The Problem With Diaspora Israelis

For some of the Jewish faith the ultimate declaration of their religious devotion is to make aliyah, to move from the the diaspora to the land of Israel. Being Jewish in exile is just too difficult to maintain with so many secular distractions. That along with the desire to fulfill the commandments to the fullest drives some to give up the comforts and safety of America (and other countries) and to move to the hotbed of the Middle East. It is an honorable and admirable move which is very difficult for many reasons including family, finances/employment, and cultural differences. Giving up all the opportunities America has to offer for oneself and for one's children and obligating themselves and their children for Israeli military service is an enormous commitment. Yet the opportunity to move to the land that the Jews have been praying for two thousand years is a powerful force.

What is much less discussed and seemingly purposely silenced is the vast number of Israelis who emigrate from Israel to the diaspora and these Israelis in exile are particularly problematic from a Jewish point of view. Many of them are cultural Israelis but have very little Jewish connection. Israelis in the diaspora are connected by their common language, similar military experiences, common middle Eastern diet and other factors. However these factors are not strong enough to ensure the perpetuation of Judaism. They tend to live amongst themselves apart from American Jews and American Jewish institutions as their language and cultural upbringing is quite different from American Jews. As with many other immigrants to the US, the first or second generation maintain their language and culture but by the third generation the powers of assimilation strongly outweigh the "tired and old world" customs of the grandparents.

American Jews and Israeli Jews are culturally different in many ways and often do not mesh easily. This is evident as Americans who make Aliyah will often live amongst other Anglos and Israelis who move to America will generally live amongst themselves. The problem is the Jews who move to Israel are going for the need to be more religious while the Israelis who move to America are often irreligious and are doomed to assimilation.

Almost every place I go on vacation around the world I hear Hebrew at some point. Israelis are everywhere. I don't blame them for leaving to look for opportunities wherever they may be found but counting on Israeli culture to transmit their heritage to their kids and grandchildren is a recipe for certain assimilation. Only by learning to be Jews in exile will they be able to maintain their heritage.

In Israel many secular people feel they don't have to be religious since they live in the holy land and defend it. Yet in exile Jews have to work harder to maintain their Jewish identity in order to ensure its transmission to future generations. Diaspora Jews know how to propagate their religion in an environment of constant distractions but diaspora Israelis will find that maintaining their Jewishness by being cultural Israelis in the diaspora and not being involved in Synagogue, Jewish schools, Jewish camps, Jewish community centers,etc, will lead ultimately to assimilation of their progeny.

Diaspora Israelis need to learn how to survive as Jews in America. Speaking Hebrew and eating chumus is not enough.

The Power of Fear

I saw a patient this week whom I have been unable to get out of my mind. He is a man in his forties, a smoker, who came in complaining of right ear pain. As soon as I asked him what was wrong with him I could hear in his response that his voice was hoarse. I inquired how long he has been hoarse and he responded about a month. After examining his ear which didn't look too bad I told him that I need to examine his vocal cords. He refused. He said my throat is okay just let me have some antibiotics for my ear.

I asked multiple times to allow me to examine him more thoroughly to determine the source of his hoarseness but he kept refusing. As a last ditch effort I explained to him that he may have a growth or possibly even cancer of the throat. Further, I expanded that if there is something there and it is caught early there is a good chance of cure but if he waits and it gets worse the treatment would be more drastic and the cure rate would decrease. He responded "Doc, my throat is fine, really, just let me have the antibiotics". So he left with his prescriptions and I reiterated if he changes his mind to return.

As I was filling out his chart I was very concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit later on for delay in diagnosis even though he refused a complete examination. I have no doubt he will have no problem getting a lawyer to take his case. So I tried to be as complete as possible documenting the encounter and his refusal even with his knowledge of the potential outcomes. I still felt the only way to protect myself would be for him to sign an affidavit stating that he refuses with full knowledge of the possibilities but I have no expertise in drafting such a document. We often get consents to perform procedures but no formal way to consent to refuse procedures.

What really stuck with me about this case is the fear this man had. He was so terrified of the possible diagnosis that he refused to even allow me to obtain the facts. As a doctor whose goal it is to cure disease it continues to distress me that I can help this man if he could only allow me. I underappreciate the fear that some patients have when they come in. I suppose this is not unreasonable since in a fifteen minute evaluation, a person's life can be turned upside down. This man was more comfortable staying ignorant than risk the possible knowledge of a potentially serious problem. The fear of his life being turned upside down was too much for him to bear.

Often people will come to the office with nonspecific complaints regarding their throats and usually their examinations are negative. I believe that tension and stress will often manifest with symptoms effecting the throat which is why we feel choked up during periods of emotion. The throat, not the heart is truly the organ of emotion. I think many of these people are fearful of a growth and seek comfort and knowledge that there is nothing serious going on in their throats. They are fearful of having a symptom and not knowing if there is an actual problem. So here are two completely opposite patients but both motivated by fear. One is too scared to know and the other is too scared of the unknown.

What If?

What if it became popular to convert to Judaism? What if it became the newest wave and thousands would elect to become Jewish? I do not mean the once a year Yom Kippur Judaism but the all-in Judaism with all its restrictions and lifestyle. Now you will ask me why would anybody want to become Jewish and accept the burden of worldwide hatred against them. Further, why would anyone put upon themselves all the laws and limitations that come with a life of Jewish faith. Let me list a few possible reasons.

Our holidays are a time for commemorating, celebrating and reliving ancient events while your holidays are a time to go the mall and have a barbecue.

Our weekends include a day of rest where we turn off electronics and cannot drive which force us to bond with our families and community while on your weekends each member of the family goes there own way and does his/her own thing.

Our communities are places where families interact and support each other in good times and in bad. In your communities rarely does anyone even know their neighbor.

Charity is an integral part of our lives while amassing possessions is the definition of your lives.

The importance of education is stressed from early in life in our culture while the ability to chase, catch, throw, shoot or hit a ball is paramount in yours.

Our schools teach a balance of secular subjects along with religious texts and culture, while yours reject any mention or demonstration of religion.

We aim to love thy neighbor as thyself and to treat others as you would have them treat you. You look at neighbors with suspicion and distrust and seek personal success at anyone's cost.

We believe in individual responsibility regarding success and failure while so many are quick to blame anyone else but themselves.

We look at the almighty to grant us good health and a sustainable living while too many in society look to government for their sustenance.

We do not look to convert nonbelievers to our faith. In fact we attempt to dissuade those who demonstrate interest. What better way to attract people than to inform them they are not really wanted. Our difficulty is not with non-Jews but with so many born Jews who do not see the value of their own heritage. They follow the path of most in this society and get sucked in to the materialism, desiring wealth, possessions and fame. Ultimately, this path is not a recipe for happiness.

I do not suspect this mass conversion will happen anytime soon and I do not think disconnected Jews will suddenly awaken to their disregarded heritage. Yet it is interesting to note how this ancient culture has so many answers to the problems and shortcomings of modern society.