A historian who writes about this time will certainly define October 7, 2023, as a formative date. The shock of the brutal massacre in broad daylight of men, women, elders, and children, and the destruction of communities shattered deeply-rooted believes. The heavy impact on the economic, social, and cultural spheres will draw a line of demarcation between "Israel before" and "Israel after." On the other hand, the expressions of internal solidarity and mutual responsibility that were revealed in full force during the "Swords of Iron War" will leave a lasting mark on Israeli society for the better.
This future historian will determine that not only has Israeli society changed its face, but so have the Jewish communities of the diaspora. They have mobilized since day one for the benefit of Israel and strengthened the relationship between Israel and the diaspora. The Israeli people have discovered the strength of the Jewish community, its determination, and its devotion to protecting Israel’s interests in a partly hostile world.
Israelis have suddenly realized that the Jewish communities around the world constitute an important, even critical pillar in Israel’s multi-layered defense. They are a vital part of Israel’s overall strength. While soldiers are fighting on the war front, and citizens are struggling on the home front, there is also a third circle of fighters on the global front - global Jewish communities that have mobilized to support Israel.
Comprehensive Mobilization of the Jewish People
Each community in its way and every Jewish individual in their way mobilized for the benefit of the Israeli cause. The scope of assistance and support is truly unprecedented - whether through donations and assistance to Israel and rebuilding the communities in the western Negev ("Otef Israel"), through assistance to the families of the hostages and the missing, and economic investment in Israel, combined with projects to strengthen Jewish-Israeli culture. All this took place during the actual days of battles, while the communities continued educational and informational activities to bring the younger generation of world Jewry closer to Israel and to support aliyah.
We have witnessed moving events: People collecting donations for a bar mitzvah celebration for the children of evacuees; volunteers coming from the diaspora to assist in harvesting and other various agricultural work, and businessmen and women who shed their suits and take an active part in demonstrations for Israel and the release of the hostages.
What has been particularly impressive is the mobilization of Jewish business leaders and high-tech entrepreneurs. Many of them have joined the efforts for Israeli advocacy and carried out diplomatic missions on their own: Daily advocacy in workplaces, lectures to venture capital managers, and support from influencers and public opinion leaders.
The displays of volunteering and support for Israel by the younger generation of the world Jewish community have been particularly impressive. Those who were called a "lost generation," who were expected to assimilate and perhaps seemed indifferent to the fate of Israel, proved themselves as patriots of the Jewish State. Some of them came to Israel as new immigrants specifically to enlist, alongside those who were already serving. They are conclusive evidence that the flame has not gone out among the next generation of Jewish people.
In a larger sense, the mobilization for these efforts encompasses all parts of the Jewish diaspora: Community leaders, heads of Jewish federations and organizations, directors of research institutes and museums, heads of Jewish universities and colleges, educators and activists - and the masses of the Jewish people, who feel the need to participate in a demonstration for Israel or to collect donations for IDF units.
The Two-Fold Struggle of Diaspora Jews
One of the ugly outcomes of the war imposed on Israel is the outbreak of waves of antisemitism throughout the world. The old hatred of Israel is taking a new form, one of fierce opposition to Israel, and presenting it in a negative light to the point of challenging its very right to exist. All of this is accompanied by manifestations of hatred and violence against Jews around the world, who have become living targets: Marking swastikas on the doors of residences and businesses, beating Jews (in one case even causing the death of a person), outbursts of rage in workplaces and social ostracism. All of these are a source of deep concern both among the communities themselves and among Israelis. This also obliges the communities to organize themselves for self-defense and action.
In this sense, Jews in the diaspora feel that they are also engaged in a struggle - for their right to be Jews, to maintain their collective identity and their heritage, to live a peaceful life, and to identify with their people in Israel.
World Jewry will continue to fight for their right to maintain close ties with Israel and maintain a multifaceted relationship with it, along with continuing their status as citizens with equal rights in their countries.
This dual struggle is expected to continue in the future as well, but it seems that world Jewish communities have been forged and have become stronger than before. They understand the profound meaning of the struggle to maintain their ways of life and preserve their traditions and culture.
A Deep Sense of Solidarity
I was recently asked whether the events following October 7th have undermined Diaspora Jews' perception of Israel as a haven. My answer is an unequivocal 'no.' In the hundreds of meetings I have held since the war broke out, with various representatives of the Jewish communities around the world - not only with the leaders of those communities but also with ordinary members - it has become clear to me that most Jews in the world feel that they have no real home except in Israel. Not only has this feeling not been shaken, it has been strengthened. They understand that they are at war and every one of them is fighting within the limits of their sector for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
From the beating hearts of a hundred Jewish communities around the world, a clear and poignant call rises today, echoing from one end of the world to the other, for unity and a close historical partnership between the people of Israel and diaspora Jewry. The war is a time of testing, and it seems to me that we are meeting the test.
The enlistment of Jews from around the world, coming together for Israel immediately upon the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War was not only impressive but also very moving. It arose out of true identification with the state and a deep sense of solidarity and partnership between the Jewish communities both in Israel and around the world. It is continuing in all its vitality and strength, providing Israel with political, financial, and moral support, and providing testimony from what feels like a thousand witnesses, to the unbreakable bond between the parts of the Jewish people.
Above all, this unique sense of brotherhood is yet another expression of the perception of the common destiny shared by Jews all over the world. These days, when Israel is waging a war on several fronts and fighting for its legitimacy in the world, world Jewish communities have proven that they are an important brick in the Zionist iron wall. Beyond gratitude and recognition, this obliges us, Israelis, to continue to cultivate our ties with world Jewry through joint dialogue and mutual activity. We must all be committed to the continued existence and prosperity of the Jewish people and Jewish civilization wherever they are found.
The editorial was previously published in Hebrew in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
