Special Interview the Role of Zionists in the U.S.

Benjamin Cohen, the new president of the American Zionist Federation (AZF), believes that the “biggest misconception” among American Jews is that the Zionist organizations do not play a major role in the American Jewish community.

“It really bugs me,” he said in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency shortly after being elected head of the umbrella organization at the end of its eighth biennial convention here.

Cohen, of New York, vice president of the Labor Zionist Alliance, said that out of some 5.2 million Jews in the United States more than one million are members of the various Zionist groups. “These same people who are leaders in the Zionist community, they are also leaders in the general Jewish community,” especially in the smaller communities, he stressed.

THE ‘MOVERS AND SHAKERS’

They are the “movers and shakers” in local Federations and the United Jewish Appeal, Cohen said. He said while they may not be among the “big givers” they are the presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers and other activists in the local communal groups.

Cohen said the problem is that when they participate in the general Jewish community, “nobody recognizes them as Zionists. They take it for granted they are Zionists, but the others don’t realize where they come from.”

At the start of his two-year term, Cohen would like to see this misconception change. “We have to start announcing who we are,” he said of American Zionists. “People will start to realize that without us there would be very very large gaps in the welfare boards, the local Federations and a lot less work would be done.”

Cohen noted that “everybody who gives a dollar to the UJA calls himself a Zionist.” But he said “there is quite a difference” between those who support Israel and those aligned with Zionist organizations. “Zionism is our major activity,” he explained. “Support of the State of Israel is paramount in our day-to-day activities.”

STRESSES ALIYA, JEWISH EDUCATION

In addition, “We also feel that we have to develop a real movement of aliya to Israel in the United States,” he said. “We have to put more and more stress on Jewish education of all kinds, not only religious education, but secular education.” He explained that he meant Jewish history, values and even teaching religion in a secular setting.

Cohen said one major component of this education should be that “our kids go spend some time in Israel and are exposed to Israel and absorb Israel and know what it is to be part of the world Jewish community and Israel in particular.” He noted that graduates of Jewish day schools are four times as likely to go on aliya as others.

But the AZF is making aliya a prime issue for all Jews, not just the young. “We have to convince Jews in the diaspora that it is the most important thing they can do as Jews,” Cohen said.

He noted that many retirees are going to Israel, not because they can live better on their income, but because now they can fulfill a dream they have had all their lives.

Cohen said there is also a push to get Zionist leaders to go on aliya. He said this issue is raised at every meeting, particularly by the young. But he stressed that making aliya the major concern of American Jews has been and will continue to be a long process. “We have to keep plugging away at it,” he said.

NEED ‘HOT-BLOODED ZIONISTS’

The AZF represents Zionist organizations that range politically from the right to the left as well as non-political groups. “I personally believe that if an American or galut Zionist is also passionately interested in the politics of Israel and the kind of government there is in Israel there is a more personal attachment,” Cohen said.

He said for non-political Zionists this attachment can be formed through special projects such as the hospitals Hadassah builds. “It makes the attachment more personal, more real, more part of his daily life,” he noted. “Jews have never been neutral about anything,” Cohen said. “We need hot-blooded Zionists.”