The creation of the State of Israel in 1948, fulfilled a dream of Jews worldwide as expressed at Passover as “next year in Jerusalem” and the ideas articulated by Theodor Herzl in August 1887 at the founding of the First Zionist Congress. With worldwide Jewry of nearly 15 million split almost half in Israel, and the rest scattered around the world in the Diaspora (with the bulk in the USA), we need to understand the connections, benefits and conflicts. (See: World Jewish Population)
Israel is a source of both pride and frustration to both Diaspora and Israeli Jews. Diaspora Jews experience a variety of styles and intensity of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in different places, driving quite a few to emigrate to Israel (over 30,000 came to Israel in 2019 but some 14,000 others left Israel). With the advent of Israel, anti-semitism is now conveniently cloaked in (an allegedly more respectable) anti-Zionism. Despite the large number of Jews of color or from Arab lands, the concept of intersectionality and its ties to BDS has created a real dilemma for progressive Jews.
Israel and Jews have made disproportionate and influential contributions to science and medicine. Over the last 2000 years (Diaspora) Jews have evolved different religious and secular practices and traditions, and are often frustrated by Israel’s approach and lack of respect to different strains of religions, and its treatment of its (non-Jewish) citizens and neighbors.
Since Israel is surrounded by implacable Muslim foes, it has adopted methods of defense and politics that upset people who think Israel should be better, perhaps even better than other nations.
These concerns reflect two hopes kindled in 1948: Israel as a secure haven and Israel as an ideal society, and are best reflected in perspectives dubbed Guardians and Prophets.
Guardians care about the security of Israel and Jews, preservation of life and traditions. The establishment of Israel as a strong sovereign nation and home for the Jews on the world stage after some 2000 years of minority status in multiple countries has increased Jewish security, but sometimes triggers new forms of anti-Jewish feelings and behavior.
Prophets want Israel and the Jews to be a light unto the nations, to be forward looking in evolving policies and practices, to be kind and tolerant of others. They want different traditions to be respected, celebrated and evolved.
Rabbi David Cooper of Piedmont’s Kehilla Community Synagogue has called them the Guardians and the Prophets. As Dan Pine said of Rabbi David Cooper, “Partisans either critical or supportive of Israel may have Israel’s best interests in mind. They just come at it from two different perspectives, each within parallel Jewish traditions. The Guardians tend to defend Israel at all costs, seeing it as under attack from the Muslim world, the left and a hostile media. The Prophets tend to rail against injustice as did the biblical prophets of old. In particular they speak out against Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.”
Both Guardians and Prophets want Israel to live in peace with its neighbors and be respected on the world stage, both for security and for the right way to be. Many individuals grapple with the inconsistencies and conflict between the Guardian and Prophet impulses, and how to reconcile them.
The Diaspora needs a strong and resilient Israel because at the very least it is a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution, and a place one can experience being Jewish in a vibrant way without being a minority. Israel needs a strong and supportive Diaspora and non-Jewish friends, to help provide Israel with additional resources and continuous push on Israel to overcome the deleterious actions and policies that have evolved during the many years of conflict.
Sunday, June 14, 2020, 11am - Israel as an Apartheid State? A South African Perspective - Olga Meshoe-Washington
Sunday, July 12, 2020, 11am - Explaining Israel - A Top Tour Guide Deals with Complex Reality - Julian Resnick
Sunday, August 16, 2020, 11am - What is going on in Israel? Current events and policies - Matan Zamir
Sunday, October 11, 2020, 11am - Ethnic Studies and the Jewish Caucus - Marc Berman
Sunday Nov 8, 2020, 11am. Zoom talk by Matan Zamir, Deputy Consul General of Israel, The Abraham Accords and prospects for Peace in the Middle East
Sunday Jan 31, 2021, 11am. Zoom talk by Amir Kashfi and Rachel Wallace, IsraAID, Israel Helps the World: IsraAID's Humanitarian Projects
Sunday Feb 21, 2021, 11am. Zoom talk by Max Samarov, StandWithUs, StandWithUs: What are our Jewish Children Confronting in School and College?
Sunday Mar 21, 2021, 11am. Zoom talk by Noa Zer, AICAT. Ensuring Water and Food Security During this Global Crisis
Sunday Apr 18, 2021, 11am. Zoom talk by Dr. Norbert Goldfield. Healing Across The Divides