Why should Israelis care

As I mentioned in the first post of this series, my perspective in writing this series is that of a Jew and an Israeli, in that order. I am also a grantee that has realized a dream and a vision due to the generosity of time, spirit, trust and money by lay leaders, Jewish professional, rabbis, communities and organizations from across the Jewish world.

Why should we - Israelis - care? My answer is that we should care as both as Israelis and as Jews for a number of reasons (with no particular order of importance).

First, as Israelis we should have the most practical urge to see a billion dollars per annum of philanthropic giving being put to the best possible use in the service of prosperity and security of our country. A billion dollars of do-good money is a lot even in our present economic state.

Israel-Diaspora relations

[This is the first of fifteen posts on Jewish philanthropy in Israel titled "Overhaul or Be Marginalized".]

This series of blog posts deals with non-Israeli Jewish philanthropy in Israel with the objective of making a contribution to its effectiveness and relevance.

When I started working on this project, my wife, friends and colleagues asked me why I care enough to spend so many hours on a topic that is out of the focus of my professional work. My answer was that I feel a debt to the community that has made my dream possible and that, en route, this may turn out to be a contribution, however small, to Israel's prosperity, to Israel-Diaspora relations and to world Jewry.

About this blog

A Link in the Chain Founder of the prestigious Reut Institute, Gidi Grinstein, blogs about his vision for Israel and 21st century Zionism.

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Roddy Frankel: Perhaps a worthwhile application of your think-tank is optimizing the negotiation process with the PA. Some questions that need to be asked: 1) What principles will define the movement of Arabs and Jews across borders, in both directions? 2) What principles will define land ownership, and citizenship, on both sides, for all religious groups? 3) What principles will define the protection of and access to public holy sites? I think you get the idea. These questions have been largely ignored in any public debates. Isn't it better to resolve these issues before borders are drawn?
Yosef - Israel: Your shallow hubris is simply stunning. Whatever you don't explain is either not important or doesn't exist! After Oslo we expect some humility, not more of the same simplistic "instant fix" solutions! NO system will help if there are no real leaders and no real direction.
Scott, Leeds,Yorkshire UK: I really feel for the people of Israel just now. However as a distant observer ... based in the UK ... it is probably easy for me to make glib remarks when I do not have to suffer the indignities or experience the exigiencies of the Israelis. What I would say is this ... stay strong ... do not give in.