I DO NOT, NOW, LIVE IN ISRAEL. I DID. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN LIVE IN ISRAEL.
I lack the chutzpah of many U.S. (mostly leftist) Jews to tell the Israeli government what to do regarding anything – not the enemy on its borders, not Shabat observance, not even “Who’s a Jew.”
I have opinions on those and other issues, but I’m sitting in the relative safety of the United States; no one is shelling my house or flying flaming kites in my direction. The Israeli Orthodox rabbinate trying to control my life … another matter.
My only official connections with Israel are two:
- I am a Jew
- I am an Israeli citizen (as well as a native-born American citizen).
Recently there was a survey funded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC)1. The survey, conducted for the American Jewish Committee earlier this year, found that while 77% of Israeli Jews approved of Trump's handling of U.S.-Israel relations, only 34% of American Jews did.
Why the difference of opinions?
Several reasons.
First and foremost, in MY opinion, is the fact that the Israel Jews polled live in Israel. They are on the front lines; they have enemies on several borders.
American Jews, while they may have relatives living in Israel, do not themselves live in Israel. They may have high crime areas within a few miles of their homes, but there are no serious threats from the Canadians to the north or the Mexicans (and those transiting Mexico) to the south. Neither Jamaica, The Bahamas, nor even Cuba threaten the eastern seaboard.
Second, while perhaps the majority of Jews in Israel are “heloni,” non-observant, they generally are still more observant – or at least more respectful – of Jewish traditions and customs than the Reform and Conservative Jews who, according to the survey, make up the majority of Jews in the U.S.
While there is indeed a leftist element in Israel – even overlooking the anti-Israel Muslims in the country’s Knesset – the majority of Israelis in Israel are either non-political, centrists, or conservative.
The only place to look for politically conservative Jews in the U.S. is within the “orthodox” (read “observant”) communities.
I would suggest that the majority of leftists in Israel, like the majority of Conservative and Reform Jews in the U.S., are Ashkenazim, Jews descended from Europeans. (True, there are left-of-center Sefardim and Mizrachim, but their numbers are whelmedcq2 by the Europeans.)
Americans have become politically radicalized in the last decade.
President Trump can do nothing proper as far as the leftists are concerned.
Never mind that a majority of Americans voted for the man based on his promises; promises the Democrats are trying to prevent him from honoring.
At the same time, many Republicans are fed up with Democratic rhetoric and “tune out” anything a Democrat might suggest.
U.S. Conservative and Reform Jews, from the safety of their homes thousands of miles from Gaza and the PA, and Syria/Lebanon, have the chutzpah to tell Israel to settle for a two-state solution.
HOW a “two state solution” might work is not a concern for America’s leftists, a few of whom actively support BDS efforts.
Assume for a minute that Gaza is a state sandwiched between Egypt and Israel.
- It has, even now, its own government.
It has an army, albeit sans uniforms.
It trades with other countries.
If Gaza is an example of how a “two-state solution” will work, than most Israelis probably would prefer another option. (Give Gaza back to Egypt, but Egypt – wisely – doesn’t want Gaza.)
How about the PA as a unique state.
Unless it makes some type pact with Israel, it is surrounded by Israel. It cannot trade with any other country other than through Israel. Israel could provide a path to Jordan, but many Jordanians remember Black September when the PLO tried to assassinate Jordan’s king.3
The article, Poll shows deep divisions between Israeli and U.S. Jews fails to provide information readers need to determine the value of the poll.
For example, it would be nice to know
- When the poll was taken
How many people were polled
What was the religious affiliation of those polled: Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Unaffiliated
Were any of those surveyed dual nationals?
What were the poll questions; phrasing makes all the difference in a survey’s outcome.
What was the political affiliation of those surveyed?
Where did those surveyed reside (e.g., big cities, small towns)?
At one time I was required to do a weekly “Man in the Street” survey for a major Pennsylvania newspaper. I made up the question (with my editor’s approval) and braved the elements to get six printable answers. I know how to phrase a question to generate the response I want. I also could be selective in who I asked.
In other words, this scrivener not only knows how surveys work, he knows how to make surveys work to provide the desired responses. Bottom line: I never trust a survey unless I know all the facts.
Sources
1. http://tinyurl.com/yb8cs3qr
2. http://tinyurl.com/j53shmp
3. http://tinyurl.com/y942uw33
PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.
Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.
