Jewish Leadership Balance Shift: Israelis Looking at American Jews

The late Prime Minister Rabin may have been the last Israeli leader taking the lead from an American president (Clinton) / © 2009

The balance of power in the world Jewish community is shifting. To some slowly, but here in Israel it seems like a volcanic eruption. From the 1880s Jewish immigration: community, religious, political, financial and spiritual leadership was not in Israel, it came from Europe. After the Holocaust it shifted from Europe to the United States. Israelis built a state, but still listened to outsiders for advice and guidance. As Israel grew and prospered it started developing it's own vision and leadership style. But until recently, Israel was still looking for outsider leadership advice. As Israel has gone through wars and peace periods, differences in policy with foreign Jewish community leaders started Israel in a more independent stance. Taking advice from the outside faded over the years. Today, events like negotiating with the Palestinians and immigration of Jews from the US caused a bigger and faster shift in leadership power. In Israel, this is new. As leaders, Israelis are still not sure of how to lead the world Jewish community. In education and Jewish culture, programs like Taglit-Birthright (a program started in the US) shows how Israelis can contribute and lead Jews in the diaspora. Today, Birthright is as important to Israeli leaders as it was to American leaders in the past. Experiencing Israel first hand is something that Israelis finally undersatnd. Israeli NGOS and government departments are now thinking of doing a birthright program with Israeli resources. Specially for Jews not in North American communities. Some say: that's about time.

The recent differences in opinion over Jewish construction in the Palestinian territories is one "volcanic eruption" shift seen here in Israel. American political leaders from president Obama to foreign minister Clinton are pushing hard on Israel to continue in the building moratorium, Israeli leaders from prime minister Natanyahu to foreign minister Lieberman are clearly not taking the American advice. This is not a snub at the American leadership. At least this is not how it is seen here in Israel. It is a strategic move in negotiation with the Palestinians. It is also a show of individual policy for Israel, listening to the Americans but doing what is needed for Israel. For Israeli leaders, navigating the domestic complex political landscape is hard enough. Satisfying foreign leaders with their personal opinions, and the desires of their country's politics is virtually impossible. This is where the balance of power shift is seen the most. In the Jewish community there is also a tectonic shift. Religious, culture and even finance issues are taking notice of the political shifts. The current global economic downturn caused a big drop in donations to Jewish organizations here in Israel. Schools, yeshivas, community centers, hospitals, have all seeing a drop in donations. Here in Israel, the economy has not taken a big drop. So now Israeli organizations are looking for funding locally. This is a big change for some organizations, finally they will have to sustain themselves without American money. What will happen when American Jewish organizations come in a few years with donations, directions and requests? Will Israelis say "thank you for your money but keep your opinions to yourselves?" Maybe not that bluntly, but I would not rule this out. Look for more balance of power shifts. No longer will Israeli organizations look for policy direction from abroad when they are conflicting with the perspective here. There is lots more to this story, come back to read more.