Do American Jews still care about Israel?

On this special Israeli Independence Day edition of the Forward Forum, our panel is joined by the JTA’s managing editor Ami Eden to explore this crucial relationship in the lives of American Jews, as well as:

*Black-Jewish relations today;
*the impact of Jewish superdelegates on the Democratic presidential race;
*Israeli culture’s growing impact on Americans;
*the possibility that there are too many Jewish museums;
*and, as always, the Forward team’s parting shots.

What’s the current state of Black-Jewish relations?

Special guest Ami Eden opens up the discussion with a provocative assertion, saying that Black-Jewish relations are currently “in remission,” and won’t impact public life. The anti-Semitism that Jews used to attribute to the Black community has been replaced by perceived anti-Zionist threats from “white, mainline, liberal” forces, like Jimmy Carter and Mearsheimer and Walt.

The other panelists agree. Associate Editor Gabriel Sanders notes that anti-Zionism is perceived as a much bigger threat now than anti-Semitism, while Arts and Culture Editor Alana Newhouse recalls that, at one time, Jews were the shopkeepers in Black neighborhoods and sometimes the only representatives of the white establishment with which Blacks came into contact — which often caused tension between the two communities. But that is no longer the case, which may be a reason why Black-Jewish tension has dissipated.

The discussion then turns to Barack Obama and whether or not race plays a role in Jewish attitudes toward the presidential candidate. As Staff Reporter Jennifer Siegel points out, polls of the Jewish community have shown a lot of support for Obama amongst the larger Jewish community, but a subset of older, more affiliated Jews reveal suspicions — perhaps due to race or, as Staff Reporter Anthony Weiss suggests, false rumors of Obama’s Muslims ties.

How do Americans Jews feel about Israel?

Gabriel Sanders contends that “something has shifted” in American Jews’ relationship to Israel, that “the place of Israel in the American Jewish mind is not as central as it once was.”

Evaluating why that might be, Anthony Weiss notes that “the idea of Jews under threat around the world, isn’t the case anymore” and thus the role of Israel as a protective state no longer provokes loyalty amongst Americans.

When Alana Newhouse notes that Israel is not an easy place to be right now, Ami Eden goes a step further, pointing out that even “many Israelis” don’t want to be there. If Israelis themselves are not that patriotic, and if many of Israel’s “best people” are coming to the States, as Newhouse argues, how can one expect young Americans to feel a sense of loyalty or attraction to the country?

What role are Jewish superdelegates playing in the Democratic presidential race?

Many of the superdelegates, who pull sway in the much-contested Democratic nomination for president, are Jewish, and Jennifer Siegel’s been keeping tabs on them. One superdelegate, a Jewish woman, told Siegel of pledging her support for Hillary Clinton only after “heavy arm twisting” earlier in the race. Now she regrets it, saying, “If I were smart, I would’ve waited.” Siegel’s conclusion is that these Jewish superdelegates are in a no-win situation.

The panelists consider what’s at stake for these delegates — and for Clinton — if they don’t nominate Clinton and then have to serve beside her on the Senate floor. Alana Newhouse suggests that Clinton might not go back for another term as senator if she doesn’t feel the support of her party, but Ami Eden takes another tack. He likens Clinton’s situation to Ted Kennedy’s many years ago, and imagines that if Clinton loses the nomination, she could still have a long and successful career as a senator, in the style of Kennedy, ahead of her.

What does the burgeoning of Israeli culture mean for young Jews’ ties to Israel?

In the last few years, Israeli film, television, music and literature have been in full bloom and are being increasingly embraced the world over. But will this embrace of Israeli culture translate into an embrace of Israel itself?

Gabriel Sanders is skeptical. “If one goes to hear a French novelist, does that instill a love of France?” he asks. But Alana Newhouse argues that the arts provide an apolitical way to form a relationship with Israel that might be more palatable to certain segments of the Jewish population. “You see a different crowd for the Jewish film festival compared to an Etgar Keret reading,” she says.

Ami Eden doesn’t think that the embrace of Israeli culture will translate into people changing their political ideas about Israel, but concedes that Americans might feel a greater sense of shared humanity with Israelis since they have culture, too, just like we do.

Still, unconvinced, Jennifer Siegel questions “whether culture divorced of actual interactions [can] really mean that much.”

Are there too many Jewish museums?

A recent opinion piece in the Forward argued that the preponderance of Jewish museums -– including a brand new multi-million dollar institution next to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia — is hurting the American Jewish community.

Not all of our panelists agree.

One of the op-ed’s proponents, Alana Newhouse insists that the financial resources going to build and maintain the multitudes of Jewish museums around the country could be better spent on Jewish day schools, “which study after study shows is the best indicator of later attachment to Judaism.”

But Jennifer Siegel points out that, even if these resources were diverted to day schools, a large segment of the Jewish population still won’t be attending the schools. Museums are a good way for many less-affiliated Jews to connect with their heritage and “to have Jewish experiences with their family,” she argues.

Newhouse responds with another challenge, criticizing these museums – many of which are Holocaust museums – for focusing too much on the past and not on the future of the Jewish community. On the other hand, Gabriel Sanders counters that many of these museums act as community centers, creating a vibrant cultural life for the communities in which they reside. “It’s not like visiting a cemetery,” he says.

Parting shots
In closing, each member of our panel shares a last thought:
*Jennifer Siegel contrasts the careers of successful Jewish Governor Ed Rendell and disgraced Jewish ex-Governor Eliot Spitzer;
*Alana Newhouse wonders if the fall of Bear Stearns and the declining economy might cause the Jewish community to rethink its reliance on a handful of wealthy donors for support;
*Ami Eden cautions against placing too much weight on political candidates’ attitudes toward Israel and the Jewish community, since historically even anti-Semitic politicians have sided with Israel;
*Anthony Weiss speculates that for gay Jews, gaining more acceptance in the Jewish community will cause a struggle of identity;
*and Gabriel Sanders notes that the Streit’s matzo factory, which recently closed, is looking for stories for a documentary being made about the factory.