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October 23, 2007

Israel Office

Weekly Message

Sunday's full-day symposium in New York marked the half-way point for NIF's 2007 10-city North American tour. The goal of this tour is to provoke a debate within the North American Jewish community regarding a progressive vision for Israel as the country celebrates 60 years since independence. And, based on the reaction to the discussion in New York, I am convinced that we are achieving our goal.

American Jewish audiences want to hear voices like that of NIF Board member Naomi Chazan, who described Israel's extraordinary accomplishments during the past 60 years while highlighting four specific internal challenges that Israel faces as the country moves forward: identity, development, governance and the responsibilities of citizenship. They want to hear serious discussions about the relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel, with eloquent and passionate Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel offering their respective perspectives. They want to hear young Ethiopian, Russian and Arab activists describe how their multiple identities impact their lives in Israel on a daily basis, and they want to hear about the challenges of developing the Negev while respecting the environment and the Bedouin population.

Conversations with participants at Sunday's symposium convinced me that American Jews are much more sophisticated and willing to think critically about the realities of Israeli life than most American Jewish organizations give them credit for. Specifically, while maintaining a deep connection to Israel, many American Jews are looking to redefine the particulars of their engagement. My evolving views on this subject suggest the following principles.

First, we must keep ourselves informed about the complexity of Israeli life. Second, we must connect with Israel as a vibrant democracy with an open, argumentative and self-critical society - we should not accept the argument that criticizing Israeli government policy is somehow anti-Israel, anti-Jewish or anything of the sort. Third, we should share lessons from the American experience, including our policies towards equal treatment in matters of race, gender and religion, even while acknowledging that the Israeli and US circumstances are historically and politically quite different. Fourth, we should partner with Israeli counterparts in a meaningful manner. On this point, NIF provides an important model - we are neither a "Friends of" nor an American organization with programs in Israel, but a joint venture of Israelis and Diaspora Jews, which relies on the informed views of our Israeli colleagues to identify and to prioritize program choices.

A much more mature relationship is sought also by Israelis. As Chazan wrote in an article circulated by JTA on the eve of the first NIForum event in Philadelphia: "Most Israelis see the threat of religious ultranationalism, minority repression and economic inequity all too clearly. It is time for true democrats in both Israel and the United States to challenge themselves with the reality of Israeli in its 60th year – a vibrant, thriving country still striving for an ideal not yet attained."

Today, Israel marks twelve years since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. In the wake of recent surveys showing that nearly half of Orthodox Israelis believe that Yigal Amir did not really murder Rabin, we feature Orthodox Israelis who have established liberal educational and religious institutions. We also report on a new law initiated by an NIF grantee, which facilitates employment opportunities for Israel's most disabled citizens. SHATIL highlights a recent successful seminar which focused on strengthening civil society in the North.