More on that story that won’t go away: Israelis moving to Berlin, now 20,000 strong. A lightning rod for rightwingers like Yair Lapid, the self-exile from the Jewish state raises all sorts of questions about the reforestation of Jews in Europe and the Jewish ideal of living as an empowered minority in a diverse liberal society. And yes, too, the right of return to a society that ethnically cleansed your people, Ashkenazi Jews.
In Haaretz, an Israeli-turned-Berliner, Tal Alon, says that she started a Hebrew magazine in Berlin a year back because of the “‘exciting thing that is happening here,’ referring to the growing Israeli community in Berlin – now about 20,000 strong – that recently prompted criticism from Finance Minister Yair Lapid.”
Finance Minister Lapid said a month ago that Israelis were moving to Berlin because it’s easier financially and they should think twice; Alon says that’s not why.
“I moved for the experience, the adventure; to satisfy the will to broaden my horizons.”
After two years in Berlin, Alon established Spitz in order to connect the local German and Israeli communities. The magazine’s goal isn’t to keep the community in an isolated bubble, she says, but rather to “serve as a bridge for Hebrew speakers in the Berlin landscape.” The name Spitz (literally, sharp tip) is one sort of connection: “It’s a word that moved from German – and some claim from Yiddish – to Hebrew.”
Alon is yet to find the financial model that would secure future issues of the magazine, which is currently based on the work of 50 individuals – writers, photographers, editors and distributors – most of whom do not receive any pay. At present it is distributed free of charge to 250 subscribers, and a further 1,750 copies are distributed at Jewish and Israeli businesses throughout the city.
Has this story been on 60 Minutes yet? What about Walt and Mearsheimer, they haven’t been on 60 Minutes, and their book just never goes away.
the video at the second link mentions 100,000 israelis have german passports.
50% of Israeli children under the age of 10 are either Haredim or Arab, both with bleak employment prospects. In the case of the Haredim, self-imposed. In the case of the Arab-Israelis, imposed from the outsided by a scared Jewish establishment which fears an empowered Arab minority.
Either way, this leaves a much smaller share of the future tax base. We’re not going to see a massive wave of Aliyah of Jews to Israel anymore. That ship has passed. You may see some from places like France, for instance. But most of them never quite leave. They get Israeli passports and live two lives. Never quite letting go of la Belle.
So while 20,000 might not sound a lot, these are the upper-middle class young Israelis with typically a good education. They represent the top 20% of the country in terms of employment prospects, so them missing is hurt even more. How many people between the ages of 25 and 35 does Israel have? Maybe 800,000. And this is the top 20%. That’s about 160,000 in that age group. 20,000 represents about 12.5%, which seems reasonable if you look at Israel’s emigration statistics(which is around 14%, top3 in the world). And this is just Berlin. We have Australia, the U.S, Canada and Great Britain, too.
And it also signifies the long-awaited normalization of Israel in terms of the Jewish psyche. People are now talking about Israel helping the diaspora to help retain its Jewish character. Jews who are now 12 years old or less don’t really remember the 2nd intifada. It ended when they were 1 years old.
They will grow up in a state which is much safer for them, where Palestinians are shut off from their existance and where Israel simply isn’t threatened military the way it used to be. In such an environment, things like paid workdays off for a new child will be rated that much higher, the price of living and so on. Israel will always be there and will not really need their help that much. So you’ll see a corresponding exodus, which is increasing.
For all the talk about Israel and new alliances in the East, young educated Israelis are voting with their feet. Do you see a mass exodus to India or China? If the Arab spring taught us anything, it’s that the feelings of the people matter a lot more than the feelings of the leaders, in the long run.
It is really no surprise that Yair Lapid opposes the right of return. He rejects the Jewish right of return to Germany in the same way as he rejects the Palestinian right of return to historic Palestine. At least, we can give him some credit for consistency.
And yes, too, the right of return to a society that ethnically cleansed your people, Ashkenazi Jews.
I object to the phrasing! The society of present-day Germany is NOT the same society that existed in Nazi Germany. We are different people in a different time and a different state. Associating us with the ethnic cleansers of the past is quite offensive.
The magazine’s goal isn’t to keep the community in an isolated bubble, she says, but rather to “serve as a bridge for Hebrew speakers in the Berlin landscape.”
I am not really convinced of the magazine’s goal. Instead of providing foreigners with information in their native language, they should be encouraged to learn the local language. When Hebrew-language media are available, then there’s no incentive for them to integrate and learn German. Having separate media for Israelis is segregation and leads to parallel societies. If that’s what they want, they should go back to Israel.
If you’re born in Podunk, Iowa and aspire to play in a philharmonic orchestra, you move to Chicago, New York or L.A.
So what’s the big deal if young, ambitious Israelis move in order to broaden their horizons?
Interesting Aljazeera Documentary on Israelis abroad, many of whom live in Germany.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2013/08/2013820125019453189.html