Israel Reaches Out to Strengthen Jewish Identity Among Young American Jews to Solidify Their Connection to Israel
December 16, 2013
AP - More than 100 Israeli leaders gathered with
Jewish-American counterparts in Jerusalem last month with a daunting
mission: to save Jewish life in North America.
Jewish American leaders have known for years that
assimilation and intermarriage were slowly shrinking their communities,
but the early November gathering took on an extra sense of urgency. Just
weeks earlier, a landmark study had found that young American Jews are
growing increasingly estranged from Judaism.
As
these efforts press ahead, they are being complicated by a new issue:
What role can Israel play in Jewish American life at a time when many
American Jews, who tend to be socially liberal, have misgivings about
some of Israel's policies.
There is a broad consensus that Israel
will be an important player in solving the problems of American Jewry.
Yet experts say that it cannot ignore the alienation that many Americans
feel over perceived religious intolerance, Israel's construction of
West Bank settlements and the continued control over millions of
Palestinians.
"An Israel which doesn't address these issues is an
Israel which in the long run endangers the relationship with world
Jewry," said Donniel Hartman, who leads an initiative called iEngage,
which encourages dialogue about perceptions of Israel with American Jews
and which sent representatives to November's gathering.
He said Jews
who don't believe Israel shares their liberal values may disconnect from
it.
Israel's newfound
influence in the debate on American Jewry represents something of a role
reversal. U.S. Jews have traditionally been a lifeline, raising
hundreds of millions of dollars and lobbying American governments on
behalf of the Jewish state. Today, Israel is a thriving, affluent and
modern country, albeit with some unique problems.
During
November's meetings, participants spent two days brainstorming on ways
to bring young unaffiliated Jews back to their roots.
The
meeting, organized by the Israeli prime minister's office, was part of a
campaign to strengthen Jewish identity among young Jews and solidify
their connection to Israel. Some 120 representatives from Jewish
organizations around the world, mostly from North America, and a number
of Israeli government ministries pledged to formulate a plan by next
year to address assimilation.
Alan
Hoffmann, the director of the Jewish Agency, which also convened the
meeting, said the effect of Israel's policies on American Jewish
identities was not discussed. The agency is a nonprofit group that works
closely with the government and acts as a link between Jews around the
world.
Still, officials say Israel is essential to cementing Jewish identity.
"It's
clear to us that if you are not part of the Orthodox world and are not
connected to Israel, you assimilate," said Natan Sharansky, the Jewish
Agency's chairman.
"We need to
show how much your life is more interesting, more significant if part
of your identity is also a deep connection to Israel," he added.
Israel
has already invested more than $125 million trying to bring young Jews
to visit, either on short tours or longer-term programs to strengthen
their ties with the country. More than 300,000 young Jews from around
the world have travelled to Israel on Birthright, a free 10-day trip
funded by Israel as well as Jewish philanthropists. Studies show that
while the trips foster a connection to Israel, that link does not always
last.
Now, beyond just
pumping money into Israel-related programs, Israel has established a
task force and convened the Jerusalem meeting to consider a longer term
strategy to keep Jews Jewish.
"I
know that we have that inner strength to guarantee the Jewish future. I
know it and you know it and together we're going to achieve exactly
that - to defend and secure the Jewish people and the one and only
Jewish state," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the
gathering of Jewish leaders.
The results of the discussions will only be seen next year and it's not yet apparent what Israel can do to reverse the trend.
Ideas
floated at the Jerusalem meeting included targeting young Jews on
college campuses, engaging them once they return from trips like
Birthright and bringing Jews to Israel younger and more often.
Hartman's
initiative, iEngage, was last week adopted by American leaders of the
Reform movement, the largest stream of Judaism in the U.S., as a way to
strengthen ties to Israel in the context of American Jewish values.
Hartman
says the project is meant to help connect young American Jews to Israel
by changing the relationship between the world's two largest Jewish
communities into one of equality. Hartman said that includes openly
discussing Israel's disputed policies rather than blindly supporting
them.
Israel generally views the American Jewish community as a strategic asset. But cracks in the relationship have emerged.
The
Pew Research Center's report found U.S. Jews disapprove of Israel's
policies in the West Bank, which it has occupied since the 1967 Mideast
war and is claimed by the Palestinians. It showed that only 17 percent
of American Jews say Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank is
helpful to Israel's security. Forty-four percent said it hurts Israel's
security.
Still, the Pew
report showed that seven in 10 Jews consider themselves attached or very
attached to Israel and 61 percent said they believe Israel can coexist
peacefully alongside an independent Palestinian state.
The
world's two largest Jewish communities have also disagreed over
religious affairs. The liberal Reform and Conservative Jewish movements,
which make up the majority of the American Jewish population, are
marginal in Israel, where the Orthodox establishment rules many aspects
of life, like marriage, divorce and burials. The liberal groups have
struggled to make inroads in Israel, and the Orthodox rabbinate has
refused to recognize their rulings on key matters as religiously valid.
The
disagreements have been most evident at the Western Wall, the holiest
site where Jews can pray, where the customs of the liberal streams have
been restricted so as to not offend Orthodox worshippers. One crisis was
recently defused, when Israel agreed to erect a special mixed-gender
prayer section. Orthodox tradition forbids men and women from praying
together, whereas the other denominations do not. The section is
temporary and a more permanent solution is still under discussion.
Despite
those disputes, having Israel join the effort to halt assimilation
lends the mission "strong symbolic value," said Steven M. Cohen, a
professor of Jewish social policy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion, who also consulted on the Pew study.
Above all, Israel's interests lie in preserving its supporters in North America, he said.
"To
what extent do Jews care about Israel and to what extent do they
support Israel's policies? If you're a political leader in Israel, both
factors come into account," he said.
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