OTHER VIEWS

Eroding Zionist Support

0

ne major political issue that,
unfortunately, has not shown up
on the Jewish political radar
screen that threatens the long-term well-
being of Israel is support for the Jewish
state in the diaspora, particularly in the
United States.
We seem to feel comfortable that Jews
living outside of Israel will generally
support it despite disagreements over
the internal politics — whether from
the left or right. But support for Israel
outside the country is eroding, and it's
not just because of politics that may be
too conservative or liberal for non-
Israelis. It is eroding because of intangi-
bles, i.e., passion for Israel and what the
Jewish homeland means historically to
the Jewish people.
A recent poll comparing support for
the Jewish state in 2002 as opposed to
2005 shows a very ominous downward
trend. Here are some numbers:
• Do you feel very emotionally
attached to Israel? 2002: 31 percent;

An author and former political reporter,
Berl Falbaum is now a Farmington
Hills public relations executive who
teaches journalism part time at Wayne
State University in Detroit.

2005: 28 percent.
• Do you closely follow recent news
about Israel? 2002: 74 percent; 2005:
65 percent.
• Do you talk about Israel frequently
with Jewish friends? 2002: 53 percent;
2005: 39 percent.
• Did you donate to an Israel-related
charity in the last 12 months? 2002: 49
percent; 2005: 40 percent.
• Do you plan to visit Israel in the
next three years? 2002: 12 percent;
2005: 15 percent.
The only figure showing an increase
concerns travel to Israel, but that does
not necessarily translate into support for
Israel. The reasons regarding travel may
have nothing to do with attachment to
the Jewish homeland.
The figures in the poll are very dis-
turbing, and there are no clear answers
how to stop this downward spiral.
Furthermore, as those who experi-
enced and witnessed the birth of Israel
age and pass on, the younger generation
does not share the passion for Israel for
a variety of reasons:
• They don't know its history or the
bloodshed that was spilled to build this
nation. (How many of those younger
than 30 know anything about Ezer
Weizman, the late Israeli president, who

Independence Day And Shabbat

Stamford Conn./JTA
srael became a state on the fifth of
Iyar 5708, or May 14, 1948. There
are few dates more identifiable to
Jews. Those who were alive will never
forget that fateful day, 57 years ago,
when Israel became a state. With Arab
armies amassed on its as-yet-undeclared
borders, with the British having sailed
from Haifa that morning, Israel's birth
could not have taken place under more
perilous conditions.
On that Friday afternoon, with the
long shadows signaling the imminent
arrival of Shabbat, David Ben-Gurion
entered the Tel Aviv Museum, met there
by invited guests plus a large number of
residents of Tel Aviv who had gotten
wind of the historic decision. By 6-4,
with three absent, the national executive
had approved the decision to declare a
state, even though members perceived
the nation's chances of survival as no
better than 50-50.

1

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman is spiritual
leader of Temple Beth El in Stamford,
Conn., and author of "thelordismyshep-
herdcom: Seeking God in Cyberspace."
His e-mail address is rabbi@tbe.org.

5/12
2005

42

Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of
Independence and it was signed by the
delegates of the Provisional State
Council. The ceremony lasted 32 min-
utes. The sun set; but Israelis could not
rest on this, the state's first Sabbath.
Armies from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt,
Transjordan and Iraq attacked at mid-
night, vowing to destroy the "Zionist
entity" within 10 days. But two weeks
later, the borders basically held; and
after a month-long truce the Israeli
counteroffensive began, leading to a
clear victory.
Understandably, Israelis typically
choose to toss the stress aside on this
Yom HaAtzmaut — Israel's
Independence Day — preferring to turn
the day into one humungous cookout.
Yes, the holiday is preceded immediately
by a Memorial Day far more meaning-
ful than America's, and yes, there are
nice patriotic touches to the day, like the
International Bible Quiz. But this year
at least, Yom HaAtzmaut must be more
of a day for reflection than pure,
unadulterated celebration.
The calendar gives us a perfect open-
ing to do just that. This year, the fifth of
Iyar falls precisely on May 14, for only
the second time since 1948. Not only

just died? How many know
ference. True, some return
who he was or care?)
from such trips wonderfully
• Usually, the younger gener-
moved, but sophisticated meas-
ation supports the "underdog"
urements have not been imple-
given its liberal politics, and
mented to gauge long-term
many see the Palestinian as the
results.
ones being abused.
It would be interesting to
• They don't know or care
know how many of those
that about Israel's historic bat-
BE RL
polled who indicated a lack of
tles or the fact that it had to
passion for Israel had visited
FALB AUM
fight against the entire Arab
the country on a mission spon-
Com munity
world in five wars.
sored by a Jewish organization.
Persp ective
• Many are totally assimilated
A skeptic might well ask:
in the United States, and simply
Why is support of U.S. Jews
don't view Israel as the home for Jews.
for Israel so important? Simple: It is
Thus, given the depressing trend
important because public officials
today, what can we expect in, let's say,
respond to issues they believe are vital to
20 or 50 years from now? It is almost
their constituents.
too sad to contemplate.
Washington has been supportive of
The decline is not just generational.
Israel since its birth — whether the
True, young people have become less
Democrats or Republicans were in
attached to Israel in the last decade or
power — and one of the major reasons
two and numbers exist to prove this
is that public officials recognize the
depressing point. But the pollsters
power of the Jewish voting bloc. Should
pointed out that the attachment to
they see an ebbing of support and pas-
Israel is not just a "generational thing,"
sion for Israel while the Arab political
which makes the numbers all the more
structure is becoming more sophisticat-
disturbing.
ed, powerful and aggressive — and it is
Jewish organizations have tried for
— the future of the U.S. foreign policy
years to strengthen the attachment to
toward Israel will change.
Israel with missions and such programs
It's not a question of whether it will
as Birthright Israel, which finances tours change if U.S. Jews become blase about
to Israel for college students.
Israel, but only when it will change.
However, it is not clear that these
Ominous. Disturbing. Sad. Very. E
programs have made or can make a dif-

that, but it falls on Shabbat.
dunes of Gaza, but fewer yet
Now I can understand the
are enamored at the sight of
potential conflicts Shabbat
Jews being forcibly evicted
would present for parades and
from their homes by a Jewish
cookouts; but this year of all
army, all for the sake of a secu-
years, we should keep May 14,
rity that remains as elusive as
Iyar 5 and Shabbat on the same
ever. There will be no national
page. Or, to quote the Torah
referendum on the withdraw-
RABBI JOSHUA al, but there must be a collec-
portion read on that Sabbath,
Ernor, which details the Jewish HAMMERMAN tive soul-searching in the face
Special
festival cycle and codifies the
of threats against Prime
rhythms of sacred time,
Commentary
Minister Sharon's life and
"These are the set times of the
cries of treason being hurled
Lord, the sacred occasions, which you
from all sides. There must be a national
shall celebrate each at its appointed
timeout.
time" (Leviticus 23:4).
Shabbat provides an opportunity to
Nothing is in there about cookouts or
reaffirm mutual interdependence rather
transferring commemorations to Thurs-
than national independence. We abstain
day. Perhaps Israel should do what
from dominion and disputation, replac-
America does with July 4. When it
ing them with coexistence and shalom
occurs on a weekend, we slap on a
bayit, peace in the home. "Six days a
Monday holiday to satisfy the unions,
week we seek to dominate the world,"
but we always celebrate "The Fourth"
wrote Abraham Joshua Heschel. "On
on the 4th. So Israel could declare the
the seventh day, we try to dominate the
prior Thursday "National Cookout
self"
Day," but keep Yom HaAtzmaut where
I don't know about the rest of the
it is. So what makes this year so worthy
Jewish world, but on that triply sacred
of a "Shabbat HaAtzmaut?"
Saturday in May, I'll be immersed in
Israel is now in the process of imple-
reflection — about my thirst for peace,
menting a decision almost as agonizing
my love for my neighbor and the mira-
as the one facing Ben-Gurion. Few
cle of my resurrected Jewish home-
Israelis have a great desire to cling to the
land.