“I’m an IDF veteran, and I constantly go onto various forums online to expose the lies, the distortions, the half truths, of Jew hating ‘anti-Zionists’. I love to debate the distorters, the ignoramuses, the haters.”

The Interviewee – Chaim Szmdt, I’m a ghost writer who has written both fiction and non-fiction for various clients from all walks of life. I host a radio talk show on internet radio and serve as Rabbi and lecturer at various hotels during yomim tovim. Was born in Germany after WWII, grew up in Uruguay, attended university in the US at Yeshiva University for my undergrad years, and earned a graduate degree from Bar Ilan University in 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?

“I’m fully convinced that if the State of Israel did not exist, Jews around the world would have mostly assimilated by now, or they would find themselves harassed and/or worse wherever they might be.”

Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?

“I’m an IDF veteran, and I constantly go onto various forums online to expose the lies, the distortions, the half truths, of Jew hating ‘anti-Zionists’. I love to debate the distorters, the ignoramuses, the haters. I love to expose their lies, their contradictions, especially when I can quote the Qur’an (in English), better than any of them, and can even explain the obscure passages.”

Do you affiliate yourself with a specific confessional division in Judaism?

“I am an Orthodox ba’al tshuvah, which in no way, shape or form interferes with my being pro-Israel with every fiber of my being. While religious people – if they are at all capable of thinking – will always have elements of doubt, things they cannot understand, Orthodoxy comes closest to providing me with answers and supply my spiritual needs.”

Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?

“I fully concur with the current Israeli government’s attitude, while at the same time wish they were more forceful in the defense of Israel’s positions, explanation to the world, and immediate exposure of Arab propaganda lies.”

In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?

“The pressures, the subtle and not so subtle antisemitism Jews must put up with in every country in the world, EVEN in those that have given us unprecedented rights and freedoms like we never had at ANY point in our history anywhere in the diaspora.”

How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?

“Israel, should interact more with the diaspora. In every country, it has to conduct a political and historical ‘kiruv’, showing young Jewish college students that the colleges and their professors, are little more than indoctrinators who distort the truth. Jewish college students must be exposed to the truth, both current and historical, to then counteract the liberal ‘anti-Zionist’ and pro-Palestinian attitudes of most of the faculty and fellow students.”

In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?

“Kol Israel achim, arevim zeh lazeh, taught our sages, and… that goes both ways!!!”

Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?

“I lived there, got my Masters degree there; three of my kids were born there, I proudly served in ‘cheil handassah’, until 1977 when my wife insisted on coming back to the US, or she would leave without me. Israel is to be lauded, that in spite of the surrounding hatred, in spite of spending so many resources on defense, they still manage to not teach hatred of the enemy and stand at the very forefront of advances in science, technology, medicine.”

Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there community activities?

“I live in a community that is mostly ultra religious, attitudes towards Israel run the gamut from very pro-Israel to ambivalent, with an absolute majority supporting the country even if they do not always agree with the attitude towards the religious population in Israel.”