Israel to designate a week to the Diaspora
The Israeli government has approved a decision to designate a week to the country’s connection with Jews in the Diaspora.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs will aim the goal of strengthening the ties and mutual responsibility between Israel and the Jewish People, in light of the many common challenges Jews facing in Israel and around the world.
Naftali Bennett
As part of the week, which will be commemorated for the first time in December 2016, the Knesset and Israeli education system are scheduled to dedicate their activity for topics Related to the Jewish People and State of Israel. During this unique week a central meeting is planned between hundreds of Jewish teenagers from Israel and overseas, as well as additional activities in the education system and youth movements.
Additionally, there will be joint activities for students from Israel and around the world to discuss Jewish identity and their ties and relationship to Israel. The Knesset will dedicate a day to special sessions and professional discussions, as well as an event for world Jewry, under the directive of the Speaker.
Diaspora Affairs Minister, Naftali Bennett said: “The State of Israel belongs to all the Jews. World Jewry can claim many credits in the creation and prosperity of Israel, and connecting the Jewish People to their Jewish identity and to the State of Israel is strategically important.”
Bennett added: “Our ability to influence the future of the Jewish People is through creating and deepening the dialogue between Jewish living in Israel and their brothers and sisters, Jews living around the world. This is why it is important to strengthen the connection and raise awareness about this issue among Israelis, goals that will be addressed during the Week of Connection to Diaspora Jewry.
The goals of the Week of Connection to Diaspora Jewry are the broadening and strengthening of Israelis’ knowledge regarding Jewish life in the Diaspora, tightening the ties between Israelis and Jews around the world, increasing the understanding that Diaspora Jewry is a strategic asset for the continuation of the Jewish People, and propelling Israelis to action around this important topic.
For the right/religious, Jewish Diaspora should be eradicated, it is just a source of immigrants.
For the left/seculars, whom Jewish identity is weak to nonexistent, Jewish Diaspora is irrelevant, unless they support the NIF.
And for the average Israeli, Jewish Diaspora is just a source of donations, Give us your money and shut up.