Jewish Emancipation Not Quite!

Since the slaughter of October 7 and the consequent Jew-hatred being expressed freely by many non-Jewish citizens of the world, there has been an upsurge in applications to make aliya, in particular from France, the United Kingdom and America.

The stark reality is one of division among diaspora Jews. There are those who, either out of fear for their safety or religious-national motives, want to be Jews and nothing but Jews and do so by identifying themselves thoroughly with the Jewish State. Then there are those who do not wish to emigrate for various reasons and prefer to be an Englishman, Frenchman, or one of many other nationalities rather than call themselves Israelis. These Jews should face the fact that they do not want to be Jews in the complete sense and have chosen exile over political and spiritual redemption.

These Jews, contrary to their beliefs, are not emancipated. They remain enslaved to their inferiority complex and desperate need to be accepted wholly into their host country’s culture and values—just another American or Australian like their gentile neighbours. They are generally taking vigorous steps to immerse themselves entirely in the gentile life around them. Thoughts of liquidating the Diaspora are anathema to them. 1948, and the restoration of the Jewish State was the declaration of emancipation for the Jewish people. Despite the challenges to its survival, Israel is an incredible success story, an extraordinary example of the victory of the human spirit over harsh realities.

In contrast, Diaspora Jews shape their self-identity within the mediocrity of a despised minority left to choose the Diaspora over Israel; they put themselves in jeopardy.

Does this mean we Jews in Israel should give up on the Diaspora Jew as a hopeless cause? Never, they are our brothers and sisters, and we must do all in our power to bring them home!