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November 20, 1998/ 1 Kislev 5759, Vol. 51, No. 9
G.A. brings Israelis, Diaspora Jews together
JULIA GOLDMAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Thousands of Diaspora Jews witnessed with their own eyes the gulf that divides them from their Israeli counterparts, but they also caught a glimpse of a bridging solution. North American Jews participating this week in the 67th General Assembly of UJA Federations of North America found that meaningful discussion between Israeli and Diaspora Jews may be the key to buttressing the relationship.
The theme of this year's G.A., as the event is known, is, "Many People, Many Roads, One Heart." But another multiple - many voices - more aptly describes the activity going on at Jerusalem's International Convention Center, where 5,000 participants from North America and Israel (including a 10-person contingent from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix) gathered for the largest annual meeting of Jewish communal leaders. The event's setting - this is the first G.A. to be held outside of North America - has also renewed many participants' conviction that federations in North America must make cultural exchange with Israelis a higher priority.
Through two-person panel discussions and face-to-face meetings, the American and Canadian Jews overflowing the conference rooms in the sprawling white stone complex here had the chance to hear Israeli points of view and present their own conceptions of Israel. They have also had to confront Israelis' perception of American Jews.
The "major gap" between Israel and the Diaspora, said one panelist, Rabbi David Saperstein, exists because many Israelis, and North American Jews as well, don't care about the disconnection.
Many G.A. participants were surprised to learn that many Israelis "feel more Israeli than Jewish," as Shiva Ben-Yemini put it.
Marilyn Forman-Chandler of Greensboro, N.C., said she feels Jewish first and was shocked by the notion that in Israel "being Israeli is enough."
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