As it does every year to mark Diaspora Week, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has published its "Diaspora Index." Before delving into the data, it is important to note that the surveyed sample is not entirely representative of the Israeli population. It consists, among other things, of 53% men, 76% whose income is average or above average, 21% who reside in Tel Aviv, and 64% with an academic education. These demographic biases should ostensibly have produced a pool of respondents who travel abroad more frequently and are more familiar with Diaspora Jewry compared to the average Israeli. Consequently, the index's findings are all the more concerning.
While there has been an increase compared to last year in the percentage of respondents who agree that assimilation poses a significant threat to the Jewish people, who are willing to host Jews from abroad, and who believe Israel has a moral obligation to assist Diaspora Jewry even if they do not immigrate to Israel, most metrics show a decline. Particularly alarming is the decrease in the share of Israelis who believe that Jews in Israel and abroad share a common destiny. There is also a concerning decline in the percentage of respondents who are troubled by antisemitic attacks against Diaspora Jews, who feel a sense of responsibility toward them, and who view them as a positive force advocating for Israel globally. Furthermore, there has been a sharp drop in the percentage of Israelis who believe that the opinions of Diaspora Jewry should be considered when making decisions regarding religion and state, as well as national security.
This mindset ignores the immense impact that decisions made in Israel—particularly regarding security—have on the treatment of Diaspora Jews in their home countries, especially concerning the antisemitic incidents they endure. In this regard, the desire to exclude the Diaspora from the decision-making process aligns with the declining concern over antisemitic incidents—though this concern remains notably high, with 85% of Israelis still worried about these phenomena.
This does not imply that Diaspora Jewry should become the primary consideration in Israel's diplomatic and security decision-making. However, it does require, at the very least, an acknowledgment that these decisions directly affect Jewish communities abroad, and that Israel, as the nation-state of the Jewish people, bears a profound responsibility for their fate.
As it does every year to mark Diaspora Week, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has published its "Diaspora Index." Before delving into the data, it is important to note that the surveyed sample is not entirely representative of the Israeli population. It consists, among other things, of 53% men, 76% whose income is average or above average, 21% who reside in Tel Aviv, and 64% with an academic education. These demographic biases should ostensibly have produced a pool of respondents who travel abroad more frequently and are more familiar with Diaspora Jewry compared to the average Israeli. Consequently, the index's findings are all the more concerning.
While there has been an increase compared to last year in the percentage of respondents who agree that assimilation poses a significant threat to the Jewish people, who are willing to host Jews from abroad, and who believe Israel has a moral obligation to assist Diaspora Jewry even if they do not immigrate to Israel, most metrics show a decline. Particularly alarming is the decrease in the share of Israelis who believe that Jews in Israel and abroad share a common destiny. There is also a concerning decline in the percentage of respondents who are troubled by antisemitic attacks against Diaspora Jews, who feel a sense of responsibility toward them, and who view them as a positive force advocating for Israel globally. Furthermore, there has been a sharp drop in the percentage of Israelis who believe that the opinions of Diaspora Jewry should be considered when making decisions regarding religion and state, as well as national security.
This mindset ignores the immense impact that decisions made in Israel—particularly regarding security—have on the treatment of Diaspora Jews in their home countries, especially concerning the antisemitic incidents they endure. In this regard, the desire to exclude the Diaspora from the decision-making process aligns with the declining concern over antisemitic incidents—though this concern remains notably high, with 85% of Israelis still worried about these phenomena.
This does not imply that Diaspora Jewry should become the primary consideration in Israel's diplomatic and security decision-making. However, it does require, at the very least, an acknowledgment that these decisions directly affect Jewish communities abroad, and that Israel, as the nation-state of the Jewish people, bears a profound responsibility for their fate.