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Avram Hein is a graduate student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a
former research assistant at the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise and he
sits on the board of directors of MERCAZ USA: The Zionist Organization of the
Conservative Movement.
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By Avram Hein
October 29, 2006
I have to admit to some ambivalence in an article I recently read that notes survey results that the topic of Israel was the most common sermon this past Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in congregations throughout North America. I say this not out of a distaste for Israel but rather out of deep love of country.
In fact, I am so concerned about the welfare of the State of Israel that I made aliya from North America and earned a masters degree in Israeli Society and Politics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and I currently live in Jerusalem, Israel's capital city.
So, if it is not out of disconnect with Israel, then why was I concerned that almost three-fourths of congregants heard a sermon calling on support for Israel? I have two very important reasons: A concern for North American Jewry and a concern for Israeli society.
While three-fourths of congregations had at least one sermon about support for Israel, only one-third had at least one sermon about participation in Jewish life beyond holidays. This, despite the fact that the vast majority of affiliated Jews - let alone the majority of Jews who are unaffiliated - do not see Jewish law as binding and do not have the skill-set to participate in halachic Jewish life.
Support for Israel can not tide the rising intermarriage rate and an increasingly watered down notion of Jewish identity. Support for Israel can only do so much for the rising tide of assimilation and anti-Semitism in Europe. Most importantly, support for Israel is the byproduct of a strong, thriving Jewish life and support for Israel is passed down through the generations through active framing of Jewish identity.
Strengthening Jewish life in the Diaspora including partnership - not charity - is the best way to strengthen those of us in Israel. Doing so will lead to increased American aliya - and American aliya is the best way to bring to Israel the values of liberal democracy, customer service, market efficiency and a strong, consensus-building, civil society.
Those of you who choose not to tie your future in with the Jewish people in Israel - which will make up the majority of the world's Jewish population in two decades - will also benefit by increased stays in Israel and increased dialogue between Israel and America.
As someone devoting his life to the improvement of Israeli society and with a graduate degree in Israel Studies, I am also concerned that North American support for Israel only seems to be expressed when Israel has a security conflict.
Despite this talk of support, you were canceling your trips to Israel this summer. Most of you have never visited once, let alone spent an extended period of time in Israel. As someone who cares both about the future of North American Jewry and Israeli economic growth, I am also deeply concerned that Israel as North American Jewry's choice charity weakens Israel and prevents Israeli social and economic development.
A child never learns to take care of himself if everything is done by his parents and he is not held responsible for his mistakes. So, too, much of Israeli society is dependent and unable to contribute productively, held up by a welfare state financed by North American Jewish welfare. This harms the both of us.
Maimonides notes that the highest form of tzedakah is not monetary giving but the training to be self sufficient. Sadly, with rare exception, Jewish philanthropy to Israel creates a dependency that weakens Israeli society.
This relationship is, in fact the reason, quietly, some in Israel call for an end to American aid to Israel - which makes up less than one-percent of Israel's GDP anyway. In a 1995 article in the Middle East Quarterly, Israeli business writer Joel Bainerman wrote an excellent analysis demonstrating how Diaspora Jewish aid harms Israel's economy.
Instead, invest in programs that build Jewish life in North America. Instead, if not aliya, spend part of your time in Israel, living with Israelis and not in your Anglo enclaves that price us out of cities like Jerusalem. Instead, invest in joint business partnerships with Israeli companies. Instead, learn about Israel's social problems and help important market-based solutions to these problems.
Instead, help us help ourselves. Let us help you. Let Israeli scholars serve as consultants for better allocation of your philanthropic dollars.
Of course, as numerous scholars of Jewish life have pointed out, support for Israel is a low-involvement way for Diaspora Jews to maintain their ethnic identity. Please, I implore you; don't sacrifice our well being for your ethnic identity. Instead, let's partner together to build a better global future for the Jewish people around the world.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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