Published: 18 September 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES when my comments have resulted in controversy and harsh criticism. But nothing prepared me for the reaction I received to an idea I recently put forward to the Knesset. I proposed that Israel assist Jewish educational institutions around the world during the Covid-19 crisis.
One of my arguments was that Jewish education was the best investment in the future of the Jewish people and an antidote against assimilation.
I received thousands of angry responses on social media. From the Right, there was anger at the idea of spending Israeli taxpayers’ money for endeavours that do not serve Israeli citizens. “The door is open,” one critic wrote. “Whoever wants help should move to Israel”.
From the Left, there was anger at the notion that assimilation was a problem. From all directions, I was criticised for suggesting this “luxury” while Israel is in the midst of one of its most difficult crises. I was accused of being detached, insensitive, you name it. Another critic quoted the classic Talmudic phrase: first take care of the poor in your own town.
I was surprised but not deterred. I regard Jews around the world as the poor of my town. As a feminist, for many years I used two last names, my maiden name and my husband’s surname. Similarly, I have two family names: Jewish and Israeli. I am part of Israeli society, now serving as a legislator, and I am also part of the Jewish people.
There is no contradiction. And I stand by my proposal. Israel can and should dedicate at least one per cent of its budget for the fight against the pandemic by assisting Jewish communities around the world. This should go beyond finances. We need to rethink relations between Israel and world Jewry.
As a resident of Jerusalem, I vividly recall the time when the Second Intifada was raging. The streets were empty. Buses became death traps, restaurants were blown up, hotels were empty and our economy was collapsing. We ground our teeth but continued with our lives. We were scared.
If we aspire to be the nation-state of the Jewish people, then the wellbeing, safety and future of the Jewish people is part of the deal
I remember how during that time, in 2003, the Jewish Federations of North America decided to hold their annual gathering, the General Assembly, in Jerusalem. Delegates filled Jerusalem’s hotels and one of the highlights was their march down an empty Jaffa Street. It was a statement: You are not alone, never. We are with you, and we are here.
I have a deep need to say the same today: You are not alone, never. We are with you. For many years you have supported us, now it is our turn. We are not doing you a favour; our wellbeing is tied to yours. If we aspire to be the nation-state of the Jewish people, then the wellbeing, safety and future of the Jewish people is part of the deal. There are no Israeli people. There are Jewish people with a right for self-determination in their ancestral land. Therefore, the ties to world Jewry are an essential part of Israel.
One of the first things I did as a new Member of Knesset was to propose a bill that requires all branches of government to consult with representatives of world Jewry in matters that pertain to Jewish life around the world. If we wish to build a relationship, it has to be mutual.
My proposed bill requires a larger conversation. We need to ask: what issues impact the lives of Jews around the world? On the one hand, there are security concerns in Israel and those are matters for Israelis. On the other, providing for amicable arrangements at the Western Wall is clearly a global Jewish matter.
Where do we draw the line? Once there is a consultation process, who do we consult with? Who is authorised to represent Jews around the world?
Unlike the heated responses of social media, I feel that in the Knesset there is a willingness for a renewed conversation on the relationship with world Jewry. I find allies for this process in almost all the parties, across the divide. Many members of Knesset understand that this issue is not a luxury, but rather a core necessity.
Not everybody agrees with me. One prominent MK told me he believed 10 per cent of Knesset members should come from the Diaspora. This is too radical for me as I am looking for a balance between Israel being a Jewish state and a democracy for all its citizens. Still, I am thrilled there is a conversation.
It is too early to tell how the pandemic will affect relations between Israel and world Jewry. When will we be able to travel again? Will the use of zoom and other technologies become an opportunity for the creation of encounters between people who have never met before? How will the strong connection that Jews have with their countries of domicile influence the sense of belonging to the Jewish people?
For the time that I will be in office, I am obliged to continue promoting the place of world Jewry in Israel’s public agenda, and to ensure that we use the pandemic as an opportunity to change and improve the way Israel deals with this subject.
For so many years, Israel has been the mission of the Jewish people. The time has come that the Jewish people will be Israel’s mission.
Illustration: Avi Katz
