Thinking Anew About Giving to Israel >>Chaim Landau
Sun Oct 11, 2009
Thinking Anew About Giving to Israel
Well before the founding of the State of Israel, Jews in the Diaspora were sending money to support a variety of causes in the Land of Israel. The simple model, however, of Diaspora Jews as donors and Israeli Jews as recipients, has become outdated. It is no longer axiomatic for many young Diaspora Jews that they need to send money to a successful country whose fate seems to have little impact on their own lives.
Giving to Israel Despite Reservations >>Josh Buchin
Sat Oct 10, 2009
Giving to Israel Despite Reservations
For many young Jews, the subject of philanthropy for the sake of Israel does not occupy much of their time. Whether it's because the issue is too political or too overwhelming, the topic often gets pushed aside in favor of other forms of philanthropy. But for some young Jewish philanthropists, Israel is an area that truly speaks to them. PT sat down with young philanthropists to discuss why giving to Israel can be an important and relevant issue in our day-to-day lives.
The Israeli educational system has historically affirmed the Zionist doctrine that Jews can only live a physically and spiritually secure life in the State of Israel, minimizing successful Diaspora Jewish communities like those in North America. Indeed, a 2005 report conducted by the American Jewish Committee found that only 14% of Israeli high school teachers said the topic of U.S. Jewry had been taught in their schools during the three years preceding the study. This thinking is still influential among many Israelis, but some are gradually favoring a greater understanding of American Jewry.
