The way you frame the choice I understand and it makes sense at a personal level, that is, as an individual or family choice. However, there is also the question of what is best for the Jews as a people. Is it advantageous for Jews to have more and more Jews from the Diaspora emigrate to Israel? I think there is a huge risk of concentrating most of the world's Jewish population in Israel because future conditions may change and Israel may one day end up highly isolated. The probability of Western support for Israel won't increase if the Jews of the West flee to Israel. This is why I believe Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews need to work together for the greater Jewish community which is threatened in both Israel and the Diaspora. Until Israel can achieve a decisive victory over Hamas and until the Arabs of Gaza and Judea and Samaria are deradicalized or expelled, the narrative of Palestinian liberation will resonate in the Middle East and the West, perpetuating problems for Jews in all regions.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, David. I completely agree that the question of what is best for the Jewish people as a whole is just as crucial as individual choices about where to live. While I made the decision to live in Israel, I don’t believe that all Jews should move here — nor that it would be strategically wise for the Jewish people.
As you point out, concentrating most of the world’s Jews in Israel poses significant risks. Israel’s resilience depends not only on its internal strength but also on the backing of Jews in the Diaspora. Western support for Israel is unlikely to grow if Jewish communities abroad shrink or retreat.
I strongly believe in the necessity of a thriving and engaged Jewish Diaspora, working together with Israeli Jews for the greater good of our people. Whether in Israel or abroad, we are all facing unprecedented threats. The Palestinian narrative continues to fuel hostility toward Jews globally, and as you said, until Hamas is decisively defeated and the deradicalization of Palestinian society is achieved, these challenges will persist.
One thing I would add is that while Israel’s geopolitical position is still precarious, it is much better in many ways than it was pre-October 7. The notion that Israel could become totally isolated is not inevitable — history is not linear, and while Western support is certainly a concern, Israel has also built alliances beyond the traditional Western bloc. We have seen the Abraham Accords shift the dynamics in the region, and economic and strategic ties with countries in the Arab world continue to develop, as well as with other countries in Africa and Asia, for example.
Ultimately, I believe that the fate of Jews in Israel and the Diaspora is intertwined. The idea that one part of the Jewish world can thrive while the other declines is an illusion. Whether here or abroad, we have to see ourselves as part of one people and one shared destiny.
The way you frame the choice I understand and it makes sense at a personal level, that is, as an individual or family choice. However, there is also the question of what is best for the Jews as a people. Is it advantageous for Jews to have more and more Jews from the Diaspora emigrate to Israel? I think there is a huge risk of concentrating most of the world's Jewish population in Israel because future conditions may change and Israel may one day end up highly isolated. The probability of Western support for Israel won't increase if the Jews of the West flee to Israel. This is why I believe Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews need to work together for the greater Jewish community which is threatened in both Israel and the Diaspora. Until Israel can achieve a decisive victory over Hamas and until the Arabs of Gaza and Judea and Samaria are deradicalized or expelled, the narrative of Palestinian liberation will resonate in the Middle East and the West, perpetuating problems for Jews in all regions.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, David. I completely agree that the question of what is best for the Jewish people as a whole is just as crucial as individual choices about where to live. While I made the decision to live in Israel, I don’t believe that all Jews should move here — nor that it would be strategically wise for the Jewish people.
As you point out, concentrating most of the world’s Jews in Israel poses significant risks. Israel’s resilience depends not only on its internal strength but also on the backing of Jews in the Diaspora. Western support for Israel is unlikely to grow if Jewish communities abroad shrink or retreat.
I strongly believe in the necessity of a thriving and engaged Jewish Diaspora, working together with Israeli Jews for the greater good of our people. Whether in Israel or abroad, we are all facing unprecedented threats. The Palestinian narrative continues to fuel hostility toward Jews globally, and as you said, until Hamas is decisively defeated and the deradicalization of Palestinian society is achieved, these challenges will persist.
One thing I would add is that while Israel’s geopolitical position is still precarious, it is much better in many ways than it was pre-October 7. The notion that Israel could become totally isolated is not inevitable — history is not linear, and while Western support is certainly a concern, Israel has also built alliances beyond the traditional Western bloc. We have seen the Abraham Accords shift the dynamics in the region, and economic and strategic ties with countries in the Arab world continue to develop, as well as with other countries in Africa and Asia, for example.
Ultimately, I believe that the fate of Jews in Israel and the Diaspora is intertwined. The idea that one part of the Jewish world can thrive while the other declines is an illusion. Whether here or abroad, we have to see ourselves as part of one people and one shared destiny.