`My Israel'
Intifada tests pro-Israel feelings, however U.S. Jews define it.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series on the
changing relationship between Israelis and American
Jewry.
Baltimore
very week, Sheldon Berman distributes an e-
mail compilation of "must-read" articles and
commentaries about Israel from a variety of
media outlets around the world.
"Everybody's inundated with stuff to read," the
Baltimore accountant said recently from behind his
cluttered desk. "I try to keep it to 10 pages."
Berman began distributing his e-mail newsletter
about three years ago, when he and other members of
his synagogue, the Orthodox Toras Chaim, decided
they needed to take steps to educate their 260 member
families about events in Israel.
Just what does it mean to be pro-Israel in America
today? How do American Jews express their ties to
Israel?
The questions take on added significance at times of
crisis in the Jewish state, and the answers go a long way
in reflecting the relationship between American Jews
and Israel.
The American Jewish Committee's 2003 Survey of
American Jewish Opinion found that 74 percent of
respondents feel very close or fairly close to Israel, and
76 percent agree that "caring about Israel is a very
important part of my being a Jew."
A significant 63 percent said they believe they should
support the positions of Israel's elected government
even if they disagree with them.
But beyond survey numbers are the actions taken.
One measure of support for Israel is a visit or long-
term stay. Berman has visited five times in the 3 1/2years
since the Palestinian intifada began. Next year, his son
will study in an Israeli yeshiva.
According to Brandeis University Professor Jonathan
Sarna, Berman is fairly typical of the Orthodox com-
munity. "There is a huge difference between the
Orthodox community and others," Sarna said. "The
Orthodox have by and large continued to go to Israel
and to send their children to Israel."
Rabbi Barry Block of the Reform Temple Beth-El in
San Antonio, Texas, said his congregants are very inter-
ested in Israel. Though they had shied away from Israel
travel following the collapse of the peace process in late
2000, now "we're back — with a lot of excitement."
This summer, six of his young congregants are going
to Israel with the Reform movement's National
Federation of Temple Youth. That's the same number
that went in 2000, before the intifada began. Another
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"Almost no one talks about Israel," said Gerald Bubis, a
prominent figure in left-of-center pro-Israel groups in
Los Angeles. "Far more people just are not interested in
Israel today because it is just too painful for them. I see
it in intangible ways."
As an example, he cited the charities chosen by chil-
Disagreeing
If resuming travel to Israel is a sign that Jews are adjust- dren at their bar mitzvahs. In years past, many children
asked that gifts be made to Israel-related charities, he
ing to the new reality of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian
said, but today he sees many more choosing local caus-
conflict, then a return of dissent and disagreement is
es.
another indicator.
Still, in recent months, Bubis has noticed something
Observers say that like Israelis, many American Jews
of
a resurgence of left-of-center voices in his communi-
who care about Israel but disagree with the govern-
ty. Attendance has increased at programs sponsored by
ment's policies felt compelled to keep quiet during the
the local Peace Now chapter and the Progressive Jewish
early part of the intifada, when Israel was under con-
Alliance, which promotes left-of-center views on Israel.
stant attack. But recent stirrings on the political left
In the small Jewish community of Eugene, Ore.,
show that the limits of silence are being reached in
Rabbi
Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin watched with alarm
Israel, and American Jews who disagree with Israeli
as congregants' discussions about Israel became increas-
policy — or are supporting Prime Minister Ariel
ingly heated. The rabbi initiated the creation of a
Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza — also are
Jewish community relations council, hoping it would
speaking up.
serve as a tool for internal discussions and formulation
"There's more than one way to be pro-Israel," said
of consensus views. But it hasn't always worked as
Steve Masters, 44, a Philadelphia lawyer who was a
intended.
founder of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, which describes itself
Some members of the community have dropped out
as a pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-human rights organi-
of the JCRC or declined to join at all because they
zation.
feared it had a left-wing bent. Others have stayed away
Since its founding in April 2002, Brit Tzedek has
for the opposite reason, fearing it toes the Israeli gov-
advocated dismantling Israeli settlements in the West
ernment line.
Bank and Gaza Strip and pushing Israel's leaders to be
Recently, JCRC members planned to write an opin-
more forthcoming in peace negotiations.
ion column about Israel's West Bank security barrier
When Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met
for the local newspaper. When they couldn't agree on a
President Bush in Washington last month, Brit Tzedek
delivered to the two leaders a petition signed by 10,000 position even after lengthy debate, the op-ed was
shelved, and they turned their attention to issues on
American Jews calling for the Israeli government to
which they could agree, such as working with local
offer financial incentives to settlers who relocate into
schools to create a Middle East curriculum free of bias.
Israel proper.
Masters maintains that the group's positions are
embraced by many Israelis. "I distinguish between sup-
Other Issues
port for Israel and support for Israel's government," he
The
disagreements in a small community like Eugene
said.
seem tame compared to the scene in San Francisco.
Another founder of Brit Tzedek, Marcia Freedman
The director of the region's JCRC, Doug Kahn, noted
of Berkeley, Calif., accuses the organized Jewish com-
that thousands of local Jews can be counted on to
munity of stifling dissent on Israel. She says the old
mobilize
around Israel-related issues, but he is worried
joke about two Jews having three opinions is no longer
by
the
large
number who simply have "moved on" to
accurate. "Now you get 10 Jews, one allowed opinion.
other issues or causes.
Everything else is traitorous," she said.
He said the collapse of the Israeli left has caused
"It's intimidating to be told, 'You're threatening Israel
many on the left in his community to step back from
by saying that.' If you're told that what you're saying is
their pro-Israel activities. "It has been a challenge to
dangerous, you start being quiet."
keep
them engaged," Kahn said, adding that a relative-
Some community leaders have dismissed such gripes
ly
small
number have become pro-Palestinian activists.
as unfounded, arguing that there simply are fewer dis-
The real problem is long-term, he said, and it didn't
senting voices because so many American Jews per-
start in the last few years: He points to the 1982
ceived that even Israel's most generous peace offers
Lebanon War as the beginning of a period in which
elicited a belligerent Arab response.
many American Jews grew disillusioned with Israel.
Some Jews seem to be simply turning away from
Israel rather than wrestling with the difficult issues.
congregant is going to Israel on a high school study
program. Last year none went, and the previous year
there was only one.
CARL SCHRAG
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
.