MASA Ad----->Delicious Pandemonium

It’s moments like these that I am happy I made aliyah. Haaretz has reported on the frenzied reaction of the “Israeli Reform Movement” regarding MASA’s ad described in the previous article on this blog.

“It’s a spit in the face of Diaspora Jews and organizations,” Kariv told Haaretz. “The entire Israel Journey program is based on partnership between Israeli and Diaspora organizations, and then this campaign comes along saying they are second-rate Jews, and that they shouldn’t intermarry? That raising their kids in the States means those children are lost?!”

Second-rate Jews is far from the case, but the 5% decline in population every decade cannot be rationalized. I don’t think Kariv understands that the “Reform Movement” was the result of the desire of European Jews to be more accepted in Western countries like Germany. Israel is not quite Western and has a majority Jewish population. Ideologies like his are irrelevant-secular Israelis who do not wish to be observant don’t need some contrived “organization” to tell them to remain Jews.
Kariv continues:

“All Diaspora Jews who have seen the ad were absolutely appalled. The feeling is that we moved 30 years back with negative rhetoric of contempt to Jewish life in the Diaspora,” said Kariv.

Moved back 30 years? We shall overcome? That statement is so old school social justice-just the kind of language (the only one) those “appalled people” understand.
Last but not least, Gideon Levy, commenter on all that is Jewish chimes in:

It is a racist, despicable, disgusting campaign. It isn’t just the act of informing on someone, which is repulsive in itself. It is primarily the content of this nationalistic scare campaign, which has meanwhile been toned down in view of the reaction it engendered. A Jew who marries a goy is not “lost.” Maybe, he will live happily ever after. The idea that cheap propaganda will dissuade him from his love or his faith, or lack of faith, is a backward thought. No other people would conduct such a campaign. The Jewish people no longer needs one, and the State of Israel has no right to conduct one.

Gideon’s condemnation of the campaign gives way to his own realization:

The Israelis are in the process of consolidating a new identity, which is not affected by assimilation. As for the rest of the Jews in the world, one must assume that if they want to, they’ll assimilate. If they don’t want to, they won’t assimilate. Israel must continue to serve as a refuge or an option for immigration for them, but no more than that.

This is a pathetic statement. Given the tiny number of Jews left in the world, this comment is utterly irresponsible. Live and let them read Haaretz? Given the assimilation he writes about, how is it possible for him to continue:

Life in Israel is more dangerous for Jews, in any event, than in any other place,

Dangerous? Israel is the only Jewish population in the world that is increasing at such a rate. If it is so dangerous, why do people like Levy and Neve Gordon stay here? Levy’s harsh critique of Israel doesn’t end there:

The violence, the crudeness, the materialism, the nationalism, the militarism, the aggressiveness and the occupation don’t suit everyone.

How does that not describe America? Is Israel really to be singled out for such things? The Occupation is within Levy-not our presence in the “territories!”
This is to be one of the most contemptuous articles that Gideon Levy has written. He completes the circle of idiocy:

If a portion of the Diaspora assimilates, no catastrophe will occur.

How is this not an oxymoron? Levy’s entire tone is one of whining, sniveling-almost as if he identifies with and tries to imitate the intended audience. In this sense he doesn’t succeed-Gideon Levy knows too much as an Israeli to blend in with his innocent happy-go-lucky Diaspora audience. For those who read his material-chances are that they don’t need to heed the warnings of either side of the argument. However should someone who makes the following comment be writing for a “Jewish” publication?

a larger Jewish people isn’t worth anything.

Please rescue us from Gideon Levy.