Among the countless causes of anxiety and apprehension stemming from events in Israel (and at home), one of the most troubling is the apparent rift within our own Jewish community. As we all know, Jews are famous – or maybe infamous – for loving to disagree with one another. The old saw of three Jews and four opinions is a personal favorite. Yet despite our many differences, in difficult times we historically have closed ranks and stood together. This time, however, it seems as though that may well not be the case.
It is very difficult to understate the importance of being unified. Often people like to marvel at how Israel, in 1948, managed to overcome the combined forces from over five hostile, invading Arab nations to give birth to the modern state. Some even liken it to a miracle. Yet, without taking anything away from the heroism of those who fought so valiantly for Israel’s existence, one key to their success is clear: Despite significant, or even substantial disagreements and rivalries among factions of the Jews, they were largely unified when it came to defending their newly-formed state. At the same, the Arabs – despite much greater numbers – were completely disorganized and lacked even a cohesive plan to drive the Jews into the Mediterranean.
This same unity has enabled Jews the world over to help Israel in its ceaseless battles for its very existence. If it were not for the substantial efforts of Diaspora Jews to provide monetary and other support for Israel, all of her heroic efforts might well have been for nothing (which is not to be confused with the reality that the Israelis are doing the real work – the fighting and dying for all of us). With the exception of a foreign government here or there, no real governmental assistance was provided to the nascent state for at least her first two decades of existence.
Fortunately, that has changed as the United States has become, as we are constantly reminded, the major champion of Israel. And its main benefactor. But that steadfast relationship is showing fissures. The ability of American Jews to help ensure this vital continued collaboration and support is, it appears, starting to wane.
Although the right in American politics (not, to be sure, the far right but the more “mainstream” right) has increasingly been supportive of Israel, there is the highly disturbing trend that young people are not supportive of Israel. And, rather incredibly, this includes young Jews. How, we must ask, has this happened?
To reduce the reality to relatively simple terms, American Jews have been fortunate to enjoy a generally anti-Semite free existence for a number of decades. Consequently, Millennials and Gen Zers have never had first-hand (or often even second-hand) knowledge of the pervasive anti-Semitism that drove our ancestors here in the first place and that, to a lesser but still substantial degree, continued to plague them once in this country. The sacrifices and abuses that our grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents endured are not the experiences of today’s younger Jews. And that is, on balance, a good thing. But the ignorance of what our ancestors endured is lulling these younger Jews into not only a false sense of security but also to actively criticize the one state whose existence could very well be the only thing that ensures the survival of the Jewish people.
Compounding the problem is the simplistic understanding of Israel and its history – and that of the Jewish people more broadly. I, like many of you I imagine, was enchanted by Leon Uris’s Exodus; after finishing the novel as a 16-year-old I promptly informed my parents that I wanted to go to Israel. Similarly, I have watched countless times Raid on Entebbe and other heroic tales of Israelis faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. But, I know that these are fictionalized accounts of actual events. They are, by their nature, simplistic. And they are romanticized, all of which is fine. But it does not obviate our need to actually learn the real history.
Because of this void between what we have allowed ourselves to believe based on embellished or dramatic retellings of history and actual facts, we have left ourselves vulnerable to some unpleasant realities. The Israelis are not perfect. Every Palestinian who became a refugee after the War of Independence did not do so voluntarily. We need to understand and make ourselves and our children and our communities generally well-informed. We can only fight disinformation with actual facts. Hiding our heads in the sand about the unpleasant things that Jews have done is not helpful.
Lest one think that I am condemning Jews or Israelis for everything under the sun, let me stop you right there. As I said above, Israel is not perfect. But it does not have to be. No nation is. Today we hear a great deal about imprisoned Palestinians (who are falsely equated with the Israeli hostages brutally abducted by Hamas) without charges. Yet, did the United States not do the exact same thing – perhaps even worse – after 9/11? How else does one explain the involuntary “residents” indefinitely relocated to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? Two wrongs do not make a right, and let’s give credit where credit is due: Those that criticized the U.S. for such actions are not being inconsistent when they accuse Israel of similar actions. Yet, again, nations are comprised of individuals who are faced with literal life and death decisions. And when put in that type of no-win position, most decision-makers are going to err (and err might well be the right term) on the side of being overly-protective of its citizens, which unfortunately translates to under-protective of the rights of those incarcerated or abused or subject to other regrettable acts. This is, sadly, the real world with real dangers. Israel, just like the United States or any other democracy, does not have the luxury of guessing that avowed enemies will not use their enmity against its people in horrific ways. Something has to give, and those in power will continue to do what they view as necessary.
This does not, however, delegitimize Israel or Zionism. We must always keep in mind that without Israel, we as Jews have no port in the storm. We need Israel. And we must take it upon ourselves – those of us who understand this undeniable reality – to first bring back within the fold those that have been misled. We should, however, also hear them out – we need dialogue with our young people. Jews do not raise their children to be unquestioning. We must respect that they have differing views but ultimately try to convince them with balanced facts as to why the positions and alliances they have staked out are, while potentially well-intentioned, incompatible with the survival of the Jewish people. Simultaneously, we must do more to breathe life back into our traditions and culture. I am not advocating that everyone join a shul or keep kosher. But we have such a rich and long history that we should celebrate it, which will hopefully help us all remember what is so wonderful about our heritage and, consequently, inspire many to protect it.
Times now are bleak. Almost none of us have ever experienced such prevalent challenges to our identity, Israel’s right to exist or such unchecked anti-Semitism. But we are not powerless. Our best weapon to fight back is, as so often the case, the power of information and truth. We just need to finally start speaking it.
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