June 25, 2008

By the editors

Amidst all of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's diplomatic maneuverings of late — pressing negotiations with Arab neighbors on virtually all fronts at a dizzying pace — comes a significant call for changing the relationship between Israeli and diaspora Jews.

Olmert's remarks in Jerusalem at the board of governors meeting of the Jewish Agency for Israel this week are being hailed by officials there as an "historic address," and they may be right. After all, the prime minister declared that we are nearing the end of "massive immigration to Israel," the backbone of the Agency's calling until now, and that while the first 60 years of Israeli statehood saw diaspora Jews nurturing Israel, the next 60 years calls for Israel preserving and supporting diaspora Jewry.

This role reversal reflects the fact that while Israel has matured demographically and economically, diaspora Jewry is growing older, smaller and less affiliated Jewishly. If the diaspora is going to survive, it will need an infusion of aid from Israel in terms of funding and creative Zionist education. According to Olmert, his government is ready to step in and play a major part.

"The situation in which diaspora Jews are the philanthropists and Israel is the recipient cannot continue," he declared, calling for increasing the study of Hebrew, strengthening Jewish education and deepening the ties between Israel and the diaspora.

He also asserted that "we must stop talking in terms of big brother and little brother and instead speak in terms of two brothers marching hand in hand and supporting each other, so that the Jewish people, both in Israel and around the world, has a better future."

Whether these words will translate into action remains to be seen; there is a basis for skepticism. First, Olmert's political future is in grave danger, and it is not at all certain that he can make good on his goals or that a successor would share them. In part, that is because the Jewish Agency has come under strong criticism from a variety of fronts. It is charged with being too bureaucratic and inefficient, despite recent improvements; for being outflanked on its aliyah work by Nefesh B'Nefesh, a group started in the U.S. a few years ago and making impressive strides; and by "sexy" projects like Birthright Israel, which has captured the imagination (and dollars) of major American philanthropists while Masa, the Agency's project for long-term visits to Israel, has languished.

Jewish Agency officials are hoping that increased government support will ease, if not solve, the Agency's $45 million budget deficit, caused in part by the decreased value of philanthropic dollars. But the finance ministry is not eager to pour money into the Agency, which has not received direct government funding to date.

However the practical machinations work out, or don't, it is vital that government leaders recognize the perilous state of Israel-diaspora relations and the need for dramatic change, for the good of the Jewish people. Olmert's speech this week signals recognition that Israel must play a major role in making that happen.