Inches to Metric: Network Above, Tunnels Below #2

This is not easy to write…There is an Elephant in the Room. Click blue links for sources. For prior posts, click header. Please share.

What I see?

I’m an incredibly proud Israeli American straddling Jewish and non Jewish communities on both sides of the Atlantic. A lifetime of philanthropic works/and living in Israel has afforded me incredible opportunities. We have much to be proud of; The State of Israel and a vibrant global Jewish community, including prominent and influential people holding places of power that would have been unthinkable fifty years ago.

What do we do with our good fortune?

What I have experienced has been illuminating, invigorating, but often depressing/frustrating. The same rot which has seeped into our universities teaching alternate/anti narratives about Israel, Judaism and Western society has seeped into some of our greatest Non-Orthodox Jewish institutions. Many leading these institutions are tragically suffering from guilt/privilege; eating away their core values. They seem depressed. I’ve heard leaders from both US coasts apologize for leading us astray. Some have turned away from Israel.

How did this happen?

Jews, always first to jump on social justice issues; have accomplished incredible feats for the world and Jewish communities. It’s wired into the Jewish DNA. Our willingness to help the underdog “at any cost” is our strength, weakness and achilles heel. “We” often speak about Jewish guilt, its real! There are anti Jewish/ Israeli/Western, “bad actors” (please click) that are aware of this. They swooped in and worked black magic…If interested about the concept of the power/magic of words, read The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz.

These “bad actors” began selecting/courting/inviting Jews to join “social justice” anti Zionist groups. They targeted Zionist institutions; placing “Trojan horse” style “turned Jews” into these groups (a play out of the Nazi handbook). They flipped the narrative, Israel/ Jews were now Goliath/oppressors. Some Jewish leaders allowed themselves to be shamed into believing this narrative.

These “bad actors” infiltrated our Rabbinical schools. I’ve been privy to the inner workings of several Non-Orthodox Rabbinical schools, met with young leaders, and had conversations with many deans. What I found was unsettling. There is pressure not to support Israel. One Rabbinical school discussed whether they should include their support of Israel in their mission statement; uncertain whether to call themselves a Zionist institution! My question to the dean of a Rabbinical school boasting an all time high in recruitment was, how many of your incoming students are Pro Zionists? Support Israel’s right to exist? There is a mockery regarding the holiness of the Torah, G-D has been intellectualized.

Without a clear mission/leadership from the top, Rabbinical students struggle. I met with Rabbinical students in Israel. They were taken on field trips. Some of the trips were biased against Israel, causing some students to hate being in Israel and left the program early. I’ve had pro Zionist Rabbinical students tell me they were shamed into silence. One cried to me after switching schools hoping to find a more Zionist setting, did not find one, finally graduated relieved to have the title.

What happens when anti Zionists graduate from Rabbinical schools?

I’m grateful I live in a pro Israel bubble. After the Oct 7 massacre, the Israeli flag flew alongside the American flag at my city hall for months. The majority of the synagogues and temples in our area are pro Israel. I can attend my synagogue knowing they are supportive of Israel and the Jewish community. Not always the case in other communities.

I was in LA late Saturday night on October 7, 2023. I attended a gathering in a synagogue where the Rabbi said we feel for the Palestinian people as well as for the slaughtered Jews. I became nauseous. I ran out. The sentiment…if we were kinder to the Palestinians it never would have happened, (trailer to film) October 8. It’s like saying to the abused wife or rape victim its her fault because…

I thought not today.

We are suffering, scared and are supposed to be understanding of our Semitic siblings grievances as a defense for killing us, while claiming they will continue to slaughter us until all Jews are gone from this earth? I suspected at the time; we now have evidence that many Palestinians joined with Hamas in the Rape and Murders on Oct 7. On Oct 8th, the coordinated global anti Israel protests started. How many Rabbinical students joined in?  Comic relief.

The synagogue in LA is not unique. We have several synagogues/temples in the US where Rabbis are preaching anti Israel rhetoric. They blame themselves and Israel for “not being good enough.” If we were just better…what then? Anti semitism would go away? It doesn’t work that way. For those who have tried in vain to not stand out or worse by disparaging Israel, I’m sorry. It’s like wearing a sign that says, kick me! 

 Jihadists do not discriminate!

The tragic murder of the Jewish couple in DC was telling. The gal dedicated her life to peace building with the Palestinian people, as did the Israeli’s murdered on Oct 7th living near Gaza.

The “bad actors” targeted many Zionist institutions!

I attended a Ramah leadership mission in Israel. We met 500 vibrant young Israelis finishing their army service, excited to be spending their summer working at Ramah camps throughout the US and Canada. I’m proud that Ramah prepares its staff to receive all young Israelis with open arms.

Some other Jewish camping movements have become radicalized (hiring Rabbis, teachers and counselors who turned against Israel) and are not welcoming/gracious to Israeli staff. I asked those in charge of sending these brave beautiful young people abroad, to reconsider sending them to a Jewish camp that might prove hostile. Beware of which camp/school you send your kids to, the wrong one MIGHT/WILL radicalize them. 

While speaking with someone in the Jewish camping world, outside my circle/bubble, I suggested once the Palestinian charter changes its language; by removing kill all Jews and destroy Israel, I’d be happy to discuss improved relations. He suggested “Universalism vs Pragmatism,” (understanding the plight of others and loving them without hesitation versus reality). I responded “universalism gets us killed.” He said “we have nothing left to discuss” and walked away.

Our People were in a deep slumber, lulled into complacency, finally exhaling for the first time in 2000 years. Blending in is exhilarating, I get it. “Our People” are still in shock. Many are uncertain how to frame, articulate, debate, inform, openly support our right as a Jew or Israel’s right to exist.

I have a challenge…All Zionist Rabbis unite! Stand proud. Publish a letter stating you stand with Israel (ignoring self haters). Create a score card, list which Synagogues, camps, schools (especially Rabbinical)…stand with Israel. List/Pity the Rabbis who are unwilling to give the same unconditional love to Israel, as they give to Hamas and its sympathizers. 

To be continued…