When planning began for this Dialogue, we were focused on polarization within the organized Jewish community in the Diaspora, mainly in North America. Nevertheless, as we began conducting the Dialogue sessions in the winter of 2023 (January-March), we could not ignore the growing polarization in Israel over the governing coalition’s proposed “Judicial Reform.” This polarization expressed itself in massive demonstrations, by both opponents
and proponents of the proposed reform, and forms of nonviolent civil
disobedience such as blocking highways, or more radical action such as ceasing to volunteer for IDF reserve service. The sustained coverage of the protests against the judicial reform in both the general and the Jewish media in the Diaspora, and the interest it generated in Jewish communities, led us to include the “judicial reform” issue in the Dialogue sessions. It could not be ignored.
At a certain point we added a question concerning polarization in Israel and its effect on Dialogue participants. The answers to this and other questions surprised us. They indicated that as a result of this crisis there has been a rise in interest and curiosity about Israel on the part of at least some engaged Diaspora Jews, and this seems to have intensified post October 7. Undoubtedly, the constitutional-political crisis in Israel has also had a negative effect in most Diaspora communities, as indicated among other things, by a decline in Aliyah rates. During the first half of 2023, Aliyah was down 20% from the previous year earlier.8 The perception of Israel as a secure and stable keystone for Jewish life and identity has been damaged. Many of the participants also wrote (in response to the survey’s open questions) that it would cause younger Diaspora Jews to tune out or become apathetic to Israel (an effect confirmed by anecdotal accounts from educators working with Jewish students).
Nevertheless, for our highly engaged leadership group (that is, for the participants themselves) it seems to have had a different effect. Most participants, who are highly engaged with their local Jewish communities and federations, indicated that they feel more connected to Israel as result of this crisis (57%) and two thirds said that they were more likely to visit Israel. This rise in interest also expresses itself in the fact that Jewish groups in the Diaspora tend to side with their parallel groups in Israel. In fact, 75% said the crisis has increased their desire to contribute resources to those in Israel with whom they agree. Orthodox, Republican, and conservative Jews tend to side with the Israeli government, while liberal Jews tend to side with the opposition and the protest movement. Sixty-two percent of the participants said that polarization has led to an increase in discussions about Israel and its policies9, and 64% said that they eagerly participate in such discussions10.
In other words, the political-constitutional crisis in Israel had, at the time of this writing, both positive and negative effects. It increased the engagement of these highly involved Jewish leaders with Israel and their attachment to it, and it revived curiosity about Israel and Israeli society. A successful resolution of the current crisis should try to preserve these positive aspects. At the same time, it seems to have increased apathy and “tuning out” among the younger generation.
