All small

Round Table
Israel and American
Jewry’s two-way street
INSS experts discuss the ‘vital bond’ between US Jewry and Israel and how that
relationship is key to the security of both nation and people By Noa Amouyal
THE UNITED States and Israel are currently
home to the two largest Jewish communities,
but it appears that in recent years these
communities have increasingly drifted apart
in values and world views, narratives and
identities, interests and agendas. This trend
reflects natural generational evolution, but
this past year’s events – including the Israeli
government’s warm embrace of Donald
Trump, a controversial President who
was opposed by most US Jews, the rise in
anti-Semitism in the United States, Israel’s
government reneging on the Western Wall
agreement and the religious conversion bill
– have heightened the challenges to the relationship
between Israel and the US Jewish
community. This said, the defense relations
and cooperation between Israel and the US
remains intense, to the benefit of both.
The Jerusalem Report sat down with experts
at the Institute for National Security
Studies to talk about what defines and fuels
this symbiotic relationship in a stimulating
round table discussion. Members of the panel
included Distinguished Visiting Fellow
and former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel
Shapiro; Senior Research Fellow Brig. (res)
Assaf Orion; Research Fellow Dr. Michal
Hatuel-Radoshitzky; and Research Fellow
Lt.-Col. (res.) Shahar Eilam.
Below are highlights from that conversation
which comes as a backdrop to a joint
initiative INSS is conducting with the Ruderman
Family Foundation. The research program,
called “the American Jewish Community
and Israel’s National Security,” explores
the dynamic between the two communities
and attempts to foster understanding as to
the different aspects of this relationship , as
well as to their unfolding trends, not only
in terms of security, but in terms of Israel’s
foundational values and identity and of
America’s long-term commitment to Israel.
How do each of you characterize the relationship
between the US Jewish community
and Israel; and what are the factors that influence
this relationship?
SHAPIRO: I define it as a relationship between
the two largest and two of the most
significant and influential parts of the Jewish
people as a whole. It’s been a very powerful,
mutually reinforcing relationship for much
of the last century – certainly all of Israel’s
existence – bound by some very powerful
common memories, including tragedies, like
the Shoah. A very powerful sense of the importance
of the establishment and strengthening
of the State of Israel; both for its own
sake and what it contributes to the Jewish
people outside of Israel.
For most of that period – and we hope it’s
still the case – there is a mutually supportive
relationship where American Jews have
felt invested in being allies and partners and
contributors to Israel’s security and its prosperity
and the strong relationship between
Israel and the United States. And Israelis
have seen value in engaging with that community
in making them feel connected and
honored and welcomed as part of the broader
Jewish people that Israel feels connected
to worldwide. I think historically that has
very much defined it.
ORION: We are essentially two parts of one
people bound by a story, a book, an identity,
shared values and perhaps destiny in
certain ways. Israel is a common heart and
a binding cord between us both; an origin
and an identity organ; as a symbol, a spiritual
and physical home, a source of yearning,
a destiny and a national homeland. Certainly,
our bond includes interesting encounters
between nationhood and peoplehood, as
different layers of our respective identities.
As with any relationship, ours can’t adapt
to challenges without some serious work
on those relationships, because as times are
changing we need to strongly engage with
each other, and get to really know each other.
As both Israel and US Jews go through
changes, as our grandparents and parents
pass the baton to us and to our kids, we all
need to adjust to the new realities, to our
current roles, discussing our differences,
our hopes and concerns, our expectations
from each other and our disappointments as
well. From the strategic perspective, each
community’s perceived power and influence
spill over and reflects on the other.
EILAM: We should remember that each
community is a huge success story in its
own way. The major successes, as well as
joint legacy, memories and challenges, were
the anchors and inspiration for developing
the relations between the two communities:
the establishment of Israel, the strengthening
of Israel and its special relations with the
US, the joint campaign for enabling Soviet
Jewry emigration from the USSR, etc. For
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THE JERUSALEM REPORT FEBRUARY 5, 2018