Fantastic article! I would just add one more group of Diaspora Jews: those of who support Israel whole-heartedly and defend Israel to anyone who will listen.
Rabbi always meant teacher. And Torah means literally “ instruction”. A Rabbi is a teacher of Torah and Jewish wisdom. And, O my, there’s so much to talk about.
The Tanakh is saturated with the Land of Israel and how the Land was always one with Ancient Israel’s identity. This is what Jews need to learn. There’s also the State of Israel, of course ,and the modern miracles that have occurred there, and the way our fellow Jews live there. One can draw on the internecine arguments in the Tanakh and project them to our own age and ages in between. Little has changed 😊.
All this takes a lot more knowledge, study, talent and Jewishness than opining in a pugilistic vein on politics, to vent one’s narcissistic momentary opinions, forgetting that Israel, again miraculously, is a democracy, and whatever government was chosen under its own sovereign system might change soon enough into a different one, one you might “ like” more or… less. How does that flux of choices by the Israeli citizens, our people, stack against our overall millenarian history? How can Rabbis be that petty and self-involved?
Rabbis used to be at least as large as Life, and many were and are larger than Life . Today, seminaries churn out too many mindless, immature characters , like those “ hello Rabbi!” in the Mamdani video advertisement. These incompetent non-leaders of Judaism are disservice to shepherding a congregation hungry for meaning and identity at best and a disgrace at worst.
There’s an aura of grandeur in the word Rabbi. The root of the word serves as the basis for “ great, vast, numerous”. The “ not-so-great, narrow and small minded” type embarrasses the meaning.
Within the Reform movement it seems virtually the entirety of the Rabbinate exists to preach left wing politics. Not as much in Conservative though it is getting worse.
Rabbi Ami Hirsh of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan( Reform) is quite an exception. I recommend his sermons. A former tank commander in the IDF. Bright intellect and no nonsense. Clear on Israel, on Mamdani, on Jews in the US. Never sits on the fence.
We loved our Temple here in Phoenix Arizona, (Temple Solel) but felt compelled to leave due to the inclusion of “progressive” Judaism (aka URJ under Rabbi Rick Jacob’s leadership) into the program. The people were wonderful but the politics rubbed us the wrong way. 😢
I assumed that’s a given. Sometimes I had to remind the temple, that it should be the rabbi’s priority to focus on the Torah and the existence of Israel.
👏👏👏 A really good article, Joshua that bluntly tells an important truth. That being that while Diaspora Jews are allowed to have an opinion on Israel, the voices of Israelis who live the situation in the country come first. Partisan politics should have nothing to do with the Jewish faith or support for Zionism.
Very good article. Not being picky but we go back 3800 years on the land of Israel from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 3000 years ago goes back to the time of King David.
Excellent analysis of what ails far too much of the American Jewish communal leadership and those whose knowledge of Israel is limited to what is posed in the legacy media and whose knowledge of Judaism is minimal at best
As usual, an excellent article. I agree with 95% but when you suggest that Ben G’vir has power because enough people elected him, you simplify the enormous problem created by Netanyahu elevating him to a position of power. Because Israelis do not vote in separate ridings, someone like Ben G’vir can end up with five or six seats (3-4% of the electoral vote) but an enormous amount of power when coalitions are formed. Netanyahu allows him to spout anything he wants, without offering any countering explanation, including advocating for ethnic cleansing or Jewish supremacy, basically all the things that the West finds most reprehensible. Even if Ben G’vir has no real power, in the West, he is rightly seen as a cabinet minister and member of parliament. Unfortunately, this gives fodder to those Jew haters looking for evidence of Israel’s crimes to support their libels. Ben G’vir has been to jail and arrested many times. His minor renovation of an otherwise illegal Kahanist party is doing great damage to Israel’s reputation and causing enormous problems for Jews in the diaspora. His behaviour verges on treasonous.
I understand that I am doing exactly what you think diaspora Jews have no business doing. When it makes life dangerous for us here and threatens Israel’s relationships, we must speak out.
That is a problem with the Israeli system. The truth is the government does not reflect the electorate because the other centrist party won't serve with Netanyahu so there is no way to put together anything other than a right wing party with extremists given cabinet positions.
The Parliamentarian system is both a “bug” and a feature in Israel. Coupled with the Israel Supreme Court’s flawed implementation of their unique version of “constitutional” rights*, it is amazing that Israel’s democracy has functioned at all!
Mr. Hoffman, have you always been Israeli, or have you also lived in an English speaking country? Your writing (both writing style and content) is brilliant, well organized, and utterly compelling. I find myself wishing my children had had an education similar to yours.
I found Future of Jewish around 12 to 18 months ago. Joshua’s skill is amazing, which is why I learnt of his background. Raised in California without much interest in Judaism or Israel, I believe his first visit to Israel was aged 23 with ‘birthright’, after which he stayed in Israel .. that was some 16 years ago.
With regard to article about diaspora Jewry, I follow the mantra of Denis Prager of Prager U in the USA. Diaspora Jews should support Israel irrespective of which government is in power in Jerusalem, left or right. Too many Israel or Jew hating media channels will jump on any opportunity to portray diaspora Jews as being against Israel, given half a chance. Yes, I ‘give way’ to listening to Israelis whose opinions on Israel may be critical or harsh, because they have ‘walked the walk’, likely to have done their time in the IDF and have kids who participate in Israeli life.
I am a mid50s Jew that happens to be British, not a British guy that happens to be Jewish. With that in mind, whilst my religiosity has not expanded since October 7, my love and support of Israel has exploded. During 2024 I visited Israel 5 times, and in 2025, I have traveled to Israel 10 times, with my current visit in its 10th week. I am so disappointed with much of the the world’s ‘take’ on Israel and Judaism, that my trajectory is heading towards Aliyah.
Thank you! I'm glad I found Future of Jewish, as well. though more recently than you. I love reading Joshua's brilliant analyses, and have said from the beginning (and I'm 71) that I have no voice in Israel's politics because I don't know what it's like to be there.
I've lived in the US all my life. I considered moving to Israel when I was 22 and was offered a job there, but fear stood in my way. (I'm autistic and dealing with new places, new people, and a new language was too overwhelming!) So, though I do have family there who would welcome me, I have never visited!
Charles Schumer committed the ultimate betrayal when he demanded new elections on the floor of the Senate 3 months after October 7 in a failed attempt to placate the Israel haters in his party. His name will be Mud forever more.
Thank you Joshua Hoffman for posting this story and opinion. Someone should set the basic priorities for our people whether living in Israel or the Diaspora. Hopefully it will reach quite a few people to influence their behavior before criticizing the State of Israel by checking thoroughly the facts in advance.
The role of religious leaders, especially Rabbis, is primarily to guide their congregations in matters of faith and tradition. This includes the education of sacred texts and historical narratives that form the foundation of the Jewish people. Focusing on spiritual and historical instruction ensures the preservation and transmission of our valuable cultural heritage. Such dedication to religious scholarship fosters a strong sense of community and provides moral and ethical guidance. It is essential for these leaders to concentrate their efforts on their designated duties and not in politics.
The entire Jewish people includes the non-diaspora Jews who never left, who followed Christ or converted to Islam and were Arabized. One can be completely Jewish and Arabic at the same time, regardless of modern identity politics. Their genetic, geographic, and archaeological direct descendancy from the Israelites from scientific facts prove they are the people of the land with us.
Couldn't agree more. Jews who have never visited. Jews who visit only under the auspices of an anti Zionist organization, Jews who visited 70 years ago on a socialist kibbutz and "know all about Israel" Jew who visited and had a run in with a surly hotel clerk or shop keeper.....they all get to weigh in on the degree to which they berate Israel. The State and its people. Jews who didn't like Hebrew school. Jews who didn't like a rabbi. Jews who hated Pesach seders. Jews who look askance at Hasidim. Jews who desperately want to be Italian. Jews who want to be accepted in "progressive" circles. They all get to tell the Israelis how horrible they are. Jews who are celebrities and risk absolutely nothing by "speaking out" against Israel. Lots of problems within our community. Israel is essential. And beautiful. And praise worthy. And something Diaspora Jews who didn't a thing to build this state...can be proud of.
The woke rabbis especially need to focus on the facts first. 2 billion Christians make up 25.0% of the world’s population, 2 billion Muslims make up another 25.0%, 15.8 million Jews make up 0.2% of the world’s population, half of them live in Israel.
A tiny democratic country, the only Jewish state, size of New Jersey, is surrounded 22 Arab countries and 57 Muslim-majority states, all are Islamic theocracies, dictatorships, absolute monarchies, who scream “genocide” while their population triples every decade.
"For many Diaspora Jews, Israel is something they talk about; for Israelis, Israel is something they live every day." To me THAT is the most striking part of it all. The Jewish critics outside Israel live in relatively safe environs while Israeli citizens have to live with rocket attacks, terrorist activities such as October 7th, and the bombings of busses and other forms of public transportation. Yes, this criticism IS dangerous because as few Jews are there are globally y'all either stand together and hang tough or start reviewing what the Einsaztgruppen did.
I will never stop saying that biggest danger for the Jews are the Jews themselves. How many "as a Jew" celebrities and even inside of Israel? Too many...
You raise a point I have been making for many years. Zionism is not conditional. If your Zionism is conditional you are not a Zionist which makes you an enemy. You can be an unconditional Zionist and still have opinions about what is happening in Israel (though for the reasons you state one should defer to the Israelis when it comes to running their country) but you cannot withdraw your support for the safety security and success of Israel because you dont like the Prime Minister. Period. End of story.
Fantastic article! I would just add one more group of Diaspora Jews: those of who support Israel whole-heartedly and defend Israel to anyone who will listen.
That is me too. Israel is our homeland. ❤️🇮🇱
There are a lot of us, too.
Rabbi always meant teacher. And Torah means literally “ instruction”. A Rabbi is a teacher of Torah and Jewish wisdom. And, O my, there’s so much to talk about.
The Tanakh is saturated with the Land of Israel and how the Land was always one with Ancient Israel’s identity. This is what Jews need to learn. There’s also the State of Israel, of course ,and the modern miracles that have occurred there, and the way our fellow Jews live there. One can draw on the internecine arguments in the Tanakh and project them to our own age and ages in between. Little has changed 😊.
All this takes a lot more knowledge, study, talent and Jewishness than opining in a pugilistic vein on politics, to vent one’s narcissistic momentary opinions, forgetting that Israel, again miraculously, is a democracy, and whatever government was chosen under its own sovereign system might change soon enough into a different one, one you might “ like” more or… less. How does that flux of choices by the Israeli citizens, our people, stack against our overall millenarian history? How can Rabbis be that petty and self-involved?
Rabbis used to be at least as large as Life, and many were and are larger than Life . Today, seminaries churn out too many mindless, immature characters , like those “ hello Rabbi!” in the Mamdani video advertisement. These incompetent non-leaders of Judaism are disservice to shepherding a congregation hungry for meaning and identity at best and a disgrace at worst.
There’s an aura of grandeur in the word Rabbi. The root of the word serves as the basis for “ great, vast, numerous”. The “ not-so-great, narrow and small minded” type embarrasses the meaning.
Eh. Plenty of mediocre Rabbis going back to time immemorial along with great ones and actually bad ones.
True, of course. But it seems we have reached an unprecedented low.
Within the Reform movement it seems virtually the entirety of the Rabbinate exists to preach left wing politics. Not as much in Conservative though it is getting worse.
Rabbi Ami Hirsh of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan( Reform) is quite an exception. I recommend his sermons. A former tank commander in the IDF. Bright intellect and no nonsense. Clear on Israel, on Mamdani, on Jews in the US. Never sits on the fence.
Very glad to hear that.
We left our local reform temple when the leftist politics took precedent over supporting Israel..
We loved our Temple here in Phoenix Arizona, (Temple Solel) but felt compelled to leave due to the inclusion of “progressive” Judaism (aka URJ under Rabbi Rick Jacob’s leadership) into the program. The people were wonderful but the politics rubbed us the wrong way. 😢
On the day of judgement be sure to bring up how for you a state was more important than worship of our GD, and how that totally is not a golden calf.
I assumed that’s a given. Sometimes I had to remind the temple, that it should be the rabbi’s priority to focus on the Torah and the existence of Israel.
👏👏👏 A really good article, Joshua that bluntly tells an important truth. That being that while Diaspora Jews are allowed to have an opinion on Israel, the voices of Israelis who live the situation in the country come first. Partisan politics should have nothing to do with the Jewish faith or support for Zionism.
Very good article. Not being picky but we go back 3800 years on the land of Israel from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 3000 years ago goes back to the time of King David.
Excellent analysis of what ails far too much of the American Jewish communal leadership and those whose knowledge of Israel is limited to what is posed in the legacy media and whose knowledge of Judaism is minimal at best
As usual, an excellent article. I agree with 95% but when you suggest that Ben G’vir has power because enough people elected him, you simplify the enormous problem created by Netanyahu elevating him to a position of power. Because Israelis do not vote in separate ridings, someone like Ben G’vir can end up with five or six seats (3-4% of the electoral vote) but an enormous amount of power when coalitions are formed. Netanyahu allows him to spout anything he wants, without offering any countering explanation, including advocating for ethnic cleansing or Jewish supremacy, basically all the things that the West finds most reprehensible. Even if Ben G’vir has no real power, in the West, he is rightly seen as a cabinet minister and member of parliament. Unfortunately, this gives fodder to those Jew haters looking for evidence of Israel’s crimes to support their libels. Ben G’vir has been to jail and arrested many times. His minor renovation of an otherwise illegal Kahanist party is doing great damage to Israel’s reputation and causing enormous problems for Jews in the diaspora. His behaviour verges on treasonous.
I understand that I am doing exactly what you think diaspora Jews have no business doing. When it makes life dangerous for us here and threatens Israel’s relationships, we must speak out.
That is a problem with the Israeli system. The truth is the government does not reflect the electorate because the other centrist party won't serve with Netanyahu so there is no way to put together anything other than a right wing party with extremists given cabinet positions.
The Parliamentarian system is both a “bug” and a feature in Israel. Coupled with the Israel Supreme Court’s flawed implementation of their unique version of “constitutional” rights*, it is amazing that Israel’s democracy has functioned at all!
(* No constitution in Israel)
Mr. Hoffman, have you always been Israeli, or have you also lived in an English speaking country? Your writing (both writing style and content) is brilliant, well organized, and utterly compelling. I find myself wishing my children had had an education similar to yours.
Or does it just come naturally to you?
Thank you!
Thank you! I was born in Los Angeles and moved to Israel in 2013 at age 24.
I found Future of Jewish around 12 to 18 months ago. Joshua’s skill is amazing, which is why I learnt of his background. Raised in California without much interest in Judaism or Israel, I believe his first visit to Israel was aged 23 with ‘birthright’, after which he stayed in Israel .. that was some 16 years ago.
With regard to article about diaspora Jewry, I follow the mantra of Denis Prager of Prager U in the USA. Diaspora Jews should support Israel irrespective of which government is in power in Jerusalem, left or right. Too many Israel or Jew hating media channels will jump on any opportunity to portray diaspora Jews as being against Israel, given half a chance. Yes, I ‘give way’ to listening to Israelis whose opinions on Israel may be critical or harsh, because they have ‘walked the walk’, likely to have done their time in the IDF and have kids who participate in Israeli life.
I am a mid50s Jew that happens to be British, not a British guy that happens to be Jewish. With that in mind, whilst my religiosity has not expanded since October 7, my love and support of Israel has exploded. During 2024 I visited Israel 5 times, and in 2025, I have traveled to Israel 10 times, with my current visit in its 10th week. I am so disappointed with much of the the world’s ‘take’ on Israel and Judaism, that my trajectory is heading towards Aliyah.
Thank you! I'm glad I found Future of Jewish, as well. though more recently than you. I love reading Joshua's brilliant analyses, and have said from the beginning (and I'm 71) that I have no voice in Israel's politics because I don't know what it's like to be there.
Lenore, just out of interest .. where are you from ? And have you ever visited Israel ?
I've lived in the US all my life. I considered moving to Israel when I was 22 and was offered a job there, but fear stood in my way. (I'm autistic and dealing with new places, new people, and a new language was too overwhelming!) So, though I do have family there who would welcome me, I have never visited!
Charles Schumer committed the ultimate betrayal when he demanded new elections on the floor of the Senate 3 months after October 7 in a failed attempt to placate the Israel haters in his party. His name will be Mud forever more.
Thank you Joshua Hoffman for posting this story and opinion. Someone should set the basic priorities for our people whether living in Israel or the Diaspora. Hopefully it will reach quite a few people to influence their behavior before criticizing the State of Israel by checking thoroughly the facts in advance.
The role of religious leaders, especially Rabbis, is primarily to guide their congregations in matters of faith and tradition. This includes the education of sacred texts and historical narratives that form the foundation of the Jewish people. Focusing on spiritual and historical instruction ensures the preservation and transmission of our valuable cultural heritage. Such dedication to religious scholarship fosters a strong sense of community and provides moral and ethical guidance. It is essential for these leaders to concentrate their efforts on their designated duties and not in politics.
God Bless 🙌 us all.
The entire Jewish people includes the non-diaspora Jews who never left, who followed Christ or converted to Islam and were Arabized. One can be completely Jewish and Arabic at the same time, regardless of modern identity politics. Their genetic, geographic, and archaeological direct descendancy from the Israelites from scientific facts prove they are the people of the land with us.
Couldn't agree more. Jews who have never visited. Jews who visit only under the auspices of an anti Zionist organization, Jews who visited 70 years ago on a socialist kibbutz and "know all about Israel" Jew who visited and had a run in with a surly hotel clerk or shop keeper.....they all get to weigh in on the degree to which they berate Israel. The State and its people. Jews who didn't like Hebrew school. Jews who didn't like a rabbi. Jews who hated Pesach seders. Jews who look askance at Hasidim. Jews who desperately want to be Italian. Jews who want to be accepted in "progressive" circles. They all get to tell the Israelis how horrible they are. Jews who are celebrities and risk absolutely nothing by "speaking out" against Israel. Lots of problems within our community. Israel is essential. And beautiful. And praise worthy. And something Diaspora Jews who didn't a thing to build this state...can be proud of.
The woke rabbis especially need to focus on the facts first. 2 billion Christians make up 25.0% of the world’s population, 2 billion Muslims make up another 25.0%, 15.8 million Jews make up 0.2% of the world’s population, half of them live in Israel.
A tiny democratic country, the only Jewish state, size of New Jersey, is surrounded 22 Arab countries and 57 Muslim-majority states, all are Islamic theocracies, dictatorships, absolute monarchies, who scream “genocide” while their population triples every decade.
"For many Diaspora Jews, Israel is something they talk about; for Israelis, Israel is something they live every day." To me THAT is the most striking part of it all. The Jewish critics outside Israel live in relatively safe environs while Israeli citizens have to live with rocket attacks, terrorist activities such as October 7th, and the bombings of busses and other forms of public transportation. Yes, this criticism IS dangerous because as few Jews are there are globally y'all either stand together and hang tough or start reviewing what the Einsaztgruppen did.
I will never stop saying that biggest danger for the Jews are the Jews themselves. How many "as a Jew" celebrities and even inside of Israel? Too many...
You raise a point I have been making for many years. Zionism is not conditional. If your Zionism is conditional you are not a Zionist which makes you an enemy. You can be an unconditional Zionist and still have opinions about what is happening in Israel (though for the reasons you state one should defer to the Israelis when it comes to running their country) but you cannot withdraw your support for the safety security and success of Israel because you dont like the Prime Minister. Period. End of story.
100% absolutely! Great essay, wonderfully written (as usual).