“The time has come to call on the Orthodox to realize that they have no monopoly on Jewish life.”
The Interviewee – Edwin R. Frankel (Born 1963), Owner of Thrive Jewishly and Frankel Fine Food. Born in Rochester, New York. I left as a young boy to Philadelphia, Pa was my home town. Yet I left there when i graduated high school. Live in Columbus, Ohio.
In your opinion, what importance, if any, does the existence of a Jewish state have to you personally and to Jewish people in general?
“Israel has been at the core of my Jewish identity since I was a young child. One cannot study Torah, pray or any of our classical texts without some relationship to Israel. The establishment of the State in 1948 forged a new commonwealth in a land that had twice before in its history had served as the Jewish homeland. It is no coincidence that my three children and ex-wife have all made aliyah.”
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“Yes.”
Do you affiliate yourself with a specific denomination in Judaism? What is your view regarding the dominance of the Orthodox denomination in Israel religious establishment?
“I am a practicing, religious Jew. While I identify philosophically with the Conservative Masorti Movement, I am at home with klal Yisrael. AS for the dominancy of Orthodoxy, I believe it is out of step with most of the Jewish world. I believe in halacha, but when the ways of our people that for have generation bound us are instead used to divide, those who rely on them in this manner must be called into question. The time has come to call on the Orthodox to realize that they have no monopoly on Jewish life.”
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“Morally responsible? In what sense is the question meant. I believe that by in large Israel has acted ethically and morally toward the Palestinians. Is there room for improvement? Of course. Still, when dealing with an enemy who does even recognize the right of Israel to exist, how does one honestly negotiate. How also does one negotiate when the other party makes different statements in Arabic to serve its own populous than it does in English for the world to swallow. If only more in American understood Arabic the Palestinians could never succeed with this tactic.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“One can live safely and vibrantly, openly as a Jew in many parts of the world. Jews are not embarrassed to be Jews nor in any way second class citizens in most of the globe.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“The government expects diaspora support, even when it acts unacceptably. It yearns for American money even as it has one of the strongest economies in the world.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“Yes. As a light to the nations it must defend all in despair, not only Jews.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“My visits to Israel are too long ago to be current. But having lived in Israel during the Yom Kippur and the following year as a matriculated student at Hebrew University i had the opportunity to meet many Israelis not only as a visiting American but as an equal. I worked as a volunteer teaching in Israeli schools and as a bread bagger at the Angel Bakery. I got to know Israeli life not as an outsider but as an active participant in Israeli society.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there community activities?
“Active Jewish community of thousands with active synagogues representing the many streams of American Jewish life, a community center, a mikvah, kosher meat market at the local supermarket and many other Jewish services.”
