Israel-Diaspora Relations
From Martin...
This past year, I was given an additional month of vacation in appreciation for 20 years of service to the agency. With this extra time off I undertook a special project for the New York UJA-Federation and CRB foundation that explored the use of shared interests to connect Jews around the world and to strengthen Israel-Diaspora relations. The result is an almost 40 page document, the executive summary of which appears below. I welcome your thoughts and reactions and let me know if you wish to receive the full document. Martin
Executive Summary
There is persuasive evidence to suggest that ties among Jews around the world and feelings of connection to the State of Israel, especially with respect to the younger generation, are weakening. An exciting vision of Jewish identity, individually and as part of the Jewish people -- an answer to the question “why be Jewish” -- needs to guide our efforts to counter this trend. One answer to that question is to be heir to a millennia-old civilization with traditions and values that can enrich personal lives and at the same time contribute to the repair of the world (Tikkun Olam).
Besides an overarching vision, we need programmatic tools or devices that will strengthen relationships among Jews and offer opportunities for joint experiences and collaborations. Shared interests -- professional affiliations, issues of common concern, even hobbies -- provide an entry point for such interactions, especially for unaffiliated and marginally affiliated Jews. But they can also deepen connections among already committed members of our community.
Much is currently being done to bring Jews together around shared interests. Federation Partnership 2000 (P2K) programs increasingly focus on people-to-people exchanges of this kind. But overall they still reach a very limited number of Jews, in large part because they are confined to geographic linkages inherent in the program. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) experimented with a non-geographically limited, shared interest-based people-to-people initiative for several years, but dropped the program in 2004. Other institutions address Jewish Peoplehood and Israel-Diaspora relations in a scholarly or conceptual manner designed for elites, and do not offer much in the way of concrete programs that bring Jews together more broadly. In terms of young people, Taglit is succeeding in lighting a spark in tens of thousands in the United States and around the world. And MASA provides a framework to deepen connections to Israel through long term programs.
There are many obstacles to be overcome, including vast cultural differences separating Jewish communities as well as the Jewish community’s inclination toward competition over cooperation. But, if properly structured and funded, a Global Jewish Peoplehood initiative -- with the mission of connecting Jews worldwide based on shared interests and values -- can succeed.
Early attention should be given to the possibility of establishing a global Jewish environmental movement. In addition, we should be examining the potential for more systematically using the internet and new communications vehicles (e.g., Facebook) to connect Jews on the basis of shared interests. And the organized Jewish community should be doing much more to strengthen Taglit alumni follow-up efforts and to encourage participation in MASA programs.
