Alan D. Abbey, Media and Internet Director, Shalom Hartman Institute. Founded Ynetnews, the English website of Yedioth Ahronoth. Abbey was born in Brooklyn, New York and today lives in Jerusalem, Israel.
In your opinion, what importance, if any, does the existence of a Jewish state have to you personally and to Jewish people in general?
The existence of the State of Israel is of immense importance to me. At age 45, with a family and a career in the US of A, I came to Israel to live, with the idea of being front-and-center for the future of the Jewish people.”
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“Absolutely. Through my work, my Israeli citizenship, and my children’s current and future service in the IDF, I believe that we are “all-in” for the future of the State.”
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“Yes and no. I am not a politician and do not wield direct political power over the actions of Israel. So, on a day-to-day basis, I cannot take responsibility. Yet the politicians we elect to serve us do have such responsibility, and in a democracy, all citizens are sovereign. I feel that our government’s actions can and should improve, and that our Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist traditions demand moral actions on our part.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“Jewish Israelis have so deeply embedded the sense of sovereignty and control over our own destiny that we fail to see how Jews elsewhere either aren’t comfortable with our exercise of political and military power.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“Israel doesn’t handle the Diaspora with the necessary nuance and sophistication needed in the modern world, especially as each Diaspora community is different. Blanket calls for aliya, as well as demands that Diaspora Jews “toe the line” of Israeli government policies both are non-starters for many these days. Plus, Israel’s lack of understanding and support for the diversity of Diaspora Jewish life, especially as it regards non-Orthodox “movements” is destructive to our relationship. The Diaspora needs to go beyond seeing Israel as a Jewish Oz or Disneyland, and Israel must see the Diaspora as more than Mr. Moneybags.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“Yes, in terms of actual political and even military support, but also in terms of trusting and supporting the Diaspora to be able to continue in its own ways, including diversity and modernity.”
