Israel's News & Views BlogBy Maurice Picow
A recent group of world Jewish leaders met in Maryland, U.S.A., with the purpose of determining whether World Jewry is on the increase, or in the midst of an irreversible decline. These leaders, which included leaders of organizations such as the World Jewish Congress, the Present’s Conference of American Jewish Organizations, the Anti Defamation League (of Bnei Brit), as well as former Israeli government ministers, such as Natan Shiransky and Sallai Meridor of The Jewish Agency, gathered to reach some kind of conclusion as to where World Jewry will be in next generation – a mere 25 years from now.
Naturally, differing views of opinion, ranging from sharp declines in birthrates among North American Jewry to increased assimilation in many Diaspora Jewish communities, to problems with secular Judaism everywhere (including Israel) were discussed by these leaders. And in nearly every conversation, the future of Jews in Israel was paramount in these discussions.
Why the emphasis on Israel, other than Israel’s security situation, of course? While everyone present agreed that Diaspora Jews had ’survival’ problems related to living in countries where temptations to assimilate or lose vital Jewish links were more prevalent, the unique problems of Israeli Jewry appeared to be even more worrisome.
Participants, such as Dennis Ross, a former advisor on the Middle East and assistant Secretary of State during the Clinton Administration, noted that though Israelis do have an easier time at ‘being Jewish’ while living in Israel, it doesn’t mean that they are making more efforts at strengthening the religious element of their Jewish connection. While Jewish day schools in America seem to be undergoing a new resurgence of popularity, the “Jewishness” of secular Israeli Jewish education has been declining during the past 10-15 years. There was no argument that Religious Jewish education is on the decline in Israel. What did seem to worry most of the participants was the decreasing awareness of Zionest idealism by young Jews, even those living in Israel. This problem resulted in an argument by many American Jewish leaders as to whether American Jews have to worry so much about the social welfare of Jews living in Israel. “We have our own problems as Jews living in America” the general consensus seemed to say.
Younger American Jewish leaders, faced with tremendously high costs of Jewish Day Schools, Synagogue and community center memberships, as well as other monetary demands (such as the cost of purchasing Kosher foods) just to preserve their Jewishness, appear less inclined to support Israeli Jews, now that Israel is becoming more prosperous due to high tech industries and the like. Jewish educational institutions, though thriving in America, seem to be heading in a different direction though, and the delegates noted that such topics as ‘alternative Jewish ritual practice’ and lifestyles appear to be more ‘in’ today than ever before. In a way, it’s hard to argue this point when in many countries, including Israel, Jews are becoming more ‘polarized’ in respect to being Jewish. In other words the feeling is: ‘you’re either Orthodox or Secular with virtually nothing in between. While members of world Conservative and Reform movements will argue this point, this reality is something that concerned Jewish thinkers have to deal with. This is especially true in Israel where many Jewish Israelis rarely, if evcr, set foot in a Synagogue, and Shabbat becomes a day to go to the mall, the beach, or just to sit at home and watch movies and other programs on cable TV.
In a way, American Jews are right; for if their Israeli co-religionists are becoming less as less Jewish, then why support them? A good remark on this problem came from Brandeis University President Yehuda Reinharz, who said that Jewish students, in both Israel and the Diaspora, should study the history of Israel and Zionism more to determine who and what they are.
3 Comments
Just because Jews live in Israel doesn’t mean they all need to be religious. What Israeli Jews do need, however is more Zionism taught in the schools. History shows that though many of the original Zionists, including Herzl, though not religious, strongly agreed that World Jewry needed a national homeland, which would be a place where Jews could live and chart their own destinies as Jews. This could mean either being religious or non-religious, although the geneneral consnsus was that this ‘Judanstatt’ would retain a Jewish culture and ’status quo’ with all groups, including ultra-orthodox, being able to find their place there.
Events occuring in Europe, thirty years after the first Zionist congress in Bazel, proved these thinkers right; for without a homeland, the Holocaust was able to happen.
The Israeli government should strenghten its
ties and social activities in the U.S.not only
with the religious Jews and their organisations,
their orthodox approach causes the liberal Jews
to be excluded from the Jewish activities and
eventually disconnect from the Jewish society
for good.
Teaching is the best way to learn. I think they may be utterly amazed at the growing interest. Especially “outside” the Jewish community.
Post a Comment