THE JEWISH WEEK
Why Israel Is Frustrated With American Jewish Leaders
by Gerald M Steinberg
January 27, 2016

In Jerusalem, I read Gary Rosenblatt’s column, “Frustration With Israel Is Growing Here At Home” (Jan. 8), with my own sense of frustration regarding American Jews and Israel. I have regular conversations with North American Jewish leaders. Many of them take too many cues from the loud but marginal voices in Israel, getting a very distorted view of reality and missing the big picture…In order to appreciate and be part of this [Jewish] renaissance, which in addition to security is the main reason for having our own state and space, young Americans need a Jewish education. And here, U.S. Jewish leaders and their organizations are not doing well. Far too many young Jews — including many who are outspoken critics of Israel — are terribly ignorant of even the basics, with little to zero knowledge of Hebrew or of Jewish and Israeli history. READ MORE