as they did received nothing even though many of us came without the huge fortunes that we were thought to have brought. Yet, we are stil here and they have left.
It’s education in Israel and a sense of family values that need to be reinforced in our daily lives. Most North American and I might add Canadian Jews spend little time connecting with their Jewish communities. In the days that I lived in Canada and worked at a Jewish newspaper, we were often called by those who wanted to receive the paper but didn’t want their names to be known by the community. At least we were pleased that they wanted to know what was going on. But they were in the minority as most people didn’t.
Truly it’s sad that those who have made aliyah, who have lived in both countries and have made aliyah successfully are seldom if ever asked for their opinions. Glad we can post them here and hope that someone will take the time to read them.
I love Israel feel that it’s home and I wake up every day in Boston (my other home) asking why I’m not actually in the state of the Jewish people. But I’m weird. Mr. Galperin should clarify whether he’s describing and analyzing reality as it exists, or speaking normatively about what ought to be. The empirical reality is that very little of that symbiotic relationship exists, surely too little for folks like me and Mr. Galperin. Diaspora Jewish life possesses wonderful, vibrant Jewish life, but that speaks to the committed wing. Most of the “decline of peoplehood” that we fret over reflects not ideological disagreement or disillusionment; it just reflects the assimilation and ignorance of Jewish life that characterizes huge segments of diaspora Jewry, particularly in the United States. Until that condition is addressed, there will be far too little of the symbiosis that Mr. Galperin calls for. Ironically, one could also argue the opposite: namely that even the committed Jews in the diaspora are not that plugged into Israel: how could they be when they’re doing what Jeremiah preached to the exiles in Babylonia 2500 years ago–that they should occupy themselves with building their own communities. That suggests not a lack of concern with Israel, but a lack of time and other scarce resources left to give to Israel. So too for Israelis: they’re too busy with their own lives to think or connect much to American Jewry. That secularism and Jewish apathy exists there comes into full relief when they come here: many of them outside of the Israeli civic space cannot engage in acts like reciting havdalah or reciting the Shema. So what do they all actually share?
I could not help but to comment on yesterdays article by David Breakstone, and the day before on the article of Gil Troy, on this subject. It is an issue that is in line with some of the trials and tribulations, that truly make the Jewish, Israeli, American world scratch its head with different emotions both good and bad.
I have great respect for the leadership of the Jewish, Israeli, American communities, David Breakstone, Misha Galperin, Natan Sharansky. As well as for the American Jewish educational leadership, Like Glenn Drew who runs an amazing school that brings their students to Israel to learn, live and experience Israel from all angles and perspectives.
Perhaps the real issue is not how to get Israelis to return to Israel, not even how to get Israelis to not loose their cultural and religious connection in the diaspora. Maybe we need to focus on campaigns, in Israel, that figure out why they are leaving Israel in the first place. Why many choose to not have any Jewish, cultural or religious connection, in Israel. Perhaps if we reinvigorated the reason to stay in Israel, from Israel, less would leave…and more would join us here.
Israel is in a very interesting place in its history right now. the country is now old enough where much of its leadership is now born in Israel. What we called Zionism, to some born here is considered daily life, nothing special. The generation of holocaust survivors are almost gone, and what is left is history books and videos. Zionism is taught as a part of Israels history, not as an integral part of its future. As a matter of fact I tested this theory recently with several born Israelis. I asked, what is Zionism? The younger Israelis, up to 12 said it is something they will (future tense) learn about in history class. The group up to the end of high school said it is something they learned (past tense) in history class. When I asked if they are themselves Zionists they said…
“no”, “yes”, “I don’t know”.
I was recently at a celebration for a combat unit, and overheard two high ranking offices speaking about the soldiers that were chosen as “outstanding” and “top of their group” while in training. One asked the other, how is it that the majority of these soldiers are new immigrants (mostly from the U.S. in this case). I, as an American/Israeli stepped forward to both of them and replied, because they chose to be here. They came to Israel with a mission, and are committed to seeing it through.
So, what I am saying is perhaps it is time that we reinvigorate our mission as a people, nation, culture and religion. That we partner through dialogue, how we want to convey this message with our partnering Jewish community leadership in America and around the world.
What is missing, in my opinion, is vision! A breath of fresh air that reminds us what makes us who we are. A special Nation and People that other Jews from around the world will want to come and visit, and perhaps stay.
For the third time I will also write, I am more than happy to help in achieving this goal. Perhaps this time at least one of the leaders of these organization, misrad haklita, hasochnoot hayehudit, wzo, will take me up on my offer.L’chaim!