Why are we failing future generations?

A powerful Jewish educator and good friend of mine asked me why, or indeed if, the Jewish people need a Diaspora. I was taken aback by it, because I’d not really considered it before. The answer that first sprung to mind was “to defend Israel,” because who would be there to stop the ruthless forces of delegitimisation if not us?

He shot back though: “North Korea is under siege, it is labelled a rogue state; why don’t the North Koreans need a diaspora to defend their actions?” Interesting, and it certainly got me thinking – why do we have a Diaspora?

Ahad Ha’am, the famous Zionist thinker, thought that while Israel should be the spiritual and cultural centre of the Jewish people, just as important were the peripheries full of strong Jewish populations.

Indeed, that’s what we have now. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv may be the capitals of Jewish life and thought, but no one can deny the strength and impact of New York, Buenos Aires or even Melbourne and Sydney. Why do we keep them, though? If the purpose of Zionism was to establish a state where we could govern ourselves, where we could be liberated and fulfil our own destiny, why don’t we all pack up and move to Gush Dan?

The answer is because we’ve become a victim of our own success. We’ve integrated into society well, and we visit Israel, sure – more than members of most diaspora communities – but we’ve built rich and full lives here not only as Australians, but also as Jews, which we don’t want to leave.

In fact, the community we have built is stronger than most, and the envy of many – we’re inclusive and welcoming to all forms of Judaism and Zionism and it shows. Even those who’s cup of tea isn’t the State of Israel, they are still invited to sit at the table, discuss and participate. Collectively and communally, that is where our strength comes from.

But as strong as our community is, I believe we can no longer look into the future with rose-tinted glasses. While many speak of the horrors and possible future pains of inter-marriage the far greater issue, in my opinion, is Jews disengaging from the community. It might happen because they lose interest, because they’re ‘Jew-ed out’, because they can’t find their place or for a plethora of other reasons. The possible insidious effects of this cannot be ignored.

The ancient maxim that where there are five Jews there are six opinions should be translated here into our community’s targeting of different groups so as to maximise Jewish engagement. Ask the Russian or Israeli expat populations if the Establishment is meeting their needs; they’ve formed their own communities because we, by and large, struggle to include them our communal activities. We need events and campaigns for them, as well as young people, secular Jews and GLBTs to ensure the future strength of the Jewish population in Australia.

To be sure, they have ideas and they have leaders. When people are putting up their hands, pleading to be listened to, and crying out to be involved, actively, in putting this into action, we can ill-afford to dismiss them. When people are begging to lead, who are we tell them no? When this community means so much to so many people, we have to find a way to include them.

Too often passionate activists are dismissed or lambasted, publically ridiculed or swore at, blacklisted or threatened, and that cannot continue. Those who represent us, and those we look up to have to be worthy of their epithets and one of their top priorities has to be creating a community for the whole of our people, not only a portion.

I stand up for, and represent, the youth in our community. To say that in increasing numbers peers in my generation are disengaging from, and can find neither their place nor relevance in the community-at-large, is an understatement. Five months ago I wrote in The AJN about exactly that, and attempted to pursue it more widely, but got nowhere. If anything, I feel some things have gone backwards.

At some point, people will ask where generations X and Y went, why stalwart community organisations have few to take over, and we will wonder where we went wrong. The longer my generation’s leaders – and for that matter the leaders of other disenfranchised community niches – are berated or ignored, the longer this problem will only be pushed under the carpet.

If passionate people are making phone calls, we need receptive ears to answer them; we need doors to be open and real dialogue to be had. If it does, we can show Ahad Ha’am how incredible and full our Diaspora Jewish lives can be, now and into the future.

This column originally appeared in The Australian Jewish News.

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