Israel: Are we winning battles, losing wars, neither or both?

By Yonit Schiller
York University

We are fighting the wrong battle. We Jews are struggling to gain face in a political war that has an indeterminate end. Where it is significant, and most importantly, necessary to engage Jews in advocacy programs and issues dealing with Hasbara; the focus should primarily deal with WHY the advocacy is so important. To many Jews who lack a religious identity, nothing differentiates the Jewish problem from any other world issue at hand.

There are plenty of Jews in the Diaspora that are more than willing to help the State of Israel in this crucial time. Whether it be through charitable work, volunteering, lecturing, or simply conversing with peers or colleagues about the situation, Jews discuss the potential future of Eretz Yisrael and strive to achieve a possible solution with our Arab neighbors, while weighing the feasible outcome of the Israeli economy in conjunction with the unfailing, determined nature of our people.

The problem does not only reside in our efforts to educate, but also lies in our neglect of those Jews who could otherwise care less. Birthright trips are excellent in that Jewish philanthropists are eager to help set up programs through which young adults can establish a connection with their heritage, their people, their land. But what about other Jews, other students, who have not yet been, or are deterred from the possibility of traveling to Israel? It is futile and arbitrary to claim that Israel is a safe place. But this is not the issue. The issue is: how do we give those Jews something to hold on to, something with which they can identify? I do not claim to hold the answers to these difficult questions; I merely believe in the importance of raising them to the Jewish community.

Some of my acquaintances told me that they only believe in the existence of the State of Israel because "so many people died defending the land." In other words, the only connection they have with Israel is through the reverence of Jewish soldiers who were killed in their act of duty. Although I would agree that dying with religious pursuit and devotion on one's lips, or the sacrifice of one's life for what he or she truly believes in is heroic and altruistic (to say the least); the reasons and motives for WHY people fought to defend what they believed in is perhaps more significant than the fact that they gave their lives doing so.

The renewal of anti-Semitism everywhere, especially throughout Europe, has increased ever since the Intifadah in 2000; thus making Israel of greater consequence to world Jewry. During a time when the term "homicide-bombing" is unfortunately synonymous with Israel, and the words "martyr" and "freedom fighter" are used by the media to describe terrorists, it is vital now, more than ever-that Israel's predicament is illuminated clearly and in a more objective light. We can only accomplish this; however, once we have given more meaning to the word Israel for the Jews who demonstrate indifference or apathy in their secular communities.

Do you agree / disagree with Yonit's perspective? Do you think boiling down the Jewish future to quality vs. quantity can work effectively? Do you have dreams of rebuilding our methods of identification?

Email Audrey at AudsKOC@aol.com to share your thoughts! We'd love to have follow up pieces regarding what is on your mind.

[Posted 1/29/03]