'Intermarriage is Not an Enemy' by David Ha'ivri

'Intermarriage is Not an Enemy' by David Ha'ivri
American Jews are in a great danger of their own.


Last week, the United Jewish Communities, an umbrella organization of America's 150 Jewish Federations, held their annual General Assembly conference at Jerusalem's Binyani HaUmah. As oleh comedian Benji Lovitt
GA organizers were disappointed in the low level of press coverage they received.
described it, it was the ultimate "Power Shmoozing" session of American Jewry. Hundreds of professional Jews from around America dressed like an army of diplomats, ranked by the figures of their financial donations to the Federation, mingled between speeches by top Israeli leaders Ehud Olmert, Binyamin Netanyahu, American oleh turned Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody, and others. Privileged donors of $100,000 were honored at a gala dinner, with an opening night attended by Mr. Olmert himself.

Despite all the hoopla, the Jerusalem Post reports that GA organizers were disappointed in the low level of press coverage they received in Hebrew-language media. Professional Jews of America seem to be frustrated with Israelis' lack of interest in the culture of the American Jewish community. They further claim that even when Israeli journalists visit the US they ignore the Jewish community and are only interested in US politics.

I attended the GA in Jerusalem, representing the Jewish communities in the Shomron, promoting our program of partnership between communities here and in the Galut. Though our "sister community" program we wish to reach out our distant brothers and sisters by building a real tie between Jews in the Shomron and Jews around the world. The truth is that I did find myself a stranger in a strange crowd. I would say that no more then 5% of the participants wore kipot and tzitzit (and some of those people were women). How "Jewish" was the tone of the day? UJC leader Edgar Bronfman said in his opening speech at the NexGen (Next Generation) meeting: "Let's not talk about intermarriage as an enemy, but as a reality."

This sheds light on the entire philosophy of the UJC. They believe in the Golden Rule: "He who has the gold make the rules." The UJC's leadership is made up of people like Mr. Bronfman, whose children have intermarried and whose grandchildren are no longer Jewish in terms of traditional Judaism. They have set out to form a new culture called the "United Jewish Communities," but, which should really be called "Bronfmanism". They are shocked that Israelis show so little interest in their works, but don't stop to think that the reason lies in the fact that they have cut themselves off from the connecting link - authentic Jewish culture.

The center of true Jewish culture is expressed by the implementation of the prophecies of the Bible, the ingathering of the Jewish people and the establishment of the State of Israel in our historical homeland. The abundance of Jewish wealth in America is not a culture within itself that can replace our heritage and values. That wealth should be used to complement those achievements in Israel and not to compete with them.

Apparently, their newly founded "Jewish" ethics and concepts of Tikun Olam are strange even to mainstream secular Israelis, who are naturally so much more "Jewish" then their American counterparts. Tikun Olam through feeding the hungry in Africa and Asia with Jewish money, so as to "fix the world's misconception" that Jewish money is not to their advantage, can not replace the true Jewish concept of Tikun Olam b'malcut Shadai - making the world complete by acknowledging the Kingdom of HaShem through fulfilling the mitzvot of the Torah.
Torah, not money, is what brings us together and causes us to be a people.
Expensive gala dinners honoring wealthy donors can not replace a traditional Shabbat dinner honoring HaShem who created the world in seven days.

UJC leaders find it hard to understand that the framework of our historical heritage - Torah, not money - is what brings us together and causes us to be a people. American Jews are in a great danger of their own doing. Their only hope is acknowledging that the key to Jewish leadership is not measured in dollars, but rather in commitment to authentic Jewish values.

American Jewish communities would be wise to invest their support in organizations like Nefesh B'Nefesh and Kollel MiTzion, organizations that preach Aliyah and teach Torah. That is what's needed to secure the future of their children by connecting them with our Torah and people and bringing them home to our land. The only hope for the future of the Jews of America is in return - return to our Torah and return to our land. The words of a great Jewish leader in Europe decades ago echo with great relevance today for the American Jewish communities: "Liquidate the diaspora before the diaspora liquidates you."