By David Borowich
New York (JTA) — The tremor that Israeli author A. B. Yehoshua detonated along the Israel-Diaspora fault-line has subsided. But the aftershocks have exposed a widening rift between the Israeli and American Jewish communities.
Earlier this month, at the 100th annual conference of the American Jewish Committee, during a symposium entitled, “The Future of the Past: What Will Become of the Jewish People?” Yehoshua said in part that, “only those living in Israel and taking part in the daily decisions of the Jewish state have a significant Jewish identity.”
This idea has been expressed before. What riled people was that Yehoshua had the gall to accept an invitation from a quintessential Diaspora organization, stand before Diaspora Jewish leaders and confront them with what many see as a much deeper underlying statement: We may no longer be one people — at least not one equal people.
He went on to say in a clarifying article in Ha’aretz on May 12 that “a religious Israeli Jew also deals with a depth and breadth of life issues that is incomparably larger and more substantial than those with which his religious counterpart in New York or Antwerp must contend.”
While perhaps offensive in his bluntness, Yehoshua’s comments have some basis in Jewish thought. They are consistent with classical commentaries on biblical texts that extol the virtues of a Jewish life in a Jewish land, as well as comments that reflect the embodiment of our eternal yearning for a return to Zion.
Through this prism, one can understand the frustration of Israelis. They uprooted themselves from dispersed lands, followed the biblical charge to reclaim our ancient homeland, built an army, cleared a path and invited the exiles to return home.
Many came. Today, with a secure state, modern infrastructure and booming economy, Israel is the most attractive it has been in the past 2,000 years. Yet American Jews by and large have refused this invitation.
And one can understand the frustration of American Jews. They also came from dispersed lands. They fought for equality, built centers of education and worship, supported Israel and fought for Jewish rights the world over.
Today, with many strong Jewish institutions, unrivaled political and economic success, one can argue that Diaspora Jewry is flourishing. So why the tension?
We are confronting a new phenomenon. There is no precedent in Jewish history for the existence of an independent and thriving Diaspora alongside a strong, stable and sovereign state.
Herein lies the conflict. Our national aspirations throughout our scattered Diaspora have always centered on the “return to Zion” mantra. It is the 2,000-year dream that many never thought possible.
It is now real and staring us in the face. And after 58 years of absorbing immigrants from every corner of the globe, many rescued from hostile environments, the flood of olim has slowed to a trickle.
Subtle competition
So when Israelis, like Yehoshua, feel the need to point out that it is the Israelis who are fulfilling our common destiny and ensuring our future, it does not go over well.
And there is resentment. A mild undercurrent of anger that Israelis dedicate three years of their lives to the state and often serve in reserve duty while Diaspora Jews benefit from this blanket of security.
Sure, American Jews provide substantial monetary assistance to Israel and work to ensure strong relations between the U.S. government and Israel. While many Israelis appreciate that support, many others view these donations as disingenuous, meddling and condescending, especially when conditions and control are part of the gift.
There is almost a subtle competition between the two sides, those in the U.S. Diaspora who believe in a continued strong presence in their American home versus those in Israel who feel that Zionism has given purpose and expression to Judaism and see the full return of Jews to Israel.
But in this battle there is a disturbing reality. A large number of these Israelis have hardened around an Israeli identity that increasingly grows independent from its traditional Diaspora Jewish identity. For many in Israel, their connection to the Jewish people is by accident, by virtue of the state’s Jewish calendar and its control over civil affairs.
A more disturbing outgrowth of this reality is what I have started to call an “aliyah deficit.” For the first time in its history, more Jews are leaving Israel than are moving there.
Today an estimated 700,000 or more Israelis are living in the United States. This has created an entirely new dynamic. Suddenly, there is a new subset of Jews amid the American Jewish community which does not connect to established institutions and largely identifies as Israeli.
We are faced with the potential bifurcation of our people. While a necessary tension naturally permeates the Israel-Diaspora relationship, there is a now clearer concern that the eternal oneness of our Jewish identity has somehow morphed into two: Diaspora Jew and Israeli.
Today, we in America lead distinct, parallel lives from our Israeli brethren. It is our job however, to ensure that these parallel lives intersect and become stronger together.
Underlying our communication should be an understanding that Judaism without Israel has no home but an Israel without Judaism has no soul.
Rather than getting angry at Yehoshua, we should thank him for sparking an important discussion. And we must work to find other creative ways to help both sides better understand one another in order to move forward as one people.
David Borowich is founder and chairman of Dor Chadash, an organization seeking to further connections and understanding between Israeli and American Jews (www.dorchadashusa.org) and is a delegate to the 35th World Zionist Congress.
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