by Mike Prashker*
When the next history of British Jewry’s contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People is written, reference to a conference held in London on 8th March 2007, could well be made. I anticipate that the story of the event will be recounted in Section II, “Society Building” following-on from the epic story told in section I, “State Building”.
The event referred to was a symposium convened by a group called “The Foundations’ Forum" to debate issues relating to the status and welfare of Israel’s Arab citizens and ways to help improve relations between Jewish and Arab-Israelis.
In the course of the day, about one hundred
and fifty representatives of many of British and European Jewry’s most
important bodies and foundations met with a leading group of Jewish and
Arab-Israeli academics, rabbis and NGO representatives. Through a
series of briefings, panels and discussions, they explored ways to
promote the full and successful integration of Israeli-Arabs, who make
up about eighteen percent of Israel’s approximately seven million
citizens.
As one of the participating Jewish-Israeli
educators, I came away energized and optimistic, encouraged by a debate
that demonstrated equal measures of courage, commitment and optimism
from some of Britain’s and Europe’s most influential Jewish leaders.
Critically
for me, the discussion was framed as another great Jewish-Zionist
challenge to which British and European Jewry, as minorities that have
worked hard to attain and ensure greater opportunity and full inclusion
for themselves and other minority faith and ethnic communities, are
particularly well equipped to contribute.
The debate provided
important communal recognition of what I know to be true: that while
Israel has done a better job than most other young countries in
affording minority rights, much remains to be done.
During the
panel in which I participated, I presented some of the main citizenship
education challenges that Israel faces, as it seeks to develop as a
strong, sustainable and cohesive society. Just as in contemporary
Europe, success in this endeavour requires us to help our young
citizens become comfortable with diversity – one of the basic shared
characteristics of our societies. In Israel this challenge is
particularly severe because of mutual fears and stereotypes that are
compounded by the separate lives and schooling of Jewish- and
Arab-Israelis and the regional conflict.
Chatting with
colleagues in the days following the Symposium, I think that my Israeli
colleagues shared my sense that important British and European Jewish
leaders have joined us as determined and powerful partners in our
efforts. I believe that my Arab-Israeli colleagues, all completely
committed - as are the overwhelming majority of Arab-Israelis - to full
civic integration while retaining a proud Arab-Palestinian identity,
felt they had found committed and serious allies, that appreciate the
moral and pragmatic importance of this work.
As a
Jewish-Israeli Zionist, the conference was a reassuring sign that
influential British and European Jews increasingly understand that an
Israel that offers greater opportunities to all its citizens is a
stronger, more Jewish and more democratic homeland for the Jewish
People. Moreover, as well as appreciating its importance for Israel,
they also recognize its connection to the status of European Jewry. The
symposium reaffirmed that one of Judaism’s most basic values— treating
“Others,” Jews and non-Jews alike, with dignity and fairly—is well
understood on both the pragmatic and moral level. The Torah itself, we
were reminded by an orthodox Israeli Rabbi panelist, provides clear
instructions on how we must treat “the strangers in our midst.”
So,
on 8th March, Yud Het B’Adar, key British and European Jewish leaders
from across the communal spectrum, affirmed their understanding that
encouraging the development of a more inclusive and cohesive Israeli
society, with a successfully integrated Arab-Israeli minority, will
make Israel both a stronger and better national homeland for the Jewish
People. It was a day to remember!
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___________
*
Mike Prashker is founder and
director of “MERCHAVIM – The Institute for the Advancement of Shared
Citizenship in Israel”.
