Written by Gil Troy and Natan Sharansky in Mosaic Magazine in July 2018, this thorough article offers an in-depth look at the strained relationship between Israeli and American Jewry, while suggesting a creative way forward. Delving into the major differences in the way in which the two communities approach liberal streams of Judaism, the separation of church and state, American politics, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and more, the authors also insist on the strong commitment each side has to ensuring a shared future. They suggest the establishment of the Jewish People’s Council, a global forum comprised of representatives from both communities that would debate and act together to determine the impact that major decisions made in one community have on the other. See a brief summary of the article below.
- The Great Divergence: The article provides a survey of major points of contention between the two communities – such as religion and state policies in Israel and the threats of assimilation and anti-Semitism in the Diaspora – and how these controversial issues play out on American college campuses and in times of war and violence in Israel
- The Overlooked Convergence: The authors insist on the interdependence between the two communities, both of whom acknowledge that the security of their own future is dependent on the strength of the other. This level of connection can cause minor issues to escalate into major controversies, propelling the two communities further apart.
- Clashing Cultures: The article describes some of the major inherent and environmental differences between the two communities, noting that American Jewry is typically liberal on political and social issues, while the Israeli majority is quite conservative. Moreover, Israel faces challenges of political sovereignty, security concerns in a hostile region, and creating a sense of unity among Israeli Jewry, while the American Jewish community is a small, religious minority in a pluralistic, democratic society, dealing with issues of anti-Semitism, assimilation and Jewish identity. Frustrated by the burden of the impact their internal decisions appear to have on the other, the communities need a way to engage with one another and hear each other’s perspectives when navigating complicated political and religious issues.
- Lessons of the Kotel Controversy: As an example of the way in which the two communities have dealt with conflict up until this point, the article delves into the long-running legal, political and ideological battle over egalitarian prayer and freedom of worship at the Western Wall, which ultimately ended in disappointment.
- A Jewish People’s Council: The article ends with a deeper look at the authors’ proposal for a shared advisory forum with representatives from both communities as a way for Israeli and Diaspora Jews to continue their Jewish journey together. The authors discuss the way in which members would be chosen, what impact the board would have on decisions made in both Israel and American Jewish communities, and what topics would be discussed, including conversion, security, foreign aid, education, religion and state policies, and more. Sharansky and Troy acknowledge that these debates are already happening on social media, yet suggest that face-to-face dialogue between people of influence arguing with, rather than about, one another may allow leaders to reconcile different perspectives and further unite the Jewish people in a more effective manner.