Pincus: Mutual Israel-diaspora Criticism Should Be Encouraged but Final Decision of Israeli Matters

Responding to complaints from American Jewish leaders attending the final session of the special meeting of the Con ference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Jewish Agency Chairman Louis Pincus said that mutual Israeli-diaspora criticism should be encouraged but that the final decisions on Israeli matters must rest with Jews living in Israel. Pincus said that centricity of Israel in the life of the Jewish people does not conflict with independence of diaspora Jewry, and added that Israelis must demonstrate more interest in diaspora problems.

The critical American Jewish leaders said that they wanted to play a more active role in criticizing defects in Israeli society but that Israeli leaders were unwilling to listen. Rabbi David Polish, president of the (Reform) Central Conference of American Rabbis, said American Jews were concerned about morality in Israeli society and wanted to criticize internal Israeli affairs. Rabbi Louis Bernstein, president of the (Orthodox) Rabbinical Council of America, said that in order for American Jewish identity with Israel to be complete there must be mutual criticism like that between members of a family.

Rabbi Israel Miller, president of the American Zionist Federation, scored Israelis who emphasize their country’s physical and economic accomplishments instead of its spiritual significance. Israeli leaders, he added, should go to the United States not only to collect funds but to strengthen Jewish identity there.

Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, head of the American section of the World Zionist Organization, maintained that diaspora Jewish leaders should study Israel’s problems first-hand before leveling criticism. She said many U.S. rabbis were willing to use Israel in their sermons but unwilling to work on Israel’s behalf. Isaiah Minkoff, executive vice chairman of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, contended that American Jewish leaders should hold discussions not just with Israeli political leaders but also with intellectuals and educators on the basic problems of Israeli society.

Rabbi Judah Nadich, president of the (Conservative) Rabbinical Assembly, expressed concern that aliya of young American Jews to Israel would remove an important element from the American scene and endanger the future of U.S. Jewish leadership. The time has come, he said, to devote more effort to strengthening American society.