Most Israelis discount the views of American Jews on questions of religious pluralism or prayer arrangements at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Fifty-nine per cent supported the Israeli government’s backtrack last year from a plan to expand the egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel – a decision which dismayed Reform and Masorti leaders in the USA.
Only 40 per cent of Israeli Jews believed their country should take into account the views of American Jewish leaders on the issue, compared with 57 per cent who felt these mattered little, according to a survey conducted for the communal fundraising arm of American Jewry, the UJA-Federation.
Forty-two per cent believed that the views of American Jews on conversion should be taken into account, compared with 54 per cent who were more dismissive.
Likewise, 39 per cent felt American Jewish opinions on the status of Reform and Masorti Judaism in Israel were important.
Israeli Jews were even less willing to consider American Jewish views on more political issues. On building settlements in the West Bank, 29 per cent would take into account American Jewish views, compared to 67 per cent who thought they mattered “not much” or “hardly at all”.
On peace negotiations with the Palestinians, 32 per cent were willing to consider American Jewish views, compared to twice as many who felt they mattered little.
And as far as the treatment of Israeli Arabs was concerned, only 29 per cent would take heed of American Jewish views, while 69 per cent would give these little weight.
The authors of the survey – who included Professor Steven Cohen, one of the leading researchers of contemporary Jewish conmmunities – said, “On one hand, there is broad appreciation for solidarity and a sense of common destiny, and on the other hand, there is an uneasiness with American Jews participating actively in Israeli life, which is typically political.”
Nine out of ten Israelis felt a strong sense of Jewish peoplehood and three-quarters believed that they shared a common sense of identity with American Jews.
Nearly two-thirds, 63 per cent, believed that Israel offered a more meaningful Jewish life and 46 per cent felt that most non-Orthodox American Jews – the majority – would assimilate within a decade.
Sixty-three per cent supported Israeli government investment in Birthright trips to Israel for young diaspora Jews.
