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Activities
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American Jewry: Tendencies and Challenges
Professor Steven Cohen: We need to put an emphasis on three main points: A. The Jewish American community is stronger, really, than its image here. B. There is serious concern regarding the decline of ethnical and collective aspects of American-Jewish identity. C. We must seriously consider the projections of these tendencies on the relationship of American Jewry with Israel and with world Jewry. In general, people are aware of the research on the increasing number of mixed marriages, and on the low fertility rates of Jewish families in the United States . But we must also keep in mind different facts and tendencies that are much more encouraging. Focusing on the political arena, American Jews have achieved all four targets that they wished to obtain: bipartisan support for Israel ; Jewish immigration from the former Soviet Union ; dissemination of knowledge on the Holocaust and antisemitism; and anti-Jewish discrimination no longer exists in the States. In relation to religion, you can find widespread and deeper observance in all the denominations (Orthodox, Conservative and Reform). We can see the progress and influence of the Jewish Feminist Movement within the community and in the surrounding society. Today, there are more Jewish educational institutions than ever before (from kindergarten to institutes of higher education). Adult education is also expanding, and there are several competing institutions in this area. An extensive number of books are being published on a wide range of Jewish topics. Today, the cardinal problem of American Jewry relates to collective and ethnic aspects. There are more mixed marriages. In addition, the individual Jew has less Jewish friends, less Jewish neighbors; he/she works more with non-Jews than Jews. Enrollment in Jewish institutes keeps decreasing, and at the same time the average age is increasing. An older person, even one who has never been to Israel , is likely to identify with Israel . But a younger one, especially if s/he has never visited the Jewish State, has a problem identifying and supporting Israel . Several factors account for these phenomena: First is the spreading of voluntarism in American society. Your participation in institutions or public life depends only on your will. Second and related to this, more and more people want to be autonomous when it comes to religion and other social and private commitments. Third, the growing trend toward individualism that brings about a growing use of one's own personal definition of Judaism and of good and bad. Fourth, one chooses to run one's life, disregarding community norms, adopting an attitude of live and let live. In this atmosphere, the contact between individual Jews is diminishing; so is his/her relation to Israel , to the Jewish people in general, and to all the local Jewish institutions. We are now living in one of the most difficult periods in history. The only certainty is the uncertainty. This forum is important in a world with an over-abundance of information. We, the Jewish people, are particularly special in our approach to history. More than we read history, we live it. We have to examine history in order to learn for the future. For example, in the Passover ceremony and on Holocaust Remembrance Day the emphasis is placed on the word zachor — remember! We, as a people, have a comprehensive integrative vision. Twelve years ago, we warned against Islamic fundamentalism and also warned against Sadam Hussein before his invasion of Kuwait . Today the world understands that this struggle affects them or that they are part of it. The ideology of Islamic fundamentalism is a Nazi ideology. The struggle against it is vital to defining the character of the twenty-first century. Today, the United States , including its Jewish community, sees itself in the forefront of the struggle that they are now confronting. To confront this wasting disease, we must take the initiative; we must act and not only react. (This, in fact, is what the president of the United States is doing as the leader of the only world super power today.) And from this vantage point, I would like to consider what is termed the political power of American Jewry. However, we should realize that mentioning this fact brings unease to the American Jewish community. If this Jewish political power is used intelligently, you can build on it; however should you misuse it, you may end up destroying it. On the whole, Americans do not interest themselves in matters of foreign policy beyond their percentage in the population. This is as a result of the democratic regime in the United States . Whenever I am interviewed, regardless of what the topic may be, the question of the Jewish Lobby is always raised. To our good fortune, today — unlike in the past (for example during World War II) — we have the opportunity to influence. Throughout the world, we are perceived as having power; therefore we are obliged to use it intelligently. Our influence is felt both in Congress and in the administration. The present administration is friendly to us. President Bush is committed to Israel by virtue of religious ties, and his struggle against terror is absolute. Two years ago, no one would have believed that such strong ties toward Israel would have developed. During my current stay in Israel , I visited a patriot battery and felt the mutual commitment of Israel and the United States to each other. Moreover, the present Congress, of course, is warmly supportive of Israel , and we could not have wished for anything better. Though many members of the Congress were born after the Holocaust, they are even more supportive of Israel than previous Congresses. 88 senators and 370 representatives signed letters declaring their concern with the principles of the Road Map. They did this in order to give expression to the consideration and arguments that they believe in, as representatives of the American people and not as an expression of the pressure of the Jewish Lobby. More than two-thirds of the American people support us today. Despite the distortions of the media, five Americans are pro-Israel for every one that is pro-Palestinian. Politicians from both parties compete for the Jewish vote, as the Jews will support the candidate of their choice regardless of the symbol of his party. The Christian community also identifies itself with Israel , and more than 200,000 took part in a demonstration in Washington supporting Israel . This was one of the largest demonstrations ever held in the United States . Unfortunately Israeli journalists did not come to cover the demonstration, and the rally was almost ignored by the Israeli press. The Jewish community in the United States is not monolithic and was never so. I believe that this fact is the secret of its power. The Jewish community understands that it must unify at times of need, despite its heterogeneous character. From the time of the revelation on Mount Sinai we, the Jewish people, have been able to overcome when we maintain our unity, since the whole is always stronger than the parts that comprise it…The Jewish people are like an orchestra: not all are required to play on the same instrument; however we should all play in tandem so that the music will be pleasing to the ear. We can overcome the dangers of anti-Semitism, Islamic fundamentalism, and terror when we are united. We in the Unites States have faced difficult struggles on behalf of the Jews in the former Soviet Union , Ethiopian Jewry, and others. Over the last few years, we have learned from past experiences and there is no other community in the world that can compete with us on this issue. When we Jews stand together, we are a force that has to be contended with. We try to bring to the Jewish communities of the world what we have learned in the United States . Despite our strength and influence, we have many problems; for instance, the demographic problem. We have close to a million single Jews who are about to be married, and we have still not found the solution to the assimilation problem. In some of the communities, the population is aging. Indifference and ignorance in some of the communities place before us the greatest challenge that must be met. In regard to the future, I have no doubt concerning the task that we must fulfill on behalf of the Jewish people. We, the Jews of the Diaspora, do not participate greatly in the budget of Israel . Furthermore, our children do not serve in the Israeli army. But we have brought Israel our political, moral, and financial support. However, it is our responsibility to provide additional resources to answer the needs of the State of Israel. When Joshua handed over the leadership, his words were: chazak ve'ematz —be strong and courageous. He was not referring to physical strength, but to moral convictions and the strength to carry out his just principles. This is a time when our courage and principles are being tested (these are the times that try a man's soul). Our leaders must recognize their responsibility to the Jewish people. I am convinced that the next generation will look upon us gratefully for endowing them with a better world. But this can only be achieved if we will carry out the burdens that have been placed upon us. Summary of the Discussion Q - What has to be done in order to attract 500,000 Jews from West Europe and North America—namely the Jews from developed countries who are supposed to constitute a respectable part of the declared objective—which the honorable president referred to—of bringing 1,000,000 Jews to Israel over the next ten years? A - Prof. Steven Cohen responds that we have to take into account the fact that most of those who made aliyah from the West had previously been to Israel and their visits were relatively long. Consequently, a decline in the number and length of visits is liable to directly hinder aliyah from the West. We may thus conclude that it is incumbent upon the State of Israel to support programs such as Taglit that encourage youngsters to visit Israel. Q - The next question is directed at Mr. Honlein: How is that your organization promotes people who don’t have a house in Israel or even a child or grandchild living here to key positions? A - Mr. Honlein responds that aliyah must be viewed as a positive endeavor—a manifestation of a desire to live in Israel—and not merely an escape from anti-Semitism or some other hardship. He takes pride in the fact that today many of the senior members of the Conference of Presidents do, in fact, own property in Israel or have children and/or grandchildren who either live here or take part in various programs that encourage trips to Israel. That said, we definitely have to place a greater emphasis on promoting aliyah, but this is no simple task. Q - It is true that some Israelis have publicly declared that Israel doesn’t need the money of American Jews and have even proposed shutting down the Jewish Agency. Some have even gone so far as to say that, “We are only interested in you if you make aliyah.” However, these are the views of a small minority. In fact, most Israelis see themselves as having a shared destiny with their brethren in the Diaspora and take an interest in what is going on in their communities. How, then, can we strengthen the Jewish component of our identity—both here in Israel and among the Jews of the Diaspora—in a manner that accords with the existential circumstances that prevail throughout the Jewish world? A - The Jews in the United States tend to contribute to three different objectives: the greater good of mankind, Jewish education, and Israel. Obviously, irresponsible talk of how ‘we don’t need your money’ causes Jews to prefer other causes. At best, the spurned donors will contribute to local Jewish philanthropies, but much of the money will also reach non-Jewish, general causes. Q - How has the accident known as the Road Map fallen upon us during an administration that is headed by such a close friend of Israel as President George Bush,? What do they hope to achieve by means of this plan? A - Mr. Honlein answers that this is indeed a very complicated question. It is true that 88 senators and 370 members of the House of Representatives issued a joint declaration expressing their deep concern over the initiative. Moreover, it is less than accurate to say that we, the Conference of Presidents, automatically side with the policies of every Israeli government. Let’s put it this way: we are very worried about Israel’s well-being. God forbid that Israel should be forced to enter negotiations against its will... For its part, Israel has submitted fourteen reservations to the plan, and this constitutes a basis for cooperation. That said, we would be hard pressed to engage in a frontal assault against a plan that the president of the United States has personally endorsed. It goes without saying that we must all unite around the positive, such as the president’s insistence that first of all the Palestinians must first renounce all forms of terrorism. Q - What is being done to help Jewish youth and students cope with the anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish biases that currently exist on the American campus? A - Mr. Honlein answers that much is being done to bolster the P.R. effort on campus and distribute information about Israel. For example, the Conference of Presidents publishes a weekly called The Israeli Campus Beat, which thousands of students have subscribed to. In addition, programs have been opened in high schools, as the leadership has come to the realization that if we wait until our children reach the university then ‘we have missed the train.’ Although the leadership has had certain difficulties conveying our messages to the Jewish, liberal left, there is absolutely no rupture between the organized Jewish community and the Jews in the academe. Q - In essence, Prof. Cohen and Mr. Honlein have presented contradictory theses. How can Jewish unity be strengthened when we encourage pluralism? On the other hand, given the rampant assimilation among the Jews of the Diaspora, isn’t it essential that the community allow every group and every individual to express their views? A - Mr. Honlein does not think that he and Prof. Cohen are at odds. We must create opportunities for the manifold opinions to be expressed within the communities; however we must also maintain a united front towards the outside world. Obviously, we can not brook incidents of internal enmity or an acute intensification of the disagreements within the community, for we are in a situation in which we will either swim together or drown alone. Prof. Cohen agrees that he and Mr. Honlein are on the same wavelength, as he also believes that the Jewish community must evince a united front towards the outside, while leaving ample space for a wide array of opinions within. Q - Prof. Cohen described the expansion of Jewish Education in the United States. How does this wash with the incessant rise in mixed marriages? A - Today, there are over five million Jews in the United States, but only about a million are ‘active’ Jews—those who in essence make Jewish history. In fact, the number of active Jews—people who attend Jewish education networks, buy Jewish books, etc—has risen over the past few years, while the Jewish periphery has correspondingly declined. With regard to mixed marriages, every form of Jewish education, including weekly study sessions, helps us whittle away at the intermarriage rate. Therefore, the question is how to get more Jewish children and young adults involved in Jewish educational frameworks. Although it is true that there are forces working in different and contradictory directions, our job is to bolster those forces that are endeavoring to strengthen Jewish education.
On his missions abroad, the president has learned that on occasion great influence and power is attributed to the Jewish lobby in America and to the State of Israel. In addition, the French foreign minister recently told him that there are five million Muslims living in France . There is no doubt that this fact has a tremendous influence on French and European attitudes towards the Jewish people. Notwithstanding the comments of a couple of Israeli leaders, there is no doubt that we owe a great debt to the American Jewish community and the United States for its political and economic support. American Jewry is obligated to express its opinion concerning matters in Israel that in their opinion are important to them; however, under no circumstances do they have the right to wage a campaign against Israel . This right is reserved solely for the citizens of Israel . American Jews are experiencing both positive and negative trends, of which Prof. Steven Cohen has spoken. Many American Jews are distancing themselves from Israel , but on the other hand many consider Israel to be one of the centers of Judaism and deeply identify with it. We would like to see the two-thirds of American Jewry who have distanced themselves from Israel come closer and express their opinions on matters of mutual concern. This is important to us, for American Jewry and Israel together account for 80% of the Jewish People, and there is no doubt that the continuity of the Jewish people depends on them. Today, a new, young generation that did not face the formative events that shaped twentieth century Jewish history— the Holocaust, the War of Independence, the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War — are assuming the leadership. The current state of affairs and the globalization process have forged a third generation quite different than its predecessors in their attitude towards Judaism and the State of Israel. Once again, I wish to discuss the issue of aliyah . Since its establishment, the State of Israel has successfully absorbed three extensive waves of immigration: the aliyah of the she'erit ha'pleta from post-World War II Europe; the immigration from the Islamic countries during the first decade of independence ; and the immigration from the former Soviet Union in the nineties. The desirable aliyah , the fourth wave from the western countries, has yet to begin. This aliyah will certainly have a strong influence on the economy, as well as on social, technological, and scientific aspects. I do not accept the view that we have to attract Western Jewry to Israel by means of material benefits, as in these aspects we cannot compete with the societies in which they are currently living. Our economic and security problems, as well as other difficulties that we face, are incomparably greater than what they are familiar with. Unfortunately, neither the Israeli government nor the Jewish Agency is prepared to handle this historical challenge. The declared goal of one million immigrants ( olim ) from the West is a challenge that we can take on and carry out by placing the Zionist vision and belief before the Jews of the West. We must realize that these Jews are not ambivalent to the emotional and intellectual challenges that we present to them. In the 1950s, the Jews of the West, including the United States , viewed Israel as a shelter for Jewish refugees. Today, Israel is considered by both Jews and non-Jews alike to be an advanced nation with strong capabilities in the fields of science and technology. We can obviously hold conferences on issues of religion and state and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jews from Western countries will bring their views on these issues, and we, the Israelis, will express our views in the fields of education, assimilation, and so forth. I suggest that the topic of aliyah be placed on the agenda of each American Jew, but neither in an aggressive nor formal manner (currently the Israeli leadership hardly mentions it). American Jews can consider aliyah without undermining the legitimacy of Jewish communal life in the United States . 55 years after the founding of the State of Israel, we are entitled to request this of American Jewry, given the national Jewish interests at stake . The American Jewish community should become our partners in building the State of Israel. The National Institutions [the Jewish Agency, United Israel Appeal, and the Jewish National Fund] and the State of Israel must find the way to promote this theme, this vital dialogue. |
