The American Jewish stake in Israel’s shared society

As an American Jew who has loved Israel since my youth, I believe the future of the Jewish state depends not only on its strength in defending against external and internal threats but also on the ability to nurture trust and equality between its Jewish majority and the Arab population who comprise more than 20 percent of its citizens.

My commitment to this vision is rooted in my family. My paternal great-grandfather, paternal grandparents, and parents all believed passionately in the need for a Jewish homeland. They celebrated Israel’s rebirth in 1948, and supported its amazing growth and accomplishments.

At the same time my family held just as firmly to the conviction that for Israel to excel it must prioritize harmony with its Arab citizens and sustained peace with its Arab neighbors. That dual belief of security and coexistence has guided me throughout my life and remains the foundation of my volunteer work today.

I first visited Israel at the age of 16, when I traveled with NIFTY and stayed at the Ben Shemen Youth Village. Meeting Israeli youths for the first time left a deep impression on me and the summer experience planted the seeds for my lifelong commitment to engaging with an Israel that is both Jewish and democratic.

My relationship with Israel deepened when I attended the Tel Aviv University Overseas Program during my college sophomore year. It was on that campus that I encountered and developed relations with Arab students, and began for the first time to learn about a significant portion of Israeli society that was not part of Jewish education or communal conversations growing up in Houston.

So moved was I by the lived experience in Israel that I volunteered for two years with Interns for Peace, living with other American Jews in Arab communities to work on cooperative projects with neighboring Jewish communities. Based in Christian Nazareth and Muslim Kfar Tira, I brought together Israeli Arab and Jewish youths, teaching tennis and coaching the first Arab-Jewish baseball team.

I saw firsthand how even small encounters could reap enormous benefits, building some modicum of advancing mutual understanding, giving hope for a better future for all.

In retrospect, my exposure with the totality of Israeli society was not common among American Jews, but still was enlightening. After all, Diaspora Jews since Israel’s founding have been deeply engaged in supporting its security, economy, diplomacy and regional relations – issues central to the American Jewish—Israeli bond.

Yet, a quieter front that is just as vital for fulfilling the promise of Israel’s democracy is the relationship between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens. This is an issue grounded in Jewish values, and, therefore, should be an American Jewish priority.

Yet, across the US, the ramifications of the horrific Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing painful war in Gaza have been profound. Many American Jews, concerned about rising antisemitism, additional expenses for increased security at synagogues and communal institutions, have decided insularity, including not following news or even having conversations about Israel, let alone advocacy and support, is the preferred strategy.

Opting out from Israel, however, is not a sound option. In periods of crisis, what happens in Israel does impact us in the U.S, which is why we must speak out. Before the second anniversary of October 7, American Jews, like Jews worldwide, will gather at family tables, in synagogues, to celebrate the High Holidays. This traditional time of contemplation is an opportunity to reflect on what’s transpired and on what is needed to focus on rebuilding, reenforcing Israeli society, thereby strengthening it from within.

The group I represent, Givat Haviva, founded in 1949, has been since the early days of the modern State of Israel a primary address for positive, meaningful Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. On its 34-acre campus the Jewish and Arab staff run a wide variety of programs that bring together year-round people of all ages from their respective communities.

When mistrust of the ‘other’ rose significantly among Israeli citizens after October 7, advocacy for shared society became more urgent than ever. Givat Haviva’s annual survey showed that 72% of Israeli Jews mistrust Arab citizens, while 43% of Arab citizens said they mistrust Jews. They are sobering numbers, but they are not destiny.

In a time of profound trauma coexistence is not a luxury. It is essential to keeping Israel whole. American Jews have a vital stake in supporting those Israelis, Arabs and Jews, who already have invested in a shared society to succeed.