Jewish Scene
Israeli Americans assimilate more than US Jews
Yaniv Pohoryles
Published: 25.03.17, 23:32
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20 Talkbacks for this article
1. Judaism as seen in the eyes of the secular Israeli
Roman Furberg ,   Bellingham   (03.26.17)
Wow - that hits home. I think though one of the main reasons is the tension and animosity in Israel between the haredim and hilonim. Secular Israelis would be much more open to Jewish activities if the State of Israel would stop the stranglehold of the Haredim on the rest of the [jewish] Israelis. Not having public transport on Shabat, not allowing civil marriages, and many other laws enforced by the rabbinical court and ultra-orthodox parties has created the feeling among secular Israelis that Judaism is the enemy.
2. No surprise at all
Howard ,   Seattle   (03.26.17)
I have noticed that the Israeli Jews who come to live in America have an arrogance that they are different then their American cousins. Well surprise your children will assimilate just as easy and disappear to the Jewish people just as quickly as American Jews who are already an endangered species. It will only take one or tow generations if that. I guarantee it.
3. DO NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
TEL EM STRAIGHT ,   SAFED OBVIOUS   (03.26.17)
For those israelis who live in a non-jewish environment ,if you want your children to be jewish , you need to send them to jewish schools and attend a synagogue from time to time ,or at least give your children a bit of a jewish education ,otherwise the inevitable happens.
4. Yehudim
Naamah   (03.26.17)
If the Jews are one nation,why they called themselves Ashkenazim and Sephardim? Ashkenaz was a son of Gomer and he was a son of Japhet.
And it must be said that judaism is a nonsense religion.For example,according to the Zohar,Naamah is a Demon.That is nonsense,why jews invent demons which don't exist?As I understand,according to the Miqra,there is only one fallen Angel,namely Satan.
Shelomoh had many wives,but the mother of Rehabeam was Naamah an Ammonite woman.
5. And then beyond the religious stigma, my experience
barbara ,   Haifa   (03.26.17)
taught me that non-Jewish boyfriends treated me better than the Jewish boys - but that was back in the 60's. Luckily I came to Israel and met future husband (a Jewish sabra) two weeks from arrival.
6. It's the money and effort, stupid!
M K ,   Sydney   (03.26.17)
The article highlights many truths but the core is still the arrogance (schvitz) of many Israelis in the Gola who feel they don't need to copy the needs and practices of the local "weakling" Jews. But guess what - it takes a huge effort and a huge amount of money to turn out Jewish kids with strong Jewish identity in the Diaspora, and there's no guarantee even then. However we willingly we donate money to numerous Jewish causes, we spend time going to Synagogue, we support kosher products even though we know many are a rip-off, we volunteer to organise functions and chagim in the community, we try to educate our kids Jewishly at enormous expense sometimes, send them to Zionist youth groups, to Israel and March of the Living experiences. None of this is natural to most Israelis who often are bitterly critical of Jewish practices in Israel where you are either religious or not and mock local Jewish communities. However the regret is enormous when it's too late and their kids have drifted and or married out. To reiterate .. being Jewish and trying to ensure your kids remain Jewish doesn't just happen in the Gola and it certainly doesn't happen if the children see the reluctance of their Israeli-Jewish parents to ever give up a Saturday morning to attend synagogue or to attend appeal dinners and give anonymously, or to spend money on their Jewish education etc. Not all Israelis are like this of course but unfortunately the majority turn their backs and their wallets on local Jewish activity
7. TO BE OR NOT TO BE...?
BILL SHAKESPEARE ,   SAFED BARD   (03.26.17)
Chanukah lights or Xmas lights ? THAT is the question.......
8. # 1 in other words lets just cancell basic Judaism
"Roman"TheRoman ,   Jerusalem Israel   (03.26.17)
so just cancel all the most important Commandments of the Jewish Faith
and bingo all will be fine as we will have Assimilated ourselves in Israel
what madness.!
9. Shtetel mentality
Avi L.   (03.26.17)
A lot is to be attributed to the shetel mentality of Jewish communities abroad.
10. a major problem
C   (03.26.17)
zionism is not taught in most secular schools in israel.

according to the left, zionism is an insult to the rest of the population.
11. This doesn't surprise me
Stuart ,   Leeds UK   (03.26.17)
As I sat with relatives one Friday night 30 years ago in Hod HaSharon, they expressed surprise I wouldn't share their Steak Lavan. Where I go, my Judaism goes with me. Once a secular Israeli leaves Israel, it begs the question as to whether he retains any Judaism.
12. thats me
D ,   toronto   (03.28.17)
I'm an Israeli living abroad. when we had our first child, I wanted to teach her Hebrew... but then I spent 1-2 years reading up about Israel and the haredi monopoly of who is a jew etc.

and I read how the orthodox are going to take over as the majority in 30-40 years...

that's when I decided against teaching my daughter Hebrew.

you guys let them destroy a good thing... thanks a lot.
13. They never cared about Judaism here why should they there?
MediaBrainwashThem ,   Jerusalem Israel   (03.28.17)
Sadly probably little can be done to save them, if they didn't receive
love of their people nation and faith while here little hope they
will find it there, one of the tragic aspects of this story is that
for at least 70 years the Israeli Media has been Post Zionist
and Post Judaism and it mattered little which Judaism Haredi
or just Traditional Judaism it was ridiculed 24/7 in the news
or pop culture programs like Zehu Zeh and now Eretz Nehedert
that the State of Israel totally failed in inculcating a love of Jewish
Civilization after its founding is absolutely obscene and this
yerida is the fruit of this poison which continues to this day
14. Assimilation is a fact of 3000 years.The answer is a more
olim hadashim ,   Tel Aviv / Israel   (03.28.17)
commited Jewish State here.And no compromises to some cults. (Reform , etc. )
15. Most Israelis I have met here in Canada are useless entited
Al   (03.31.17)
dimwits.

They have no sense of work lack discipline and are basic whiners.

No great loss for Isreal and no gain whatsoever for the Jewish community abroad.
16. What truly Jewish mother would make Yerida ?!
(01.20.18)
Sadly generations of Jewish women here
Have been brought up not only to live
And appreciate the 3,000 years of beauty Jewish Tradition
But to actually hate it Israeli secular media and pop culture played a great part in this our only help is the massive and
Growing religious Jewish demographic
Will replace these shameful dropouts with
A large and very strong Jewish Israel
Let them and more like them go take their
Pork lobster and Shabbat desecration’s with them
17. Assimilate Baby Assimilate!
World Citizen ,   the world   (10.02.18)
Best thing for world peace that could ever happen.
18. Mr
Allan B ,   Ramat Gan   (10.17.18)
The only two things that will keep Judaism going are Aliyah and Orthodoxy. You don't necessarily have to do both, but you do have to to do one. If not, your grandchildren with all be named Christine or Timothy or something equally as insipid for a Jew.
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