In a time of upheaval and chaos, many Americans are asking a fair question. Why should I care about some place halfway across the world, when there are so many problems at home? This is especially true for Jewish Americans and Israel, due to the preexisting bias against Israel, combined with many Americans Jews’ intense social activism and focus on tikkun olam. This development, while seemingly sensible, is illogical, and wholly incorrect. In fact, for Jewish Americans, Israel has never been more important.
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During this time of mass unrest, violence, rioting, and a global pandemic it is imperative, now more than ever, that we as Jews strengthen our connection to Israel and each other. Unfortunately, this isn’t as obvious for some as it should be.
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Where one stands on the issue of the day becomes the measuring stick for who they are as a person, and bias and judgment abound in each and every place affected by today’s chaos. Unfortunately, there is little moral equivalency when we are trying to be accepted. Why would a Jew stay silent after members of his own nation in his eternal homeland come under attack, but speak up in response to an attack on a member of another group? In truth, staying informed about issues relating to Israel makes one a greater citizen of the world.
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Israel Forever intern Abby Chargo describes how she connected with Israel through deepening her roots in Judaism while at the same time understanding that religion is one of many paths to connect and each Jew needs to find their own way.
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Israel Forever intern Marshall Ivler describes what made him realize that “living Jewishly” was not the same as having a strong Jewish identity and that having a firm grasp on identity and connection to the heritage of the Nation of Israel is of vital important.
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Israel to my younger self was the setting of the Torah and remained in the back of my head in a box labeled “history”. I had no idea what the word “Zionism” meant. And to be honest, with every new person I meet comes a different definition of what being a Zionist means. Still, I have never witnessed and experienced such unity of complete strangers than while in Israel. Being in Israel pushed me to dig deeper, to find my place within myself and within my people.
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Israel Forever intern Ondria Rees consciously chose to become a Jew when she was just 14 but it wasn’t until she visited Israel on Birthright that she fully understood the unbreakable bond between Judaism, Israel and Zionism.
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What’s a Jew? A religion? An ethnicity? A culture? And what does Israel mean for me? Israel Forever intern Aubrie Jaworowski takes us on her journey to her Jewish identity.
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Jewish identity for young Brazilian Jews has its own unique flavor. Israel Forever ambassador Tatiana Tessler shares her feelings about Jewish identity and Israel, and wonders how she can help the “other kinds of Jews” feel Jewish pride.
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During my gap year in Israel, I learned more about who I am as a person and why this place matters to a young Jew from a small town like me. I hope I can make a difference in bringing Jews together around the world, for the many who cannot come here, to ensure no Jew has to be a Jew alone.
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Israel Forever intern Sophie Leib-Neri describes how she found faith - not in God but in Israel.
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I decided to hop on a plane, travel halfway across the world, and embark on a nine month gap year in Israel, instead of going to college. At the time I could not explain to my friends, nor myself, why I was making this decision. Everyone called me crazy, and maybe I was, but something inside my soul was drawing me to the land of Israel.
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Paula Spiner describes her motivations as an Argentinian Jew to learn more about Israel and her Jewish roots to counter antisemitism masked as anti-Zionism.
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Israel Forever intern Caroline Tessler grew up in Brazil, in a Zionist environment. When she stepped outside her Jewish bubble she suddenly discovered shocking antisemitism. Coming to Israel helped her learn the truth about Israel.
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Although in my upbringing Israel was very apparent, in reality, Israel was a far away concept and country that I did not really connect to. I sang songs about Israel, visited Israel, spoke about Israel on holidays and learned history about Israel. But I did not have a deep connection to land or the people of Israel.
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Israel’s existence is important to me because if not Israel, where else? Israel is necessary for Jews like me in order to feel safe and to have a home. Israel has to be an independent nation to have an established army, but people may ask why this is important.
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