Reprinted from 2010
KEEP THE “KRECHTZ” OUT OF JEWISH LIVING
A reminder from our Spiritual Leader who will never stop teaching and inspiring us. ״לצז״
In a recent issue of the Jerusalem Post, Daniel Gordis writes about the ominous disappearance of a sense of peoplehood among American Jews. This is, indeed, a very serious matter which could impact negatively on the State of Israel whose survival depends in good measure upon the bonds of connectedness that American Jews feel toward Israelis.
Part of the problem is that we are different from other Americans whose religious affiliation has no ethnic component that binds them to a particular country. Catholics and Protestants certainly practice their faith in whatever country they find themselves without reference to a geographical entity other than the place of their residence. Furthermore, Jews in America feel so at home here. While there are manifestations of prejudice and discrimination from time to time, Jews are definitely safer and more secure in the United States than any other Diaspora location of their long and tragic history.
In some cases the love of America is so powerful and pervasive that there is simply no room in Jews’ minds or hearts for Israel. There is, however, no conflict between Americanism and Jewish peoplehood. In the early days of modern Zionism many American Jews divested themselves of association with yearnings for a Jewish State; because they feared charges of dual loyalty. They believed that other Americans would be suspicious about the depth of their commitment to this country if they supported the creation of a Jewish homeland. Love of Israel, however, has no political dimension. Our love of Israel is cultural, ethnic, and emotional in nature. It is not very different from the warm feelings that German, Irish, and Italian Americans feel for the country from which their forebears came. One would have thought that by now anxiety about dual loyalties would have disappeared. There is certainly a lot less than there was at one time; but it has apparently not vanished completely.
For some American Jews, the gulf results from differences in point of view on certain public issues. I, for one, wish that Israel had a greater measure of pluralism in its attitude toward the various religious streams within Judaism. Others may have different views on foreign policy questions. Diverse thinking is, however, endemic to the human condition. Americans differ among themselves on many matters as do Israelis. That’s what it means to live in a free society. Most of us don’t divorce our spouses or disown our children because we don’t see eye-to-eye with them on everything. In spite of variations in thinking,we’ve got to keep our eye on the big picture. The plain truth is that we need Israel; and Israel needs us!
At the ripe old age of 61, there has been an Israel for the entire lifetime of many young American Jews.
Those of us who are old enough to recall that sad and traumatic era when there was no Israel have a duty to communicate our memories to our children and grandchildren. It has been said that Israel took the “krechtz” out of Jewish existence. It has surely restored our self-respect and capacity for self determination. What’s more, coming so soon after the most traumatic event in Jewish history, it restored the faith and capacity to believe of so many of our co religionists. God forbid, we should ever again face the reality of homelessness.
Of course, the best way to stimulate a sense of peoplehood among Jews is to visit Israel. Everyone who goes there speaks of the experience as a life changing event. What the people of Israel have done with that little country is nothing short of mind boggling. What’s more, they have forged, not only a modern and progressive society, but also a genuine democracy, the only democracy in the Middle East.
There ought to be a natural affinity for Israel among all freedom-loving people throughout the world. Unfortunately 2/3’s of American Jewry has never visited Israel! That is a statistic that must change.
We also need to augment the place of Israel in our lives in the educational curriculum of our day schools and Talmud Torahs. We likewise need to revive the Zionist youth organizations that were so popular when I was growing up.
In short, the revival of a sense of peoplehood must become the number one priority of American Jews.
Dr. Rabbi Alvin Kass