Absorption minister blasts American Jewish leaders (for torpedoing aliyah)

Maariv ^ | 30 March 2004 | Eli Berdenshtein

[anotherview]

Absorption minister blasts American Jewish leaders

Tzipi Livni accuses communal heads of torpedoing “aliyah” initiatives fearing it would weaken their communities.
Eli Berdenshtein

Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Tzipi Livni, has chided North American Jewish leaders for discouraging the immigration of Jews (aliyah) to Israel. “It isn’t enough for the leaders to encourage aliyah from other groups, they need to encourage it within their own communities as an integral need of Israel”.

In recent weeks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has held several meetings with representatives of the Ministry and the Jewish agency to discuss the goal of bringing one million Jews to Israel in the next decade. At the meeting, it was agreed that efforts should focus on the 5.6 million Jews living in North America. The JA (Jewish Agency) has established a special task force to promote Aliyah, but at the moment there are only 3,000 Americans a year who immigrate to Israel.

The primary problem is that the JA’s American activities are funded by American Jewish groups and therefore they do not have full control of how much money is allocated to encouraging aliyah. The JA fears increased aliyah efforts on its part could lead to monetary sanctions by the groups.

JA head, Salai Meridor rejected Livni’s comments. “For North American aliyah to be successful we need a high level of community support which is not achieved by these sort of comments, but rather through positive work and dialogue”, he charged.

(2004-03-30 18:10:10.0)

[anotherview]

I should have learned long ago that reading the news doesn't help with insomnia. It promotes more insomnia.

Aliyah is the lifeblood of Israel. More clear thinking American Jews coming to live in Israel would be a very good thing indeed.

[anotherview]

ping

[Mamzelle]

5.6M Jews in North America--That's all there are? Does this include Canada, Mexico--?

[thoughtomator]

As soon as Israel decides that I'm not expendable to appease Arab terrorism, give me a call.

[anotherview]

You are not expendable. Some think land is expendable. Nobody thinks people are. Well... Jewish people anyway. I don't mind expending Palestinian terrorists.

[anotherview]

Oh, you forgot to give me your phone number so that I can make that call :)

It's a very pretty time of year to be in Israel. The weather is about perfect now. Pesach is almost here.

[Alouette]

Aliyah is the lifeblood of Israel. More clear thinking American Jews coming to live in Israel would be a very good thing indeed.

My daughter and her husband just made aliyah. However their experience at the Misrad Haklita and with JA officials here in the US was exceedingly unpleasant.

[HostileTerritory]

It's a reasonable estimate. Canada and Mexico have a combined total of 400,000 Jews, tops, maybe 500,000, and estimates for the U.S. average 5-6 million. Most Americans have no idea what a small minority Jews really are.

[Clemenza]

Don't forget the 600,000 Jews who live in Argentina. There are also large Jewish communities in Brazil and Venezuela.

One of the reasons many people think Jews are a larger minority is the fact that they are disproportionately located in three states (New York, Florida and California) so that non-Jews who live in those areas see larger Jewish communities than those in the more rural states.

[Betaille]

"As soon as Israel decides that I'm not expendable to appease Arab terrorism, give me a call."
My sentiments exactly... If they were really doing everything possible to end terror, I would have no problem making Aliyah. As long as they continue to consider a certain level of violence "acceptable", I won't go there to serve as cannon fodder.

[HostileTerritory]

Don't forget the 600,000 Jews who live in Argentina.

Ping me again when continental drift brings them into North America. ;)

[mseltzer]

5.6M Jews in North America--That's all there are?


That's about all it takes to run the media, the banking system, federal reserve, academia, and the matzoh factories. Oh yeah, and a few more to influence US foreign policy.

[thoughtomator]

Given the policies of the Israeli government, I would say that All Israeli citizens, Jews especially, are very much considered expendible in a foolish quest for peace with a neighbor who has expressed in every possible way that it is not interested in any relationship because it plans to annihilate Jews wherever it may find them.

It's pretty simple... the Israeli government has taught the Arabs in the territories that they can pretty much attack Israelis with impunity, and nothing serious will be done. Yassin was a good start. When they hit Arafat, I might be more convinced that they are serious. When they push out of Israel those who cannot live peacefully within it, and maybe give up the crushing, stifling socialism under which even this dissent itself could likely be considered illegal, then I will happily do Aliyah and bring along every Jew I know if I could.

Or maybe my kids will do Aliyah. If there's still an Israel then, that is.

[Mamzelle]

The US has the largest population of Jews next to Israel. France comes in third with a mere 500K. There is a serious case of the dwindles here--

[templar]

As soon as Israel decides that I'm not expendable to appease Arab terrorism, give me a call.

You live in the occupied territories?

[templar]

A return to Israel by almost all jews is coming in the near future. I don't know exactly why or how, but I'm fairly certain of it. Maybe the growing anti-semitic movement worldwide will force it, maybe it will be an inspired spiritual movement, I don't know: But I'm sure it will happen.

[HostileTerritory]

But I'm an American, and I love America. I don't want to move.

[thoughtomator]

It doesn't make a difference whether one lives in the *disputed* territories (they are not "occupied" territories - they were never a part of any other nation's territory); the Arabs kill Jews in every part of Israel without adequate Israeli government response.

[templar]

What part of Israel do you live in? I was really interested in hearing about the "disputed territories", but would like to know what it (the situation and attitude) is like in the rest of Israel as well.

BTW, I have a personal interest in Jewish affairs: I am not Jewish, but my daughter is Jewish by matriarchal lineage. I expect she may move there someday (as I do most of the world's Jews) because of an anticipated increase of persecution and antisemitism worldwide.