By Ben Hersch
A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit the Shalom Harman Institute in Jerusalem, a think tank which focuses on Jewish thought and connecting Israel to our Jewish identities. Engaging in meaningful text study about the "chosen-ness" of the Jewish people with the institute’s president Donniel Hartman, we discussed the ideological difference in the way Israelis and American interact with the Torah, relating to it through either exceptionalism or otherness. Most translations of the Tanach explain the phrase, "ve'heyeh bracha" as, "you shall be a blessing." While it is often interpreted by Americans to mean we must be a light unto the nations as stated in Isaiah, Israelis often understand our chosen peoplehood to mean we must be other, we must separate ourselves from other nations like Maimonides explained in Hilkhot Avoda Zara. While its perfectly fine to have different interpretations based on where you come from, a dangerous issue arises when American Jews say Israel does not represent my Judaism, and visa versa.
While I firmly believe as a Jew that the Jewish people can lead by example while differentiating ourselves from others, I have many friends at school who disassociate themselves with everything related to Israel, because they disagree with something going on here. Many even go as far as saying they don’t support Israel because their Jewish values tell them too. In my mind, if you truly care about something or someone it's okay to criticize, I’d even argue you must criticize Israel if something is wrong, but it must be done constructively and with the intention to make it better, not to tear it down.
Having lived my entire life in America, I can easily relate to the interpretation of the Jewish people being a light unto the nations. I feel it is our duty as the Jewish people to set a higher standard for ourselves, and it is our obligation to help make the world a better place. Yet, I also can relate to the Israeli interpretation of otherness, I identify as an American Jew, not a Jewish American. I am a Jew who happens to have grown up in the United States. While I appreciate the opportunities I have in the U.S., and ultimately seek to spend my life there, being American does not define me the same way being Jewish does. While many of my American friends go out Friday nights, I elect to spend shabbat with other friends at Hillel; singing, praying, eating, and laughing. While the lines constantly blur as I continue to experience the Jewish State, I aspire to make my mark on the Jewish community by setting this higher standard for myself.
