Last week, I turned to one of the heads of the Jewish Federations of North America who arrived in Israel for the organization's annual gathering and asked him if American Jewish communities are talking about Israel's political turmoil, also known as the judicial overhaul.
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"Yes, it concerns us, we're following the developments in Israel," the official replied. I then continued my questions and asked him if there are any plans in the local Jewish community to make Aliyah in droves to balance out the growing conservative demographic in Israel.
"No, haven't heard about people wanting to come to Israel to influence the demographic," he said. "Even Yair Lapid, who visited us a few weeks ago, did not ask us to make aliyah but called upon us to use our influence as American Jews to impact the Israeli government. So no, we don't talk about making emergency Aliyah, but maybe you're right. Maybe we really need to bring this up for public discussion."
The demographic challenge that threatens liberal Israel is not a distant or theoretical challenge. It's a true and existential one, and it's the biggest elephant in Israel's room.
No influence at all
The relationship between Israel and U.S. Jewry has been strained for many years, with American Jews increasingly giving up building and maintaining relations with Israel. The political upheaval in recent months certainly doesn't bode well for these relations.
Therefore, the question about the role of American Jews in Israel's internal political conflict is raised again and again.
The pro-democracy displays that accompanied the Zionist Congress in Israel last week leave no room for doubt: Diaspora Jewry, and American Jews in particular, oppose Israel's transition into a dictatorship.
Their ability to influence the inner workings of Israeli politics, however, is very limited seeing as they live far away and don't have an Israeli ID.
Israel's demography will win over its democracy, and this can be changed only if liberal Jews make Aliyah, live in Israel, and receive an Israeli ID with which they could vote in the next elections
In the U.S., the liberal political lobby does have an influence on the White House, the Democratic Party, and even on President Joe Biden - but not over Netanyahu and his hawkish partners.
All Jews in some ways also belong to Israel
Naturally, Netanyahu and his bloc consider mainly those who live in Israel. A politician who works in an independent country can't align his decision according to the world views of his people's diaspora - even if it's significant and impactful. This is true for every country, except Israel.
Israel's relationship with U.S. Jews is completely different from those that Hungary, Italy, and Romania have with their own nationals who left the country in search of a better future in America – these countries don't grab onto their former residents forcefully, and use them whenever they wish.
Israel, however, has used and depended upon American Jews for decades after its foundation in 1948. Even today, Jews in the U.S. are the ones supporting Israel's connection to the land.
Though relations have become stale following disapproval of Netanyahu's actions during his time as prime minister and him teaming up with extremist and far-right groups, Israel remains the country for every Jew.
Just as Israel has a responsibility for the safety of Diaspora Jews around the world (like in Russia and Ukraine), Diaspora Jews have a responsibility for Israel's safety
Every prime minister to ever visit the U.S. has met and will meet members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israeli lobby that has aided Israel for decades. And so in some ways, Israel belongs to all Jews, but all Jews in some ways also belong to Israel.
This is an important concept. Just as Israel has a responsibility for the safety of Diaspora Jews around the world (like in Russia and Ukraine), Diaspora Jews have a responsibility for Israel's safety.
A haven that is now in danger
If Israel draws attention as a "startup nation" which is ruled by a democracy, every Jew in the world feels safer and prouder. A stable, democratic Israel is beneficial for the Jewish people.
So then, why aren't U.S. Jews who agree with liberal and democratic ideals thinking about making an act that will save Israel from its encroaching extremist conservatism? Israel's demography will win over its democracy, and this can be changed only if liberal Jews make Aliyah, live in Israel, and receive an Israeli ID with which they could vote in the next elections.
While Israel's liberal camp had attempted to safeguard its democracy, it can't compete with the demographic growth of the conservative camp, which has more children than them and will continue to do so.
Israel's ultra-Orthodox community is expected to double in size in the next 23 years. No other sector could compete with such numbers, and no political act can stop it – only a massive Aliyah wave of liberal Jews could do so.
Israel's ultra-Orthodox community is expected to double in size in the next 23 years. No other sector could compete with such numbers – only a massive Aliyah wave of liberal Jews could do so
U.S. Jewry shaking off their responsibility for internal events in Israel is not only irresponsible, but also dangerous. The basis that stood in Israel's founding after the Holocaust is for it to become a safe and democratic haven for every Jew – a haven that is now in danger.
Prof. Moshe Koppel, chairman and founder of the Kohelet Policy Forum, a conservative think tank widely credited with masterminding the government's judicial reform plan, already said so himself: "The demographics are obvious, the right is getting stronger. If the judicial reform won't happen this time, it will happen in two years."
Diaspora Jews can make a difference
Israel's conservative demographics will be the ruin of its democracy. Such a threat can’t be dealt with using well-written letters in English.
Israel's Jewish mindset dictates that we should allow every Jew to be themselves wherever they wish, and so we shouldn’t call on Diaspora Jewry to make Aliyah if they don't wish to. But this mindset was formed when Israel was a powerful democratic and economic player that stunned the world and made all Jews proud.
The pillars upon which these ideas were formed are crumbling before our eyes, and so we can't let these ideas guide us now when the situation is completely different.
Right now, the call on Diaspora Jews to make Aliyah and get an Israeli ID is critical. They could come and change policies that liberal Jews have been complaining about for years. To make a difference over petitioning on the Internet.
The Aliyah process for an American Jew is relatively simple. You don't need much, only to truly love Israel. The results could be lifesaving and even historical. Some 250,000 liberal American Jews who can vote are sure to have a great impact.
It's time for U.S. Jewry to take initiative and grab the future of the Jewish people in both hands, just as they would have if they were facing an existential threat. There's no reason for them to be staring at Israel's approaching crash without doing anything to stop it.