An American Oleh – a response to Jeffrey Goldberg

This was written by our friend Baruch in response to Jeffrey Goldeberg’s rant against the Israeli ads encouraging ex-patriots living in America to return to Israel:

Dear Brother Jeff, (Can I call You Jeff?)

I have been following your outrage as a result of the widely successful “Anti Diaspora” ad campaign.  As one who was born and raised in the USA and moved to Israel at a young enough age to join the Army here and make Israel my home, I would like to help you understand the way we feel, and why it is that you shouldn’t be too offended by those of us who do not want our children to live outside of our land.

While the U.S. Diaspora treated us fairly, it can never substitute for our own homeland.  I, for one believe, that part of the reason that I grew up to be a proud Jew is as a direct result of being born and raised in the United States.  I am a proud American Jew and Patriot.  The American part of me gave me the upbringing and possibility to understand Freedom and yearn for a free homeland for my Jewish part.  Growing up in NY allowed me to feel first hand the hatred of anti-Semitism.  We of course enjoyed the help of the NYPD – something that most Jews in other diasporas did not.  But even the USA did not agree to bomb the train tracks leading to Auschwitz – as this was not seen as a necessary war effort (it would have “just” saved 10,000 Jews a day…).  An Army of our own, in a homeland of our own may even see it fit to travel 2,500 miles to the middle of Africa – “just” to free 102 mostly Jewish hostages.  Although the heroes of that Air France flight were the French Air crew who refused to leave their passengers behind, no one from France dared to set up a rescue mission.  Clearly, even a great “Galus” like the USA is still just a “Galus”.

This is what justified volunteering for a special forces team in the Israeli Army.  Although donating money and blogging for the “Zionist cause” may be great and make one feel important, it is far from enough.  I understand that you too served in the IDF and I am sure that at that time you understood yourself for doing so. 

I fought for this land, and carried friend’s bodies back to their families who died for this land.  I cried for this land and the plight of many families who will never be whole again, as a direct result of those who wish to take it away.

Here is where we are very different.  Here in Israel, we believe that this is our homeland – no matter the cost- monetary or other.  This is where our God destined us to live and grow.  We don’t live here because Stanley Fisher (another American) is the best Central Bank Governor in the world.  We don’t live here because it’s always sunny.  We don’t live here because the unemployment rate is half of that of the USA’s.  We lived here when we were at war.  We lived here when there was a drought.  We lived here when our GNP was a tenth of America’s. 

I strive every day to provide for my family and my company’s employees.  I could have it much easier in the USA.  My family and friends in the U.S. are proof of that.  But I choose the struggle.  I willingly gave up on “Sunday” and normal doughnuts.  I chose the Israeli hard water – long before we found out that the water in Long Island was carcinogenic…

If after all of this, one of my four children would decide to leave Israel and live with a great Jewish person in America – I would be heartbroken.  It would be devastating – no less.  The fact that You and the JFNA were so offended, proves that my feelings about “losing a child” to the US Diaspora have a sound basis.  You don’t see why someone like me couldn’t fathom not having my children (and hopefully grandchildren) here in Israel.  We live here for a million reasons such as purpose, religion, spirituality, Jewish growth – long before the more sexy reasons that you suggested for an alternative campaign. We would still live here if the economy went south, or if Shmulik’s mom didn’t really miss him.  As your suggested reasons to come back here were all so shallow – it strengthens my point of not wanting my children and grandchildren to get that kind of upbringing.  It’s not that our children here are genetically better than yours – they are just getting a better sense of true values than yours are.  This is not meant to be condescending – move here, and you will understand as well.  Oh, by the way – You were 100% correct about the U.S. Jewry’s assimilation problem.  Well, at least 52% correct…

Sincerely Your Brother,

Baruch

3 Responses to “An American Oleh – a response to Jeffrey Goldberg”

Comment from David Cohen
Time December 8, 2011 at 6:45 am

Another response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewe4_Stvq0E

Comment from Yefuneh
Time December 11, 2011 at 9:05 am

I really appreciate Baruch’s response, and I agree pretty much 100%. Thank you for your bold stand. I love Yisrael—visited four times. But I and my family (wife and 4 children) are not permitted to make aliyah and to live in a more “Torah-friendly” society. Why? Because we are Jew-ISH by choice—not birth. Perhaps our kind represents the long LOST descendants of the northern tribes of Yisrael – there must be some soul-connection that causes us to yearn-to-”return” to the Land of the Kingdom, and to the Law of the Kingdom, and to the Language of the Kingdom, and to serve the Leader of the Kingdom alongside the Loyal Subjects of His Kingdom—Am-Yisrael. We pray—One day!!! May Mashiakh come speedily! Shalom from the States…

Comment from Leah
Time December 13, 2011 at 8:10 am

Great article. BTW, Stanley Fisher is not American. He is Rhodesian.