B’Yachad, we’ll repair ties between Israel and the Jewish world
In just under two weeks, Israelis will head to the polls in what will be the most consequential election in our country’s history. As our country grapples with questions of governance, security, national identity, and our standing in the world, there is another challenge that is too often overlooked: the relationship between Israel and World Jewry.
At a moment when Israel faces growing international pressure and uncertainty, the strength of its relationship with Jewish communities around the world has never been more important. Yet that relationship can no longer be taken for granted. Support for Israel, once automatic across much of the Jewish world, is increasingly strained. This is particularly true among younger Jews, where the gap between Israeli and Diaspora communities continues to widen. Strengthening these bonds is both a strategic necessity and a moral obligation. The relationship with world Jewry benefits Israel in countless ways, but it cannot be viewed solely through the lens of national interest. As the nation-state of the Jewish people, Israel bears a responsibility for our entire people’s future and the unity of the Jewish people as a whole.
Recognizing this challenge, B’Yachad has put forward a comprehensive plan to strengthen relations between Israel and World Jewry. Drawing on two decades of experience in Jewish peoplehood, Israel-Diaspora relations, and public diplomacy, I led its development in consultation with fellow experts, educators, and practitioners in the field.
At its core, the plan seeks to move Israel’s relationship with World Jewry from a symbolic connection to a genuine partnership. It proposes establishing a Diaspora Jewry Council and through it, choosing a formal non-voting, observer-level representative for Jewish communities within the Knesset, giving Jewish communities around the world a meaningful voice on issues affecting the future of the Jewish people. This representative would be able to participate in discussions of the Committee on Aliyah, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, including periodically serving as its chair.
The plan also recognizes that the future of Israel-Diaspora relations will be shaped by the next generation and that this challenge is not one-sided: as many young Jews around the world feel less connected to Israel, many Israelis know too little about Jewish communities beyond our borders. To bridge this gap, the plan calls for expanded education about World Jewry in Israeli schools and greater opportunities for encounters between young Israelis and Jews from across the world. This will be done in particular for twelfth grade students in Israel, as our party’s education plan already envisions transforming that year into one of personal and leadership development in preparation for life in the army and beyond.
The plan also confronts the growing threat of antisemitism and defines a clear role for Israel in addressing it. Rather than replacing the many organizations already doing vital work in this space, Israel should act as a convener and force multiplier, coordinating efforts across government ministries, Jewish communities, civil society, and international partners. To that end, the plan proposes establishing a National Authority for Combating Antisemitism to align government policy and strengthen cooperation with Jewish communities worldwide. Recognizing the central role of Hebrew in Jewish peoplehood, the plan also proposes a national initiative to make Hebrew accessible to Jews worldwide through in-person instruction, digital platforms, and AI tools. Hebrew is more than a language: it is a bridge connecting Jews to their shared history, culture, and future.
The plan also advances a respectful approach to religious diversity, recognizing that decisions made in Israel on matters of religion and state resonate far beyond its borders and shape how many Diaspora Jews relate to the Jewish state. The Western Wall should be a place of unity rather than division, and the Ezrat Yisrael framework should be preserved while respecting existing Orthodox prayer arrangements at the Western Wall Plaza. Even when uncomfortable and difficult, the unity of the Jewish people is critical, and so we must prioritize dialogue and engagement with our Jewish family around the world over confrontation.
Together, these proposals are guided by a simple principle: Israel and Jewish communities around the world are two parts of one people, bound by a shared history, mutual responsibility, and a common future. The time has come to move beyond a policy of merely maintaining ties with World Jewry and toward a genuine partnership in shaping the future of the Jewish people. More importantly, these proposals reflect B’Yachad’s decision to take responsibility for this issue. As the nation-state of the Jewish people, and as I believe we should see ourselves – as the “capital of the Jewish world”, Israel cannot leave the burden of sustaining this relationship to Diaspora communities alone or address it only in moments of crisis.
This commitment reflects a conviction shared by both Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid: that the relationship between Israel and World Jewry is not a niche communal issue but a core national mission. The truth is that the damage this government has done to Israel’s relationship with World Jewry will not be repaired overnight. Rebuilding trust will take time, patience, and sustained effort. But every repair begins with a plan, and B’Yachad has put forward a serious roadmap to begin that work.
