“I work every day to save Israel from the disastrous course it is on, while also maintaining Israel’s ability to defend itself from the real threats it faces.”
The Interviewee – Mitchell Plitnick (Born 1966), Vice President, Foundation for Middle East Peace. Born in New York City. I’ve been active in trying to bring a secure and just peace to Israel for twenty years. I have a Masters Degree in Public Policy and my bachelors degree was in Middle Eastern Studies, with my honors’ thesis written on the subject of Israeli and Jewish historiography. Today live in Washington D.C.
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 basic need for a Jewish state is based for me on just one point: the fact that during the Shoah, for the first time in our long history of fleeing one place for another, there was nowhere for Jews to go.
“I believe that Jews need that guaranteed safe haven. But other than that, I do not believe a Jewish state is necessary, nor has it served the Jewish people well to have a state so firmly entrenched in nationalism. A state that Jews can call home need not abandon universal principles of justice, civil rights and egalitarianism. Sadly, the strength of nationalism in Israel and among Diaspora Jews has led to exactly that.”
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“I work every day to save Israel from the disastrous course it is on, while also maintaining Israel’s ability to defend itself from the real threats it faces. But no threat is greater than Israel’s ongoing land grab on the West Bank, its siege of Gaza and ongoing attempt to make Jerusalem a capital for Jews only. Israel’s existence does not depend on these things, and while I work hard to ensure that Israel continues to be able to defend itself from real external threats, I work even harder to save it from the even graver internal threats that these policies create.”
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 unaffiliated. I was raised orthodox and educated in yeshiva. Judaism has always been a diverse religion, even before the Haskalah, with local traditions varying from place to place. All forms of Judaism should be acceptable, and the orthodox stranglehold on Israel’s religious establishment is a shonde. It is a narrow-minded approach to a religion that has always adapted with times, has maintained its identity in a variety of forms historically.
“The religious establishment should be completely separate from government, and the establishments of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Reformed, Conservative and Reconstructionist should all be able to decide their religious hierarchy for themselves.”
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“No. Israeli actions are their own, for better or worse. I am a Jew, but I am an American, not an Israeli. My work centers on Israel because, as an American Jew, I have a particular interest and concern, as well as a more heard voice on the matter. But my work also focuses on American policy much more than Israeli.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“Years ago, I might have had a hard time answering this question. Today, it is much easier. Israelis fail to understand how difficult it is for Diaspora Jews to support Israel as it lurches farther and farther to the right, as it obviously works toward a single state which denies millions of Palestinians basic rights, as it foments hatred toward its own Palestinian citizens, and as the fanatical right who want to build the third Beit Hamigdash (contrary to Halakha, incidentally) gains more power in Israeli society.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“Disconnected, on both levels. Israel takes Diaspora support for granted, in part because many of us do feel the need for a guaranteed safe haven if and when trouble arises again. Israel uses World Jewry, claiming to speak for it, while completely ignoring the sharp difference between Jews in the Diaspora, who mostly hold liberal and egalitarian views, and Israeli Jews who are much more intensely tribalistic and nationalistic. We are already seeing support for Israel severely waning among younger Jews as a result.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“I think all Jews should be helping each other, as well as the rest of the world. Israel is no more or less obligated than the rest of us.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“I have been to Israel many times. The reality of Israel is completely disconnected from the perception of it in the USA. The achievements of Israel are obvious when one is there, but so is the racism. The threats that Israel lives under are not comparable to anything Jews experience in the West, but the militancy of the country is everywhere. It is a complex place, both wonderful and terrible.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there community activities?
“I grew up in New York City, in orthodox communities. Support for Israel was unthinking and absolute, no matter what the political realities were. Many people I grew up with made aliyah, and as I often hear from my Israeli friends, America sends the worst of its Jews to Israel.”
