“To say that Jews are morally responsible for the actions of the state seems foolish. We should be educated, if we disagree we should be vocal.”

The Interviewee – Lucinda Lees (Born 1978), Registered Nurse. Grew up on the east coast, Bay Area since 1997

In your opinion, what importance, if any, does the existence of a Jewish state have to you personally and to Jewish people in general?

“The existence of a Jewish state is crucial to the Jewish people not only as a locus of identity, and a religio-ethnic inheritance, but as an actual functioning nation state within which a plurality of Jewishness can survive in perpetuity.”

Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?

“Yes.”

Do you affiliate yourself with a specific denomination in Judaism? What is your view regarding the dominance of the Orthodox denomination in Israel religious establishment?

“I’m not sure where I fit honestly, maybe progressive Masorti. But yes the dominance of the Orthodox Rabbinate concerns me.“

Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?

“I don’t feel that all Jews as a group are morally responsible for Israel’s actions. But I do feel that if a Jew chooses to be engaged with Israel they must decide for themselves how they view those actions, and to make an unflinching assessment in either direction. To say that Jews are morally responsible for the actions of the state seems foolish. We should be educated, if we disagree we should be vocal.“

In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?

“That it requires commitment and constant reinforcement through community. That it is often hard to find a community that matches and so people make do. That there are young American Jews who consider themselves Zionists despite what you may see on the news.”

How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?

“I really don’t know.“

In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?

“Yes.”

Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impressions from Israel?

“No, planning a trip.”

Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown?

“I don’t know if there was one! If there was my extraordinarily secular parents weren’t part of it. I came to Judaism on my own as an adult in the Bay Area.”

If you could ask the Israeli readers of this project a question, what would it be?

“What do you want American Jewry to know about Israel that you think we don’t understand?”