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March 12, 1999/24 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 24
Press official: Phoenix Jews see Israel through 'black' lens
ANNE BRADY
Managing Editor
Jews in Phoenix may have some idea what the climate is like for people living in Israel, but few have an accurate picture of what daily life is like in the Jewish state, according to Moshe Fogel, director of Israel's Government Press Office.
Fogel, who was in Phoenix this week as the guest of Israel Bonds and made a handful of local appearances, told the Jewish News in an interview that because news reports from Israel generally focus on division and violence, Jews in America get a skewed picture.
"You see a story about Israel when there's violence, when there's a confrontation. ... You don't see all the dialogue. All (you) are seeing are the disagreements, because that's news. There are big things going on in Israel that you don't see," Fogel said. "Every Friday, tens of thousands of Muslims come to this one small place to pray. Thousands of Muslims, Christians and Jews praying peacefully isn't news. (But) that's the reality of life in Israel."
He said American Jews see the ultra-Orthodox in Israel as right-wing extremists, when in fact many of them are "left wing" liberals on the issue of peace, wanting the Israeli government to give more land to the Palestinians.
Pluralism is not a big issue in Israel, he said, because the Orthodox rabbinate has been the recognized authority ever since Israel became a nation 50 years ago, and because all people are free to worship in whatever way they choose.
It is the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel that have publicized their campaigns to win the right to perform recognized marriages and conversions there, he said, making the pluralism debate more heated among U.S. Jews than it is in the Jewish state, despite the fact that "it doesn't impact on their lives."
"In Phoenix, you see a 'sea of black' (Hassidics) on the screen and get the wrong impression. ... Israel is not oppressive of anyone. Everyone follows whatever tradition they want," Fogel insisted. "For 50 years, the direction (of change) has been toward more personal choice. The impression that Israel is becoming more Orthodox is being pushed by some with their own political agenda. ... The impression created here in America is not really fair."
Fogel said more should be done to encourage and facilitate young U.S. Jews visiting Israel. If they come to Israel, not only will they be able to see for themselves what life is like there, they will likely "rediscover their Jewish roots and identify with the country" and want to support it.
Fogel was born in Israel in 1954 and lives in Netanya. He is married and the father of two. He served for almost 20 years in various positions with the Israel Defense Forces, retiring in 1996 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. As director of the Jerusalem-based Government Press Office, he is responsible largely for presenting and explaining the decisions and policies of the government of Israel to the hundreds of foreign media representatives stationed in Israel, plus the hundreds more who visit when there are major news events going on.
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