Editor's Letter

Israeli Enlightenment

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the spotlight like they should. For example, few American
Jews know that the Intel chip in their computer probably
was made in Kiryat Gat. Intel Corp.'s Dec. 1 announcement
that it will invest $3.5 billion in expansion plans there
represents the largest investment ever made by an indus-
trial company in Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Binah's take on politics stirred me. "I didn't see the
same kind of animated debate in the U.S. with regard to
the Gaza disengagement as compared to the fierce debate
that went on during the last Month of Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin's life over the question of the peace process
at the time," Binah said.
It's my feeling that in 1995, American Jews were more
caught up emotionally in Israel. There's a malaise today
that we must not ignore. American Jews visit Israel more
to become closer to the biblical land and their spirituality
than . to . sway Israel's political and cultural life. But it's not

Our collective assimilated

comfort blinds us to the

depth of Israel's despair

and our unshakeable

connection to Eretz Yisrael,

the land of Israel.

wrong for diaspora Jews to help shape their ancestral
homeland.
On Dec. 1, three days after greeting Barukh Binah, I met
an equally enlightening Israeli: Yonatan Reches, 21. He's
the Israel Defense Forces commanding officer of a platoon
of volunteer anti-terror paratroopers. He spoke at the IDF
Musical Ensemble concert hosted by Michigan Friends of
the IDF at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
Reches spoke about the bond uniting Michigan Jewry
and the soldiers. "Your support makes our difficult task a
little easier by providing us with much-needed rest and
recreation opportunities — and by helping soldiers in
need," he said.
He added: "I miss my soldiers and worry about them.
And I will send them the love you showed us tonight. They
greatly need it."
The week underscored for me why Israel matters to
American Jews — more than ever.

❑

PO INT S TO PO ND ER.

merican Jews look to Israel for
cultural, educational and spir-
itual expressions that invigor-
ate our Jewish identity and remind us
that we're part of a people. So can it be
that Israel needs us more than we
need Israel?
Israel's new Midwest-based consul
general, Barukh Binah, thinks so. I
Robert A. Sklar think I know why.
While Israel battles Palestinian ter-
Editor
ror on its home front, it faces the task
of fighting anti-Zionism in America, especially on univer-
sity campuses. From 6,000 miles away, Israel cannot possi-
bly confront its vilification in American academia. It can-
not possibly counter the anti-Zionists, led by Jew-hating
Arabs, who challenge Israel's legitimacy as the Jewish
state. It must rely on us. Jews
who choose to demonize
Israel exacerbate our prob-
lem.
This came clear as I spoke
with the Chicago-based con-
sul general in the Southfield
offices of the Detroit Jewish
News. He has been part of
Israel's Foreign Service team
since 1979. At a Nov. 28
meeting arranged by the
Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit,
Binah first set the record
straight on European Jews, an Yonatan Reches, 21, at
Shaarey Zedek: Mature
alarming number of whom
beyond his years.
are asking "whether the
Israeli experiment was a good
experiment or whether we
should just abolish the experiment!'
In contrast, he said, American Jews not only defend
Israel's existence, but also are best positioned to "combat
those who vilify Israel" and to "promote what is so inter-
esting about Israel."
Yes, we do some of both, but not nearly enough. Our col-
lective assimilated comfort blinds us to the depth of
Israel's despair and our unshakeable connection to Eretz
Yisrael, the land of Israel.
Travel to Israel is up, thanks to the weakening of
Palestinian terror as well as the success of organized visits
like Federation missions and Birthright young-adult trips.
But relations also are warming because there's height-
ened understanding of the American Jewish community
within Israel. More Americans are making aliyah, but
necessity also comes into play. Israel would be alone, sur-
rounded by terrorists and Jew haters, without our encour-
agement and support.
The Internet has been helpful, too. Americans can read
English versions of the Israeli press and converse more
easily with Israelis on everything from archaeology to
recipes. "On the whole," Binah said, "there is a better
knowledge of what's going on in Israel among Americans,
a greater amount of identification."
Israel's high-tech advances, however, haven't grabbed

How pivotal is Israel in your view of
Jewish life?

Should diaspora Jews try to influence
Israeli life?

E-mail letters to:
letters@thejewishnews.com .

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December 15 • 2005

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