On the Ground in Israel A personal view of our efforts in Israel from Amir Shacham, UJC MetroWest Director of Israel Operations October 23, 2008

Perspective

Akavya ben-Mahalal'el says: consider three things and you will not come to sin: know from where you have come, where you are going and to whom you are destined to render report. From where have you come? — From a smelly drop; where are you going? — To a place of dust, rot and worms; and to whom are you destined to render report? — To the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.

(AVOT, CHAPTER THREE, MISHNAH ONE )

I do not mean to depress or rebuke anyone with the above quote; by the end of this report you will see how optimistic we should all be. However, from time to time it is recommended to return to straightforward, old Jewish wisdom in order to remind us not to lose perspective in life.

The panicked perception of the current global economic crisis sometimes goes out of control, and one might feel that the entire world is going to collapse. In such situations, we should always remember our tradition, which teaches us that financial wealth is not a given nor should it become an ultimate goal in life. We are taught to remember that prosperity can come and go, and that our personal and collective lives should be based on more solid pillars.

The Mitzvah of sitting in the Sukkah for seven days is the perfect example, and Israel is the perfect laboratory to demonstrate it. I was reminded of this lesson every day during the week of the Hag while touring the Jewish state. No matter who they are, what they do for living, where they come from, and what they might have in their bank accounts, Jews are building huts to remind themselves that their forefathers were poor slaves and that we are all equal.

Lately, I have often been asked by many about the potential implications of the recent financial crisis and about the relationships between Israel and the Diaspora Jewish communities. Indeed, no one expert can wisely predict what will happen to either, and we know well to whom the prophecy was given after the destruction of the temple. Yet, I have my own theory and a good line for an answer:

“Israel/Diaspora relationships are like the stock exchange market: Sometimes they are better than they are at other times, but if one invests wisely, in a solid way and for the long run, the return is promised and the risk of a disaster is minimal.”

Here is an example: Thirty years ago the Jewish Community of New Jersey (the predecessors of UJC MetroWest and Northern New Jersey Federations) decided to invest in the distressed neighborhood of Ramat Eliyahu in Rishon Letzion, Israel. The investment was financially modest but meaningful in its nature: For the first time in the history of Israel/Diaspora relationships, the communities abroad felt that they had a real share, a real say, and a real connection to their “investments” in Israel. It was not about buying some bargain stocks in order to make easy money; it was about becoming share holders in a long-range project to better Israel in the distant future. This concept, which was developed by late Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the Jewish Agency for Israel, was called “Project Renewal,” and it became the MetroWest community’s first geographical partnership in the State of Israel.

With time, UJC MetroWest created a few more geographical partnerships in Israel, based on the same concept of reciprocity. The most extensive one was established some 13 years ago with the Negev development town of Ofakim and the surrounding region of Merchavim under Partnership 2000. We now have five different communities with whom we feel connected and proudly invested. We are helping them develop, working closely with their leadership, conducting joint ventures, and implementing various projects and programs. The UJC “investment portfolio” in Israel is a very solid and long-range one, but what is more important: it is not remote, run by some anonymous “broker” or “trust fund.” It is handled by the leadership of the MetroWest community together with our partners on the ground in Israel, through an intimate ongoing dialogue, mutual respect, and careful monitoring. And one more unique thing that we have: The dollar tag on our investments in Israel is less important than the people-to-people connections that have been formed throughout the years. The “living bridge” that has been built between UJC and its Israeli partners is solid and strong enough to carry us all and survive any short-term financial crisis.

On November 16th in Ofakim-Merchavim and on November 19th in Rishon Letzion, this theory is going to be proven when, no matter what the economic situation will be, hundreds of people, friends, and partners from UJC and from its partner regions in Israel will celebrate 60 years of the creation of the State of Israel and 30 years since the establishment of the first UJC partnership in Ramat Eliyahu. We will take pride of the many achievements and enjoy the profits of our “portfolio” from the last 30 years. Through many different new investments, projects, and endeavors, we will commit to keep holding our shares in our partnership regions for many more years to come.

So let’s not lose perspective: When Israel/Diaspora relationships are based on a wider foundation than just the allocations and donations of dollars, no temporary financial crisis will damage them. Above the obvious need for financial assistance and the mutual benefit of Tzedaka, there must be a solid infrastructure, such as connections, partnership, friendship, joint destiny, peoplehood, mutual responsibility, and other Jewish values. UJC and its partners in Israel are leading this concept nationally, and therefore we shouldn’t be too worried or depressed in this regard.

Amir

You can email Amir with your comments.

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On the Ground archive

• October 6, 2008
• September 16, 2008
• September 2, 2008
• August 11, 2008
• July 28, 2008
• July 15, 2008
• July 1, 2008
• June 6, 2008
• May 26, 2008
• May 12, 2008
• April 28, 2008
• April 14, 2008
• March 31, 2008
• March 17, 2008
• March 3, 2008
• February 13, 2008