Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration has published results of a new study showing that many Jewish Israelis are reluctant to take the interests of Jews across the world into consideration in formulating the state’s official policy.
According to data from a study, 62% of the Jewish citizens in Israel believe the country has a moral obligation to help Jews around the world face financial difficulties or natural disasters.
In return, just 37% of Israelis feel a sense of personal responsibility toward Jews who have chosen not to immigrate to Israel.
Meanwhile, 49% of Israelis surveyed believe Israeli society needs to take the opinions and interests of Jews around the world into account on matters of religion and state.
In addition, a majority of Israelis, 57%, believe Israel should take Jewish communities around the world into account when making decisions on foreign and defense policy that could impact Jews overseas.
Several Israeli officials considered these results alarming.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai said that many decisions the Israeli government takes impact the lives of the eight million Jews across the world.
“It is our national and moral duty to take into consideration their interests, needs and desires and to be active in confronting the dangers they are exposed to as a result of the policy of hostility to Jews and anti-Semitism,” he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said recent years have witnessed a major dialogue between the Jews of the world and the Jews of Israel, as well as within each group.
He underlined people’s increasing willingness to abandon their national belonging and focus on personal concerns, prompting the youths to ask themselves about the significance of their existence as Jews.
Statistics published by the Jewish Agency show that there are 14 million Jews across the world and about two million who are considered “half Jews” and are not recognized by the Orthodox religious establishment.
