Israel Is Doing Fine; We're the Ones Who Need Help

Key Findings:

The author begins by dismantling the common conception of Israel as a nation in need of aid and donations from Diaspora Jews. Instead, he argues that Diaspora Jews and more specifically, American Jews, are in need of Israel. 

Israelis have been “channeling centuries of excellence into building a proud, successful, secular Jewish reality.” Meanwhile, Diaspora Jews have been assimilating into cultures that have eroded their Jewish ownership. American Jews need help from Israelis, and support should flow in this direction. 

The best way to help Diaspora Jews, the author argues, is by increasing exposure to Israeli culture. Three concrete ways to achieve this are suggested.  

The first— investing in better Hebrew language education. The author points out that there is a lack of qualified Hebrew teachers and master's programs teaching Hebrew at a high level. 

The second— a large-scale funded program as an extension of the already existing Birthright program, which would bring people back to Israel throughout the course of their lives. This would include family trips, honeymoons, networking events, and even influencer opportunities. 

The third— making content that falls under the umbrella of Israeli culture, like films, literature, and art, more accessible in America. This could mean anything from funding the commission of more Israeli screenplays to subsidizing the translation of more Israeli books. 

The author’s final point is that Israel should cover much of the financial responsibility a shift like this would entail. Financial backing flowing from Israel to America supports the author’s main argument— Israel and America’s aid dichotomy should be flipped.