Yes, there are clearly challenges to being Jewish in the Diaspora, but being a Jew in the Diaspora is not a new paradigm. Believe it or not (and often times I feel like Israelis choose not to), we've done it before. So yeah, we have things like Birthright, etc, as we try to navigate this new entity called Israel, but the Jewish community in the U.S. is not decaying, it's actually incredibly vibrant. It's pluralistic, and is a living religion for people other than the Orthodox. Should we not all be a bit worried that Israelis who move to the U.S. have a significantly higher assimilation rate than U.S. Jews? Are Israeli Jews unequipped in some way to survive in the Diaspora? That's actually a problem.

Please explain to the world somehow that 1. Not every Wall Street bankers and financiers are jews 2. The great majority of US jews are not bankers, nor financiers. Unfortunately millions of antisemites think seriously that New York jewish money gurus rule the whole world, and exploiting the humanity, exept the jews of course. I am very worried about that, but even I don't know what to do against it.

Reverse it :Dumb Obama....he thinks alienating the world isn't enough ,now he has to anger american jews and israelis . No problem .You arrogant types in USA think you can go it alone without our suppotr ,our money,our advocacy.....NO PROBLEM .Good luck as you burry (sic ) yourselves into oblivion ,while we enjoy the JEWISH healthy lives we made for ourselves without your arrogance and stupidity .You don't need us ? We're too stupid to appreciate you ? Good luck .

People say they are offended because the ads do strike a sensitive cord in people. I'm not Israeli, but i am Jewish - and I think Jews should be encouraged to marry Jews. The reality is that for American Jews, there is a massive assimilation rate. And even in Australia this is a growing trend. The reality is that in a generation or two 'Jewish' numbers in America will drop. Dose anyone really think that a Jewish guy marrying a non Jewish girl will have 'Jewish' kids? Of course not - the reality is those kids aren't Jewish and that guy is the last Jewish one in his family - end of the Jewish line. And also a Jewish girl marrying a non Jewish guy - the kids may be Jewish but the chances of the kids growing up in a Jewish lifestyle are minimal at best. How many families that think they are Jewish have a Christmas tree? It's a joke people! You CANNOT claim to have a strong Jewish identity and celebrate the life of Christ! These ads aren't offensive, but they do strike at the heart of the biggest problem facing Jews in the diaspora - assimilation.

Basically Galut Jewry has it really good in most lands especially the wealthy ones .In Israel most jews are the real emes hough Netanyahus ISreal is far from perfect moraly Netanyahu is lax with morality preferring Power Survival And Detrrant capacity . He seems to have an antiempathetic attitude towards illhealth physical and mental a Social Darwinim Jewish EhIc seems to run deep in his soul.NoW Eshkol was different he was a comprimiser and empathatic and a warm and wholesome Jew and was instrumental however nervously in the massive military victory of the Six Day War.

The ads and the op ed pieces both show a total lack of understanding of those of us living abroad. We don't come 'home' because of what Israel has become not because of life in America. The problem is at your end. The "religious" stop the majority of Jews freely practicing as religious reform and conservative. The right wing government attempts daily to squash democracy by targeting the left and center. Most of all the political agenda where settlements are more important than peace, democracy and decency, turns us off coming 'home.'. Even more scary is that Israli values and Western Jewish values are drifting further apart so that we no longer identify with you. We are and remain zionists, millions of us ave served in Zahal, our kids are Jewish. It is you that have drifted to religious totalitarianism and anti-democratic values. You need to come home to real zionism not us.

for the Ministry of Immigration Absorption? Is he an official representative of the ministry or a government official? I viewed the ads and did not really find them as offensive as Jeff Goldberg did. But then again, he only lived here five years and then left to return to the US. Should we give him any credence? I am more concerned that someone from Avigdor Lieberman's party is heading this ministry and has no clue what communications should be effected between Israeli immigrants and Israelis living abroad. I wouldn't expect Russians to get the assimilation thing or even be sensitive to it but that should be a lesson to everyone that the right wing parties do NOT speak for ALL Israelis.

It was a silly and redundant campaign and Israeli tax money. The root of the problem that people with education and financial means have no interest to return to Israel is not assimilation or the security situation, but the attitude of Israelis toward us Jews living outside of Israel. The attitude is condescending, arrogant, and rude. It is our solemn duty to send support them and fund many projects. The Israeli government may support a myriad of that kind of campaigns, only a fracture of us will consider spending in israel more than necessary time and money. Ezer

While personally I am more a fan of positive advertising than negative advertising, I also understand that the intentions behind the ads were good. Assimilation is a major problem in America. Growing up in America, in the public schools, we were forced to sing Christmas songs, make Christmas decorations, and create ginger bread houses. While they sang a couple of Chanukkah songs as a token, most of the songs were Christmas songs. Where ever you walk in America, from November until around January, Christmas is thrown in your face. Growing up, American Jewish children often feel jealous of their Christian classmates, who all the time speak about what Santa Klaus got them and in the area where I grew up, going to the National Christmas Tree lighting near the White House, where the President was. As a Jewish child, you feel so left out and out of place. Because the intentions behind the ads were good, Goldberg doesn't represent me when he says that American Jews were offended, for I agree that it is a problem for Jewish children to know about Christmas but not Chanukkah. However, the spouse ad was a bit tactless. It was not clear that the spouse was a non-Jew. While I agree that lack of education regarding Jewish holidays is a problem in the Diaspora, I think that it is wrong to assume that a Jewish American would not move to Israel for an Israeli spouse or want to learn more. They should have made it more clear that the spouse was a non-Jew.

bother you as a yored. I really couldnt care less what you do with your life and to whom you do it. I am not going to lecture you, teach you etc. I couldnt care less. Get over yourself no one really gives a damn either way...trust me. If you want to stay a Jew good luck to you. I wont split a gut either way.

As an israeli american as in I was born in america and raised by israelis parents . My sisters married non jews and broke my moms heart. I am struggling to enter the idf because I went to college first. I always am confused about wheter I feel american or israeli. Grandparents called during hannukah in the video. I call my father aba because hebrew is our cultural language and it is of every jew. American jews like u disgust me. I keep meeting american jews who don't understand israelis at all let alone an american born to israeli parents. There was nothing wrong with these videos, they are incredibly correct.

Bull, I know plenty of israelis here in los angeles who came for one reason : to make money. They always tell me they miss israel and spend their time at israelis cafes with israelis, guess why? Cuz they miss israel but are here to make money.

Most Israelies posters missed the point: that Dafna girl manners on the third ad have been viewed by most Americans, Jews or non-Jews alike as very cheap and obnoxious. Israeli government, or rather someone names Sofa, advertising cheapness and rudeness with their cheap into your face manners. Would you want your son to marry one of these Dafna types? Reform your school system. Start requiring social grace learning to be an everyday school subject. Those rude types give Israel bad everywhere they go. Fix your schools first.

A free lotto ticket and a box of washing powder? It couldn't hurt...

Perhaps if Israel wasn't turning so hard to a right wing nightmare, there wouldn't be some many Israelis who see living abroad as being so attractive. Look inward if you wonder why a million Israelis live elsewhere.

I have friends, israeli expats, living in Toronto. I know what they can feel, because I have been there. But saying that you don't want to live in Israel because of what Israel has become, is just an excuse. I'm sorry. Life is better in Toronto than in Rehovot, but for the jewish people, Rehovot is more important than Toronto, maybe not for you, that's right.

Sure you are jewish. But we are not talking in term of individuals, we are talking in term of a people, a nation, or however you define "the Jews". We survived ~2000 years, we are just trying to survive one year more, as a people.

I liked the ads as they tell the truth. American Jews are disappearing as Jews and Israelis that move there know that their kids or grandkids will most likely marry out and that in another generation or so their families will no longer be Jewish. Israel is the future of our People.

Unless your a doctor, big lawyer or bankster, America offers nobody nothing but eternal serfdom.

If youre concernd about the number of yorlim, than better ask WHY they wanted to leave! It will not help to cure symptoms, the cause has to get cured, otherwise you will not be able to decrease the yorlim numbers...

Sorry, but I think you have missed the point why there are some many expats in the US. Israel has changed. Is it really a safe haven for jews? I don't think so. There is more religious freedom in the US and in Europe than in Israel which is increasingly being dominated by the ultra orthodox. It makes me shudder to think that I need a rabbi to marry, divorce or be buried - that there is a mikvah at an army base. All this indicates a trend to forge ahead with a State which would make the founding fathers turn in their graves.

ads are trying to convey. I have "mixed" friends - he's Jewish, she's not. She wants to put Christmas lights, he wants only Hanukkah lights. They started arguing in front of me (oh "joy"). She: "I want Christmas lights. I'm Catholic. I LOVE Christmas, it's one of my favorite holidays" He: " Well, I'm OK with putting lights, but let's keep it modest. We put a Christmas tree and we celebrate Christmas with your family. But Christmas lights is way too much for me" She: "You knew you're marrying a non Jewish person, right? You never seemed to have a problem before..." He: "Well, we have to be considerate to each others feelings" She: "So, what? Suddenly you're embarrassed that I'm not Jewish? You know, your children are not Jewish so stop with the Jewish bit". Her last sentence says it all... When you're in love, you don't think about the future, consequences, what matters to you when you have kids. It starts to matter when it is too late. There is nothing wrong with trying to help people stay Jewish and not make the mistake my friend have made...

Bull, I know plenty of israelis here in los angeles who came for one reason : to make money. They always tell me they miss israel and spend their time at israelis cafes with israelis, guess why? Cuz they miss israel but are here to make money.

I saw two of the ads and cannot understand why U.S. Jews should be offended. Israelis living in the United States, maybe -- the criticizism of their choice to live abroad is not exactly subtle. But the ads were by Israel for Israelis; U.S. Jews have no standing to being offended. And I know enough about Israel to know that highly educated, talented people can do far better financially here in the fleshpots. I'm saddened that Israelis emigrate, but I sure understand their desire to have their efforts well rewarded and to live without fear of rockets falling on their childrens' heads. And E. G. Marsch: Kindly explain how most non-Israeli Jews are to get their introduction to Israel if not on some "idiotic trip as a tourist." A tour with a good Israeli guide is the best way to see the country for the first time. I've visited Irael six times; my last two trips were the best because I was working as a volunteer. Are Israelis rude? Some are, as are some Americans. But the overwhelming majority of Israelis I've encountered in Israel have been very kind. I can't wait to get back to volunteer again. Israel is pretty much like every place else -- except more intensely so.

Intermarriage destroyed my family. If it's important to you that your children and grandchildren be Jewish, they need to live in Israel.

Perfect! I had to look at the name a couple times...Yishai Fleisher on YNET!! B"H! As an american Jew struggling with pull between family and aliyah this article is exact...no reason at all to apologize. Thanks!

But fascinating to one sitting on the fence, and taking it all in. Reminds me of Shiites beating themselves bloody as they march down the road in celebration of religion.

Even though I was born in the diaspora and live in the diaspora it still bothers me greatly when I see Israelis, primarily men, who change their name from Alon to Alan, marry a Mary, and raise 2 fine boys named Matt and Chris. It's not my fault I live in the States but I do something every day to help Israel and the Jews. When you care about Israel, it is very hard to live in the diaspora with all the hatred we see. I thought the ads were great and I suspect some yordim will return as subconsiously the ads got to them. The ads spoke the truth and I wasn't the slightest bit offended. I have several friends who here in California have lost their jobs and their homes. The streets are not lined with gold in America, but for some Israelis perhaps the fantasy is enough to make them leave Israel and try for the superficial life here in the States. I don't mean this is a a terrible way but in no way are the 1m Israelis here in the diaspora the cream of the Israeli crop. I suspect the best and brightest of Israel are still living in Israel and have no intentions of leaving.

I was reacting to the infuriating mantra, voiced by many, that Israelis are so "rude and arrogant" that one cannot live in the Jewish state and must live eternally with the goyim, who are never rude (especially not when they're kidnapping and murdering children, as happens regularly in the Goldene Medina). If anyone comes to Israel and comes back with the dominant impression that Israelis are rude, he has been on a superficial, idiotic trip to Israel, whether with or without a guide. It sounds like your visits have been more substantial and you've gotten a more accurate sense of what the country is like. As for this figure everyone mentions of "a million Israelis abroad"--it's a figure pulled out of a hat. This point is debated by demographers and some put the figure much lower. Many of the Israelis living abroad are studying or working temporarily and fully plan to return, and do.