Monday, March 2, 2015

Does Israel Need Diaspora Jewry?

Taking the high road


By Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror for israelhayom.com

When the highest Israeli echelons encouraged the Jews of France to immigrate to Israel after the terror attacks in Paris, they were criticized for several reasons. Sufficient time has passed since then to discuss the topic with no personal or political connection.

Some said it was inappropriate to call on people to move to Israel only because living in a foreign country was dangerous. They believe that the meaning of true Zionism is that all Jews must return to the country of their ancestors, the sole and historical homeland of the Jewish people, whether life in the Diaspora is good or not. They said that drawing a connection between aliyah and the recent terror attacks in France falls short of the goal of true Zionism.

Others called it anachronistic to call upon Jews to move to Israel, and that the State of Israel had an interest in Jews remaining in the Diaspora and supporting it from without. That is true in a general sense and certainly true regarding the United States, whose support of Israel depends on the influence of the Jews who live there, and without which it would be difficult for Israel to exist.

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