All small

Round Table
much deeper issue with long-term implications
on the future of both communities.
Usually we talk or hear a lot about philanthropy
projects – the huge amount of money
that comes from there in support of many
projects here. We should keep in mind that
this also contributes to American Jewry’s
relations and linkage to Israel, which is an
important identity component for them; so
in some sense it may be as important for
them and their own needs there, as it is to
us here. This is one example. Another is to
look at Birthright (Taglit) – which is also
an example that looks like something that
should help mainly American Jewry, but
there are around 100,000 Israelis that have
already participated in Taglit – most of them
are IDF soldiers and officers. For many of
them it is their first and only opportunity
to meet American Jews and in many cases
to establish their connections with Jews
abroad. So, we should look at some of the
contribution issues, which go both ways and
shape the future of relations between the two
communities.
When you talk to Israeli experts, colleagues
and peers, are they aware of the
dynamic?
HATUEL-RADOSHITZKY: The Israeli
defense leadership is undoubtedly aware
of the multifaceted aspects of the close Israel-US
relations, and the pertinence of this
relationship to Israel. Our research finds that
Israeli defense leaders are far less aware of
the American Jewish community’s characteristics,
connection to Israel and role in
contributing to the Jewish state which for
some American Jews is a defining value.
We also found that Israel’s political echelon
and establishment fundamentally perceives
Israel as the center of the Jewish world - diverging,
in this parameter, from the Jewish
community in America which tends to perceive
the Jewish people as comprised of two
centers: one in Israel and one in the US. In
line with the Israeli-centric perception we
saw that in more cases than one, despite
familiarity with the issues at hand, policy
decisions in Israel are made according to internal
political considerations. Thus, a lack
of “awareness of the dynamic” (as phrased
in the question) cannot explain Israeli policy
decisions which run counter to the needs
and values of Jewish Americans.
Why do we start to notice patterns of misunderstanding
or hurt feelings; from where
does this stem?
SHAPIRO: You can see that these specific
issues are somewhat symptomatic of the
trends and evolutions of the communities.
So, Israel, by most measures is becoming
more religious and a right-of-center country,
the American Jewish community, there
are trends of intermarriage and assimilation,
which are making it a challenge to keep the
next generation of Jews connected both to
the Jewish community generally and Jewish
institutions that have been the traditional
base of the community and to Israel as well.
And so, against that background when you
have issues of specific disagreement it’s even
harder to necessarily bridge that gap. Many
Israelis were troubled that many American
Jews who were supportive of President
Obama were also supportive of the Iran deal
that the majority of Israelis viewed as a bad
deal and something that would be harmful
to Israel’s security. Many American Jews,
as was mentioned, are concerned about the
seeming stalemate on the Israeli-Palestinian
peace effort and the role that settlements play
– although not only settlements obviously
there’s blame to go on both sides – and the
risk that poses to Israel’s future as a Jewish
and democratic state, which touches some of
the core values that American Jews associate
with Israel and associate with some of their
own identity as Americans and as Jews.
And against the same backdrop when the
Israeli govt. takes decisions that American
Jews feel are disrespecting their own
Jewish identity and practice of Judaism and
their own ability to even connect to Israel,
such as the cancellation of the Kotel agreement
or the proposed conversion laws. It’s
certainly accentuates some trends that might
have already existed, which posed challenges
to keeping communities as close as
they’ve been, and it’s something that leaders
on both sides need to be attentive to.
What do we do from here to mend ties?
HATUEL-RADOSHITZKY: I would say
education. It is very important to educate
Israelis here about the United States in general;
the bilateral relations, the importance
of the strategic ties between the two states
and then the contribution of American Jewry
therein to these ties.
ORION: Some of it is indeed state and
government leadership issues of how to
integrate the Diaspora’s positions in dayto-day
policy making in Israel – that is an
issue of debate: in what measure we should
take into account the views and positions of
people who do not live here, especially in
matters of life and death, and in many domestic
issues. But this also sheds a special
light on the responsibility of non-governmental
leadership, community to community,
and people-to-people.
Let our next generations familiarize with
each other; connect with each other, interact
with each other, meet in summer camps,
do an “inverse Taglit” – student exchanges.
But we also need common missions and
common causes. If we used to have a “Let
My People Go” campaign from the Soviet
Union, we now have a golden opportunity
to pull our efforts together against common
threats like delegitimization, BDS, antisemitism
and Jewish safety.
Israeli stories need American story-tellers.
Doing it together shoulder-to-shoulder
means that we should bring our youths together
and unite around a common mission.
And that is a splendid opportunity to jointly
write a new chapter in the great book of our
common history.
SHAPIRO: I think that the lion’s share of
the responsibility for keeping American
Jews connected to Israel falls on the American
Jewish community itself. To do the
education; to create the opportunities for
engagement; to expand programs like Taglit
into new areas, whether it’s doing joint
projects about the Jewish people or about
broader Tikkun-Olam focus, helping American
Jews engage with the Israeli hi-tech
economy or focus on ways that can contribute
to improving Israeli society and helping
Israelis improve Israeli society. Those are
things that American Jews primarily have
to take responsibility for doing in our own
community. But to help that succeed and
to help to ensure that those American Jews
will feel motivated and feel that there is a
mutuality of that effort – education on the
Israeli side, certainly the demonstration
of respect and honoring American Jewish
identity in its different manifestations is
critically important – even if it’s short of
giving American Jews the same say about
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THE JERUSALEM REPORT FEBRUARY 5, 2018