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From: jay@allegra.UUCP (Jay Hyman)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Jews and Israel
Message-ID: <4973@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 15:53:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: allegra.4973
Posted: Wed Aug 21 15:53:54 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 13:37:33 EDT
References: <332@sol1.UUCP>
Reply-To: jay@allegra.UUCP (Jay Hyman)
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 80
Keywords: Israel, Zionism, South Africa
Summary: Get involved; don't just criticize.

In article <332@sol1.UUCP> s252@sol1.UUCP (Al Berg) writes:
>As Jews, what is our responsibility to the State of Israel?

Whatever responsibility your concept of Jewishness has impelled you to
accept.  There are ultra-Orthodox groups who feel it their responsibility
to do all in their power to bring about the demise of the State of
Israel.  There are those who feel that Judaism=morality and for whom
the State of Israel means absolutely nothing.  All are equally Jewish.
My response, however, is aimed at that portion of the Jewish people
who accept this basic Zionistic concept: that Israel is the Jewish
homeland, and as such, we are all connected to it in some way.
This, then, does imply some level of support.  Hence the question:

>To take it a step further, do we have the right to "oppose" policies of
>the State of Israel as non-Israelis?

As Jews who are not Israeli citizens, what should our reaction be
towards Israeli policies which we oppose?  The opposition is
undeniable - all humans have the "right" to feel as they wish - but
what can we do about it?  Citizens of a country can express their
dissatisfaction at the voting booths, but we do not have that outlet
available.  In fact, many Israelis would try to end this discussion
right there: you don't serve in the army; you don't live here; don't
try to tell us what to do.

This I can not accept.  As stated, I feel a part of Israel, and would
like that part to consist of more than watching from the sidelines.
So - what to do?

While American (and worldwide) Jews have no vote in Israel, we
certainly have financial clout.  Of course, I'm not suggesting that
anyone stop contributing; I am saying that our voice will be listened
to. There are organizational channels by which American Jewish leaders
communicate with Israeli leaders.  On an individual level letters and
telegrams to Israeli politicians may be just as effective as those
sent to Congressmen and Senators here.

In short, my point is that there are ways of communicating directly,
in the role of brethren, with the leaders who represent us in
Jerusalem.  There is, of course, another avenue for expressing
political opinions, and that is the American press.  This, I feel, is
not the appropriate forum for expressing opposition.  Criticizing
Israel in front of a third party (the American public) does not help
change Israeli policies; it only serves to create animosity and to add
fuel to the fires of Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism (the fine line
between them, if it exists, is seldom observed) which are so easily
ignited throughout the world.  Unfortunately, during Operation Peace
for Galilee, many American Jewish leaders did just this: they
criticized Israel and threatened withdrawal of support if Israel
didn't change their policies - in the American papers.  The New York
Times delighted in printing it; Israel was enraged to hear these
threats second hand.

If you don't like the policies of a group to which you belong, you
have two valid options: a) Quit the group (and condemn it if you wish)
b) Try to change it from inside.
To continue your membership in the group while badmouthing it to
others is a hypocritical and futile attempt to assuage your feelings
of guilt.

Thus, my answer to the question, given that one still feels a
connection to Israel, is: either get involved and try to change what
you don't like, or keep your mouth shut.


>As Jews, is it our first responsibility to oppose the unjust regime of
>apartheid and all countries who are a party to it *or* to stand by the
>policies of the State of Israel?

I agree with a previous respondent that the premise of the question is
somewhat misleading.  While Israel does have a decent relationship
with South Africa, its level of support is much lower than that of
many European countries, as well as that of Mozambique.  In keeping
with my previous statements, I feel it is important to support Israel
by not letting anyone exaggerate Israel's role as an ally to
apartheid.  At the same time, it would be quite worthwhile to
encourage Israel to put more pressure on South Africa to abolish this
horrible system.

Jay Hyman