American Jews, you are also to blame for the fracture

In recent times, the norm has been to blame Israel (that is, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox politicians) for the troubled relationship we have with the world's largest Jewish diaspora, the American Jews. I've also taken this position.

The fracture has been exasperated over the past year, in the light of some of the bumps encountered, such as Tzipi Hotovely
and Natalie Portman,
and the appointment of Isaac Herzog as head of the Jewish Agency, which exacerbated tensions between Netanyahu and the American Jewish community.

(Photo: Shahar Azran)

But today every day, on the eve of the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (GA) in Tel Aviv, we must respect this norm.

Not because Netanyahu is not responsible for the striking deterioration of relations between Israel and American Jews, but because of the pbadivity of leaders of Jewish communities and leaders of reformist and conservative movements, at the same time. regard to everything concerning Israel.

In other words, instead of complaining about Israeli politicians, ask a question to this beloved American Jew: what have you done recently to penetrate the heart of Israeli society and show the Israelis what is your program?

In the United States, of course, neglecting this aspect of the relationship with Israel was a mistake. That's why it's so easy to point them out.

Today's badembly in Tel Aviv brings together more than 1,000 young American Jews to engage in a new dialogue with Israeli society.

And so, the slogan of the event – "We must speak" – is very appropriate. American Jews want to talk, but more than that, they want to start over again with the supply of Judaism. "We understand that we have not done enough," said Jerry Silverman, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Last year, Saul Berman, an Orthodox rabbi, marveled at my Gesher movement team and myself when we visited communities in the Washington and New York area. He invited his friends from the conservative and reformist movements to deepen their relations with Israeli society and to start a new, more intensive dialogue with it.

"Where have you been in recent years?", He asked them. Who would even imagine this scene here in Israel: an Israeli Orthodox rabbi, who considers the reformist community the worst, will call a reformist rabbi to deepen his relationship with Israel?

Reformed and conservative Jews are the majority in the American Jewish community. Many young people of the generation are experiencing a serious identity crisis, given the impossibility of identifying what Israel has been representing for a decade, under Netanyahu and his right-wing governments.

But an important factor of their detachment from Israel lies in the religious aspect, while the orthodox establishment makes the pluralistic movements flee.

However, it would be naïve to expect the Israeli Orthodox establishment to make room around the table. It will not happen, not without a fight. The Orthodox are not going to give up the monopoly and the resulting power.

And so, if there is a chance for change in the years to come, it lies in the efforts that might (or might not) be brought by American Jews to penetrate the heart of the Israeli public.

Not by politicians, but directly. American Jews do not need to adhere to the Israeli establishment, but to make an effort to get around it and, if necessary, to face it head-on. No other way will work.

If, indeed, American Jews have woken up from coma and if their connection with Israeli society is of great importance to them, they must act firmly and firmly to expand their ties with us.

And if the Reformers and Conservatives want the Israelis to know that they are not the devil, but a nice Jewish movement, they must be present and fight for their role and their place in Israeli society.

There is no reason, for example, that a lay Jew who does not wish to use the services of the Rabbinate to marry does not choose a conservative rabbi to place himself under the chuppah.

"We must speak" is a beautiful slogan for an badembly, but it must be replaced by a call to battle. The battle of the place of American Judaism in Israeli society.