Distancing from Israel
Ironically, many Diaspora Jews feel alienated from Israel because of its success
Many Jews living outside of Israel have feelings of great discomfort towards it lately, because of its success stories and achievements, and mostly because of the atmosphere of normalcy around here.
The Diaspora
As immigration numbers drop in favor of emigration, Jews worldwide share their sentiments towards Israel. Some call it ‘homeland’ while others prefer comfort life aborad with occasional visit
The State of Israel, on its culture, literature, economy, power, and willingness to submit to revealing and aggressive self-criticism, is making those Jews lose their equilibrium. Paradoxically, they long for the weak, under-developed Israel of 50 years ago, the one surrounded by enemies; the anxious Israel that is fighting for its survival and constantly needs their help.
In their eyes, there is something cheeky and arrogant about Israel 2008 being an economy whose per-capita production reaches $28,000, which draws billions from venture capital funds, and produces films that are received with excitement; a country whose coffee shops are packed and even the global economic storm is unable to destabilize it.
For Diaspora Jews, many of whom are part of the intellectual elites of their countries, Israel does not really deserve its impressive achievements because it has not yet solved the moral problem inherent in its establishment, and more in its territorial expansion. For them, Israel must constantly cope with, every hour of every day, being established on Arab land. So why are officials in Jerusalem talking about new roads rather than occupation?
Israel challenges history, and the Jews living outside Israel fear that history will seek its revenge. They do not wish to portray themselves as disagreeing with Israel’s existence or as doubting the Zionist enterprise’s survivability, yet what they repress keeps on bursting out, usually in unexpected places.
And so, instead of being here with us to celebrate our 60th anniversary, Diaspora Jewry (which, of course, does not define itself as such) makes do with conveying cold and alienated well wishes.
Jews stay away from conference
This can be attested to by the list of participants in the “Facing Tomorrow” conference organized by President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem. The conference was supposed to bring the global Jewish elite to Israel for the 60th Independence Day celebrations, but it didn’t happen: Only a handful of prominent Jewish figures have confirmed their participation. The intention to hold in Israel a “Jewish people’s Davos Summit” similar to the World Economic Forum conference held in Switzerland annually – did not materialize.
The conference’s professional aspect was well planned by The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute. In the second part of the conference – the ceremonial and bombastic part – President Bush and several presidents and prime ministers from Europe, and particularly from Eastern Europe, will wish Israel well.
As to the Jews, many of them politely said “thank you” for the invitation, yet chose to stay away from the display of solidarity with Israel. They stayed in their countries and there too, by the way, they did not celebrate the 60th anniversary. The wealthy Israel, which is overcome by corruption and investigations, does not attract Diaspora Jews and even arouses a sort of revulsion among them. The higher our standard of living is, the deeper their alienation becomes.
And so, we won’t be able to find in the conference the likes of Alan Greenspan, Larry Summers, Steve Ballmer, Woody Allen, Michael Chabon, Michael Bloomberg, Adam Michnik, and hundreds of other Jews involved in science, the humanities, economics, art, and politics. Their absence from the conference and from the 60th anniversary celebrations in general is their way of exhibiting their distance from today’s Israel. This distance should greatly concern both us and them.
