Jews in the diaspora are once again living in an era of “conditional acceptance”, according to a leading Jewish writer and educator.
Speaking at the UJIA annual dinner in London, Yossi Klein Halevi, author of several books on Judaism and Israel and a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, said: “The danger of anti-Zionism is much greater in the diaspora than it is for Israel. In Israel it is more abstract, but in the diaspora, what left-wing anti-Zionism has done - and I have experienced this on campuses in the US - is restoring conditional acceptance.
“The message to young Jews on campus is: ‘You can even have a Seder at our tent camps, provided that you renounce your attachment to Israel.’ It is the reintroduction of the idea that there is something flawed in the Jewish character that needs to be fixed.”
Claiming diaspora Jews were now lliving in “a new historical era”, he said that the consequence was “an acute sense of insecurity, psychological insecurity in diaspora Jewish life”.
While Israel, was, since October 7, “the most dangerous place in the world to be a Jew, by far, physically”, it was “the safest place to be a Jew in the world, psychologically”.
Being interviewed alongside Klein Halevi, Rabbi Donniel Hartman, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, said that in Israel and the diaspora “two different conversations” were taking place.
“The conversation in Israel is about the war…It’s natural. Israel is in trauma. Revenge is part of the war. Concern for civilians is not a discussed issue in Israel. [Israelis are saying:] ‘We want to win the war, and that’s all we want to do.’”
While building a pier in Ashdod to deliver humanitarian aid was, he said, an Israeli idea, “[Israelis] can’t talk about it publicly because our community doesn’t want to hear it. The press that we hear is different to your press. You’re living in a minority in the midst of a world for whom it’s not self-evident that Israel is the most moral and righteous country in the world.”
But, around the world, he said: “Jews are asking questions. Questions are being asked that the state of Israel isn’t asking... key moral questions about what a just war is, how to fight a just war. When do you use power? What are the limits of power? What is your relationship with the rest of the world?”
The two speakers, who host the popular podcast For Heaven’s Sake, were part of a line-up of high-profile speakers, including Fauda star Rona-Lee Shimon, who plays Nurit in the Israeli television series.
Fauda actress Rona-Lee Shimon (Photo: Blake Ezra)
She told the 425 guests at Raffles of her distress at seeing her younger brother going off to fight in Gaza.
“I knew that every call could be the call I didn’t want to take... I was afraid to answer the phone. I was paralysed for weeks…the fear of the knock on the door. It’s vivid, metallic cold, it’s every family’s nightmare.”
She said that despite civilians not being allowed into army bases, she tried her best to get around the rules. “I made up every excuse to go to my brother’s base to bring him things. Chocolate, coffee…I said [to commanders]: ‘ But I’m Nurit. I’m Fauda. If you let me, I will join them.’ They almost did – but they didn’t.”
Visibly emotional, Shimon described the changes she had witnessed in Israeli society since October 7. “My brother came home different from the way he left. They all are. We’re different, all of us.”
She revealed that one of the questions she most disliked being asked was: “How does it now feel to live Fauda in the real world?”
“I was surprised and angry [at the question]. I said that I don’t believe that anyone could think of or put in writing such demonic actions [of October 7]. This was by far the worst human action ever to be witnessed live on camera in history….Fauda starts with the word ‘action’ and ends with the word ‘cut’. [But this has been] a year and no cut.”
Paying tribute to the support Israel had received since October 7 from the diaspora community, Shimon said: “I want you to know that we in Israel felt your protective arms all the time. Knowing so many amazing organisations, such as UJIA, exist, gives us the strength we need to keep fighting. We can’t do this without you.”
The event, which was attended by communal leaders, including the Chief Rabbi, Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky of Progressive Judaism and Israeli Ambassador HE Tzipi Hotovely, raised £2.4m for trauma and therapeutic support for the kibbutzim of Be’eri and Mefalsim, as well as for the rebuilding of the kindergarten at Be’eri and homes on the northern border.
Natasha Cohen of Kibbutz Be’eri told how she and her husband had survived the October 7 massacre and how they were among the 80 people who had returned to the kibbutz after the murder of 102 of its residents and 31 security personnel. A further 30 residents were abducted into Gaza.
She said: “It’s like a ghost town for us there…I was shell-shocked, traumatised and suffering from survivors’ guilt. I felt too guilty to appreciate or to be grateful that my family survived.”
She said that showing groups of visitors, including some of the people at the dinner, the devasation of the kibbutz had been “my personal therapy. It helped me to face the reality of what happened to us on that day.”
Thanking UJIA supporters, Cohen said: “We have felt the loving care from around the world, especially from the Jewish community, thanks to our special partnership with UJIA….You truly understand that we must rebuild our home and community.”
UJIA chair Zvi Noé (Photo: Blake Ezra)
UJIA Chair Zvi Noé said that having visited Israel several times since October 7, “one thing which continuously resonates with me is that what we do here, in the UK, matters. Not only to ourselves but to our family in Israel. Never has this connection felt so close. The achdut (unity) is real.
“The fates of Israel and the entire Jewish World are inextricably linked, but this cannot be taken for granted. even at times of crisis, the connection must be nurtured, and this is why UJIA exists.”
