More than a year ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Natan Sharansky to return to Israeli politics.
In a telephone interview on Aug. 29, Sharansky, the famed ex-refusenik and “Prisoner of Zion” in the former Soviet Union, told The Chronicle that he refused.
“I said: I think I was nine years in prison, and nine years in the Knessset [Israel’s parliament], and I think it’s a very good balance.”
But more seriously, Sharansky, 62, also replied that he believed working for the Jewish Agency for Israel would be “an interesting challenge.”
He told Netanyahu, “I believe that … the main internal challenge we face is the unity of the Jewish people.” And the Jewish Agency is in the best position to work on this because it “is the only global Jewish table, where Jews in the Diaspora and in Israel are in day-to-day dialogue.”
“That is why,” he continued, “I believe it is very important to try to raise the level of involvement of the Jewish world in Israel through the Jewish Agency.”
And so in June 2009, Sharansky became chair of the Jewish Agency, which is one of three “Overseas Partner” organizations — with the Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee — that receive funding from Milwaukee Jewish Federation annual campaigns.
In that capacity, Sharansky will be speaking at the MJF 2011 Annual Campaign Opening Event on Monday, Sept. 13, 7:15 p.m., at the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
20 years since ‘Exodus’
Among other planned activities, this event will celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Operation Exodus,” the nation-wide special campaign that brought some two million Jews out of the Soviet Union and resettled them in Israel, the United States, and elsewhere.
“‘Exodus’ was the result of a unique effort of Soviet Jews who discovered their identity; and of American Jews who discovered their identity and mobilized themselves; and Israel was giving this inspiration to the struggle,” said Sharansky.
And this achievement should set an example, he added. “Jews should always keep in mind how strong they are when they work as one community and one family,” he said.
The next task, Sharansky said, should be an effort to strengthen Jewish identity world-wide, “to help connect every Jew in the world with their roots, with their heritage, with their community, with their people, and with the state of Israel.”
“Of course, rescue continues to be on the agenda” of the Jewish Agency, he said, “whether we are thinking about Jews in Kirgizstan or Jews in Yemen or Jews in Iran, or any other place.”
In fact, while Sharansky is in Milwaukee and Chicago, Sept. 13-15 — his first stops on a national speaking tour that will culminate at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North American in New Orleans Nov. 7-9 — the Israeli government and Jewish Agency will be planning the removal of the last remnants of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel, he said.
Nevertheless, “94 percent of the Jews of the Diaspora live today in the Free World” and do not need rescuing, he said.
Therefore, “For those who want to see more aliyah [immigration to Israel], for those who want to see less assimilation, for those who want to see more advocacy for Israel, the driver should be our Jewish identity,” he said.
The Jewish Agency has been working on a new strategic plan that on June 23 was approved unanimously by the agency’s board of governors — one of whose members is Bruce Arbit, Milwaukee businessman, philanthropist, activist, chair of the United Israel Appeal, and co-chair with his wife, Tanya, of the MJF opening event.
“Not only is there no contradiction between a strong Israel and a strong world Jewish community, but as much as the Jews of the world need a strong Israel, Israel should be interested in having a strong Jewish community,” Sharansky said. “That is the new strategy of the Jewish Agency.”
According to a report in the June 24 Jerusalem Post, the agency board approved a “broad outline of the new mission focus,” and a more detailed plan is scheduled to be presented at the next board meeting in October.
Sharansky told The Chronicle that “Israel experiences” — i.e., bringing Diaspora Jews to Israel for short periods — “will become important” because they have proven their effectiveness at strengthening Jewish identity.
“In some cases that will lead to aliyah, in some cases it will lead to more active involvement of Jews in their own communities, but it is always a positive thing,” he said.
A desert buffet (dietary laws observed) will be served at the MJF event. Couvert is $20, $15 for children ages 13-18. A minimum gift of $36 to the 2011 campaign is required to attend. The event is being sponsored by Bruce Gendelman Insurance Services.
Registration deadline is Sept. 7. To register and for more information, call 414-390-5700 or visit www.milwaukeejewish.org.
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