Australian Jewry – divided we fail

While participating in the Voice of the People laboratory initiated by President Herzog (AJN 23/06), I recalled the many horrific and catastrophic external attempts over the millennia to eliminate the Jewish people. However, the occasions that the Jewish people almost disappeared were due to internal, self-inflicted division. The President was warning that unless we can arrest and reverse current trends, we may revisit the past.

Why is this happening? The disease currently infecting the West is what I have chosen to call fragmentation: the breakdown of norms of thought, behaviour and social relationships. The evidence is seen in all aspects of life. For example, the collapse of support for the major political parties in favour of a multiplicity of independents and minor ones. Other concerning indicators include the woke cults of cancel culture, identity politics and intolerance for opinions contrary to our own. Unlike Covid and flu, science hasn’t developed a way to immunise us from this disease; indeed it has probably exacerbated the issue through the internet, social media and artificial intelligence.

We, the Jewish people, are similarly afflicted. Even in Australia, arguably the best and strongest Zionist Diaspora community, we see growing signs of fragmentation, including challenges to the models of elected community leadership which have served us so well. I have been privileged to visit many Diaspora communities and have concluded that there is no better place to be Jewish outside of Israel other than Australia. Australia has the highest number of Holocaust survivors outside of Israel. This is a result of the desire of Second World War refugees to resettle as far away from Europe as possible. More than 70 per cent of Australian Jews have visited Israel.

In Australia, irrespective of one’s level of religious observance or lack thereof, there are like-minded persons. There is a strong tolerance for diversity aided by Australia’s unique brand of multiculturalism, which encourages all to celebrate their heritage. It is important to distinguish this diversity from the fragmentation previously discussed. Diversity is a positive force and encourages variety and different points of view.

Not so long ago Israel was disparaging of Diaspora communities and encouraged all Jews to migrate to Israel. That attitude has been dramatically revised, as evidenced by the President convening 14 laboratories in different cities outside of Israel. Israel values the support and friendship of Australia. This support is due in no small measure to the long-term and continuing advocacy of the organised Australian Jewish community.

Australia is also distinguished from many other Diaspora communities in that our Jewish community has continued to grow since the Second World War. But our community’s share of Australia’s population is beginning to decline as the inflow of Jewish immigrants from Russia and South Africa has dried up, and current arrivals are almost entirely Israelis.

If the Australian Jewish community is to play a meaningful role in responding to Israel’s President then we must first ensure we are united and speak with one voice.

The one gap in the Australian community that is relevant to the President’s concern is the lack of representation of Israelis now resident in Australia in our elected leadership organisations. The issue is now not only relevant, but urgent. Debates have been dominated by misinformation and misunderstandings. I have heard claims from “Ausraelis” that their past contributions to Israel are not sufficiently acknowledged, that the community is too religious or they are uninterested to simply be recipients of community decisions. Conversely, I hear claims from some of our leaders that Ausraelis are arrogant, unwilling to financially contribute or have abandoned Zionism.

I do not accept any of these claims as representative of Ausraelis or our leadership. It is time to set aside past misconceptions and prejudices and engage in transparent good-faith conversations. I am advised there are not less than 10,000 and as many as 20,000 Ausraelis. Many of these already make significant contributions as individuals to both Australia and Israel over a wide range of areas, including academia, culture, science and agriculture. They can and should be involved in the organised Jewish community and many would occupy leadership positions, add muscle to our advocacy and contribute to policy formulation. A Jew’s obligation to Zionism and continuity is never extinguished.

Some 10 years ago Dr Ran Porat’s doctoral thesis at Monash University researched Israelis in Australia. A useful starting point may be for the Jewish Community Council of Victoria/Executive Council of Australian Jewry to initiate discussions with Porat and some of his fellow Ausraelis on how this pressing priority can be moved to a positive outcome.

We must unite to optimise Australia’s unique opportunity to provide meaningful input in response to President Herzog’s welcome and courageous initiative.

Grahame Leonard is a past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.