The State of the Jews

I’m off to Miluim and will return with lots of zest in about a month or so. Keeping the Jewish State safe and sound is tough work.

Hello,

Welcome to my new blog. As correspondent for the Israeli English-language daily The Jerusalem Post, I cover the Jewish communities of the world, Israel’s diplomacy and strategy, and a myriad of other issues related to Israeli culture and politics.

What follows are two posts of recent articles that sum up my perspective on central issues of the modern Jewish experience: the Israeli-Arab peace process and the diverging identities and interests of the different Jewish communities of the world.

On the peace process, I hope to offer a perspective that represents, as nearly as I can understand it, the Israeli mainstream or “street.” I believe in the cacophony and passion surrounding the issue, the voice of ordinary Israelis is usually either ignored or misunderstood. The Israeli people are liberal, largely support Palestinian freedom and continue to believe the old folk songs about the horrors of war and the importance of peace. That this simple reality is not reflected in media coverage is a statement about the ignorance and amateurish advocacy that has come to dominate international media on a whole variety of issues, this one included.

On the Jewish world, I hope to represent well the thesis developed by my father, the American Jewish Committee’s Rabbi Edward Rettig, who recently submitted a 450-page PhD analyzing the diverging cultures and identities of Israeli and American Jews (Americans being some 80% of the Diaspora). As these communities break apart in the most fundamental ways, the Jewish organized world – including the Israeli government, legislature, army and education system, as well as federations, charities and educators worldwide – must decide whether to fight back in order to bridge the growing divide or to surrender to the continental drift that within a generation will surely cleave the Jewish people in two.

I hope this blog will be interesting and useful, and will raise these issues in new and relevant ways.

Much thanks,
Haviv