From aliyah to ‘Cloud-Zionism’

As Israelturns 72, shiftin focus could turn Zionism into the vehicle through which Jews preserve theirJudaism

By GOL KALEV

OMMENT

ionistleader Chaim Weizmann said Jews. For Orthodox Jews and “super-Jews” century ago that Zionism isabout those activelyinvolved in Jewish organi- Judaizing the Jewish communities. zations and activities Judaism remains Today, as old connections to Judaism core aspect of life.But forthe vastmajority fade, Zionism is indeed turning into of American Jews, Judaism islow on their primary manner Diaspora Jews relateto hierarchy of identities.Being member of their Judaism. This isboth through posi- synagogue does not mean being engaged tiveand negative connections. with Judaism, justlikehaving librarycard Since its inception, Zionism had both does not mean being regularbook reader. practicaland ideologicalaspects,but over connection to Judaism through Israelis the lastcentury, the focus tended to be on compatible with those contemporary reali- the practicalsidesince itwas so successful: ties and embeds in it transformative The Jewish statewas establishedand isnow approach for American Jews from rela- thriving. Theodor Herzl was aware that tionship to Judaism that isbased on obliga- successcould suppress the greatermeaning tion and traditionto an organic one that is of Zionism: “There are those people who based on want and appeal.An American Jew do not understand us properly and think can connect to his Judaism through wide that the goal of our effortsisto come back arrayof Israeli-relatedexperiences,products to our land,” he said in 1899. “Our ideal and valuesthat are appealing to him. goes further than that. Our ideal is the Indeed, the more desirableitems there greateternaltruth.” are on the shelves of the Jewish connec- Herzl underscored that Zionism would tionssupermarket, the more likelyitisthat continue to be an infiniteideallong after consumer would purchase at leastone the establishment of the Jewish state product. The Israelisupermarket has wide because Zionism embeds “not only the range of connections, while the old Jewish aspirationto the Promised Land...but also supermarket is limited and depends on the aspiration to moral and spiritual “customer loyalty.” completion.” An American Jew who isinto wine can As Israelturns 72, shiftin focus from the connect to his Judaism through the grow- practical to the ideological aspect of ing listof award-winning Israeliwines. An Zionism could unleash this great eternal American Jew who is gay can connect to truth and turn Zionism into the vehicle his Judaism through Israeligay culture.An through which Jews preservetheirJudaism. American Jewish innovator can connect Conditions are now ripe forthisconcep- through Israeli hi-tech advances. The tual shift,as Israelileadersand the Jewish American Jew is the one who chooses Agency have in recent years softened their when to connect, how often and in what attempts to convince Diaspora Jews to form hence the connection ismore genu- make aliyah, recognizing that Diaspora ine and relevant. Jews can choose from range of alternative Unlike few years ago, the Jew can now relationshipswith the Jewish state:They do so from his own home. Israelisnow at can stayathome and consume Israeliexpe- the fingertipsof an American Jew. He can riences through their laptop or phone, access Israelimusic in the exact same way they can be serialvisitors,they can own the Israelidoes since neither of them do vacation home in Israelor they can indeed so via radio airwaves anymore. He can make aliyah, which certainly remains accessIsraeliTV shows and tune into Israel- Zionistaspiration. relatedwebinars.For example, the America- All these alternativesare much more IsraelFriendship League recently brought accessibletoday than they were merely Israelicuisineinto the homes of over 2,500 few years ago. Hence the abilityto relateto Americans, with livedemonstration class one’s Judaism through Israelisnow easier. by top Israelichef. (Note: The writeris This comes at time when new conduit board member of the AIFL and chair of its to Judaism is needed, especiallyin North think tank). Celebrating Passover in New York with Israeliwine. (Courtesy) America, home to about 80% of Diaspora The idea of Israelturning into vehicle dog looks out from balcony decorated with Israeliand American flagsduring performance by IDF soldiersin Tel Aviv last month forresidentsobserving stay-at-home orders to help fightthe spread of the novel coronavirus.(Amir Cohen/Reuters) for the American Jew’s connection to in each city.NyLons would often encoun- most partarefutileasthey arenot sufficient- Judaism has been deliberatedby the AIFL ter the same people in restaurants,clubs ly particularto serve as Jewish connector. Think Tank since 2011, but what has and events in London as they would In Jewish environmental activistisnot wear- changed in 2020 is that this is no longer New York. ing his “Jewish hat” during his environ- theoretical.Not only isZionism now on The same dynamics existstoday with the mental involvement, and is by far more cloud which iseasilyaccessible,but alsothe “DiasporaSraeli.” Many American seri- likelyto pursue his interestthrough an coronavirus pandemic led to swiftbehav- al-visitorswould encounter the same peo- environmental organization than through ioralshiftand adaptation to the cloud-men- ple in parties, lectures and festivalsin Jewish organization.However, those activ- talityby the masses. Italteredthe relation- Jerusalem or TelAviv as they would in New itiescould become relevantto one’sJudaism ship between the physicaland the virtual. York or Los Angeles (forexample, at TLV iffunneled through Zionistconduit. Cloud-Zionism enables richer,relevant International,which organizes intellectual This could be done in this example and personalized relationship with one’s gatherings foryoung people). through successfulIsraelienvironmental Judaism through Zionism. This istrue also But there is an important distinction projectthat isappealing to such American through negative-connections. NyLons are both New Yorkers and Jew on itsown merits (forexample, Israeli For many Jews, the primary Jewish- Londoners there isparity.In the Diaspora- solar fieldsin Africa).American Jews can relatedactivityiscriticismof Israel,infor- Israelcase,those areDiaspora Jews connect- fulfillthe visions of both Brandeis and mally or through an organization,such as ing through theirvisitsto Israeland not the Weizmann, by bringing theirapplications J-Street.This too is connection to one’s other way around. Louis Brandeis, the of tikkunolam into the hub of Zionism, and Judaism through Zionism. American Zionist leader in the early 20th in doing so Judaizing theirown Judaism. Cloud-Zionism also contributes to century, envisioned lines coming out of Cloud-Zionism facilitates variety of more physical connection with Israel. Jerusalem into the various Jewish commu- connections to Judaism from periodic More and more Diaspora Jews have turned nities.Yet he drew contrast between his webinars to making aliyah.It is fulfill- into serialvisitorsin recent years.Airbnb views and that of Weizmann and his col- ment of the ideologicalaspect that Herzl has changed the affordabilitydynamics of leagues.Brandeis viewed itexclusivelyas developed rightfrom the onset of Zionism. visitingand the increased number of daily hub-and-spoke relationshipand repudiated Indeed, lessthan week afterpublishing flights, and destinations along with Weizmann’s camp forseeking intra-Diaspo- The Jewish Statein 1896, Herzl shared pro- reduced airlinecost,have allcontributed to ra connections between the various Jewish found facet of his vision with enthused making Israelmore accessible. centers.“To this can not agree,”he said. members of Jewish student union in For some, virtualbridge to Israelhas “You should be satisfiedthat our aspira- Vienna. He told them: “Maybe we will emerged so much that its suspension tionswould meet in Jerusalem.” never to get to Zion, and then we need to during the coronavirus crisiscreated sec- In other words, the Zionistconnection to aspireto Zion that isin our hearts.” ondary crisisfor some Diaspora Jews feel- Judaism goes exclusively through Israel Today, for those Jews who never got to ing in “exile”by denial of their abilityto and is not organically-generated in the Zion, the conditions are now ripeto aspire visit.These are not justreligiousJews, but Diaspora. to the Zion that isin theirhearts! alsoyoung millennials some of whom got This projects to today’s attempts to exposed to Israelthrough Birthright/Taglit replace the fading American Jewish glues The writerisauthor of the upcoming book as well as secularAmerican Jews of allages with new Diaspora-generated connections Judaism 3.0.More information can and backgrounds. to Judaism, such as through the environ- be found at JewishTransformation.com. The serial-visitorsto Israelarein linewith ment, human rights,and various other Comments can be directedto globaltrends,such as the NyLon, who trav- modern applications of tikkun olam [email protected]. elfrequentlybetween New York to London (improving the world). For more of the writer’sarticles,see and maintain similarlifeand socialcircles Those intra-Diasporaconnections forthe EuropeandJerusalem.com.