consistent marching orders
from Israel.
In meetings with regional
leaders, Rabbi Epstein found
people" want to be supportive
but are totally bewildered."
Washington/ITA
With so much uncertainty as
A mid politically volatile situations in
to how things will shake out in
Israel and the United States, the
Israel, few participants could say
White House is asking Congress to sup-
whether the renewed intensity of
port an additional aid package to Israel
the relationship between North
worth $450 million.
American Jewry and Israel por-
Under different circumstances, the
tends a lasting shift or simply a
request, mainly intended to assist Israel
temporary response to a crisis.
with the financial burden associated
Although saddened by the
with its withdrawal from Lebanon over
problems in Israel and the fact
the summer, might have been routine.
that it took attention away from
But depending on who becomes the
domestic concerns, Nancy
next U.S. president and the status of the
Kaufman, the executive director
crisis in the Middle East, the aid pack-
of Boston's Jewish community
age might get more scrutiny when
relations council, described the
Congress reconvenes for a lame-duck
tensions as a "wake-up call" to
session in December.
American Jews.
The package also includes an addi-
Before the crisis in Israel , said
tional $225 million in military funds for
Kaufman, "many members of
Egypt, and $25 million in military funds
the community were not
and $50 million in economic funds for
focused on Israel at all."
Jordan.
Boston now plans to focus on
The request for supplemental aid is
Jewish-Arab coexistence within
separate from the $3 billion in aid to
Israel, through its Partnership
Israel, including $1.98 billion in mili-
2000 relationship with Haifa, a
tary and $840 million in economic
city known for its mixed
funds, that Congress approved last
Jewish-Arab population.
month as part of the $14.9 billion for-
Indeed, a surge of interest in
eign operations bill.
Israeli Arabs — who shocked
But beyond the annual aid package,
many Jews when they held their
President Bill Clinton is, according to
own protests against the Jewish
administration officials, intent on mak-
state in recent weeks — was evi-
ing good on a promise to Israeli Prime
dent in two well-attended ses-
Minister Ehud Barak, who wants to
sions on Jewish-Arab coexistence.
have something to show for his peace-
Many participants said that
making efforts, especially given his
just as it did not pre-empt all
unstable government. ❑
the other sessions on the GA
program, Israel will not crowd
out work on Jewish identity
rally to Israel's side, she said.
building and education. Some noted
David Winer, a 38 year old
that, without focusing on Jewish
Chicago attorney who was volun-
continuity and renaissance, there
teering at the GA, noted the con-
will be few American Jews left in
trast between the involved GA par-
future years to rally in support of
ticipants and most of his Jewish
Israel.
peers.
Perhaps reflecting these dual con-
Many of his Jewish friends, he said,
cerns, Birthright Israel, the partner-
have no idea even who the key politi-
ship between private funders, the
cal players are in Israel or which coun-
federations and the Israeli govern-
tries border the Jewish state.
ment that sends young Jews on free
A few weeks ago, he said, he
Israel trips, was mentioned frequent-
decided to make a small show of sol-
ly and favorably in speeches
idarity by putting a sticker with the
throughout the assembly.
Hebrew acronym for the Israel
Judy Eichhorn, assistant director
Defense Forces, Zahal, on his note-
of the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation
book and showing it to his Jewish
in Wichita, said that many young
colleagues.
American Jews are not supporting
None of his colleagues could read
Israel now because they "weren't very
the Hebrew. "Most didn't know what
connected to begin with." And with
it said and when I explained it, they
negative images of Israel in the
still didn't know what it is," Winer
media, they cannot be counted on to
said. ❑

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tIN

11/17

2000

