I always had the sense that part of the Zionist movement that lead to the wars that created modern Israel was the notion that Jews weren’t safe anywhere in the world and they needed that refuge lest they be wiped out elsewhere. Given the historical context of the time that was an understandable outlook for the survivors of WWII fleeing Europe. However, it just ain’t so - the US and Canada have been excellent refuges for the Jews. Probably other countries, too, but those are the two I have any ability to speak about.
If I had to flee the US due to those tiki-torch Nazis my first choice would be Canada, not Israel.
Yes, I actually HAVE been told I should want to live there. I’ve been told that by a few Jews. I have been told that by a LOT of evangelical Christians but of course their reasoning is that they need a modern Israel for their end-times death-orgy to commence so there’s another reason not to make that move…
As for being an “insurance policy”… a “place to go” that’s under continual siege to the point they have to build something like the Iron Dome is not a safe place to be, it’s a battlefield waiting to happen.
I’m not talking about people chanting “gas the Jews”, I’m talking about people yelling “Free Palestine!” as they attempt to cause me harm.
Somewhere to go? Really? The Chief Rabbinate of Israel would not recognize my mother’s conversion to Judaism. So to them I’m not a real Jew, although “Jewish enough” to be granted “residence” in Israel. Wow, skippy. Although it’s my understanding that if I had moved there while young enough I could still be required to serve in the IDF… just not marry a nice Jewish man. Jewish enough to be forced to bleed and possibly die for the country, but not Jewish enough to marry their sons. Or really anyone - not being a member of any of the designated recognized religions I would have no legal right to marry anyone in Israel, I’d have to leave the country to get a civil marriage in another nation. Which is the sort of thing I mean by second-class citizenship. To the Chief Rabbinate I’ll never be Jewish enough to be a full and equal citizen to a “real” Jew.
So how is that an “insurance policy” for me? Like I said - I’d try someplace like Canada first, where I have an actual chance to become a full citizen in time.
It’s not that it can’t happen here so much as Israel is not a guaranteed haven, either. They have marvelous anti-missile technology (although not perfect) but imagine how nasty it would be if it wasn’t there or failed. Or if all the Arab nations, backed by other nations as well, decided to steam-roll over Israel. There’s a lot of things that could happen but right now Jews in the US don’t have rockets fall on their heads or organized raid by Hamas on their neighborhoods. Just as Palestinians in the US enjoy equal citizenship rights to any other qualifying immigrant and don’t have to worry about aerial bombardment by the IDF.
Yes, there is always a problem of bigots getting into power, and not just for Jews or Palestinians or Muslims. That is a risk everywhere.
Yes.
Anywhere.
Currently there are people in power in the Middle East with stated goals of ethnic cleansing and even extermination. On both sides of the current war. Right now Israel strikes me as a more dangerous place to be than North America. Could that change? Of course it could. But I can’t predict the future, I can only deal with the present.
