http://fresnozionism.org/archives/33 A pro-Israel voice from California's Central Valley Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:54:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://fresnozionism.org/archives/33#comment-15 Shalom Freedman Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:22:36 +0000 http://fresnozionism.org/archives/33#comment-15 I would add to this outstanding analysis a couple of points. One is mentioned in the article , at least implicitly, but cannot be emphasiszed enough. i.e. The ignorance of increasing numbers of Jews of traditional texts and sources. The connection of the Jewish people with Israel as Rosenthal rightly points out is strongly emphasized in all the major Jewish sources. Secondly, I tend to see the distancing by certain Diaspora Jews from connection with Israel as immoral action, escaping Jewish communal responsibility. I see it as a kind of moral cowardice. One remedy in my opinion is in 'learning' but not simply traditional learning from religious sources but rather from a more full study of Jewish culture and history. Another remedy I believe in strongly is the 'experiential one' of young Jews coming to visit and better know Israel in this way. Here of course 'The Birthright' program is to be commended for the oustanding work it does. I would add to this outstanding analysis a couple of points. One is mentioned in the article , at least implicitly, but cannot be emphasiszed enough. i.e. The ignorance of increasing numbers of Jews of traditional texts and sources. The connection of the Jewish people with Israel as Rosenthal rightly points out is strongly emphasized in all the major Jewish sources.
Secondly, I tend to see the distancing by certain Diaspora Jews from connection with Israel as immoral action, escaping Jewish communal responsibility. I see it as a kind of moral cowardice.
One remedy in my opinion is in ‘learning’ but not simply traditional learning from religious sources but rather from a more full study of Jewish culture and history.
Another remedy I believe in strongly is the ‘experiential one’ of young Jews coming to visit and better know Israel in this way. Here of course ‘The Birthright’ program is to be commended for the oustanding work it does.

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