“Diaspora Jews need Israel and Israel should adhere to the principle of all Jews being brothers. We are the same tribe, and diaspora Jews and Israel share the same Jewish Civilization.”

The Interviewee – Joe Lederman (Born 1954), CEO of law firm, consultancy, Publisher , Lecturer, Director, Entrepreneur. Born in Melbourne Australia. Family of 6 siblings – Of which 2 brothers and one sister and my 88yo mother and my daughter and her husband and my grandchildren (and other large cousins) have all made Aliyah to Israel from Melbourne in past 30 years.

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

“Israel is now the social and cultural and national heart and inspiration of Jewish people globally and Jewish continuity. As an Australian Jew, I can no longer identify with the American Jewish community for inspiration. Whatever is not available Jewishly in Australia is able to be filled by Israel.”

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

“Absolutely yes, without reservations.”

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?

“Traditional culturally orthodox and pro-Zionist.”

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

“I don’t think Israel will ever persuade the Palestinians or Europeans or pro-Palestinian BDS movements in the US to accept the existence of a Jewish State or a state where Jews live a Jewish cultural life. As a generalization, the European worldview is conditioned and attuned to Jewish memorials and dead Jews rather than living Jewish culture.”

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

“Israelis lack understanding of –

1. The reasons that Jews outside Israel to express their Jewishness by religious expressions and rituals; that private religion is more acceptable to non-Jewish Western society than ethnic community cohesion.
2. The breadth of Jewishness and religious expression outside Israel. Even Orthodoxy and traditional religious observance of Jewish festivals is unfamiliar to many Israelis.”

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

“Needs more work but Israel will not be able to satisfy American Jews whose only tie to Israel was their grandparents’ support for Golda Meir or the kibbutz ideal. Many American Jews seem to think that being ‘Jewish’ must mean support for the Left side of politics eg voting Obama!“

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

“Yes, Diaspora Jews need Israel and Israel should adhere to the principle of all Jews being brothers. We are the same tribe, and diaspora Jews and Israel share the same Jewish Civilization.
However there are many assimilated Jews especially in America who are unaffiliated and lack a Jewish education ( mind you, for good reason such as the huge expense and lack of a cultural community upbringing). In a historical context they are today’s Erev Rav (ערב רב) who lack any positive attitude to Israel and are apologetic for Jewish distinctiveness.“

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

“Yes, probably at least 20 -30 times since 1967 – 2016.“

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

“Melbourne (Australia) currently is an exceptionally strong and cohesive but diversified Jewish community and predominantly supportive of Israel. This stems from the strong influence of the Holocaust-survivors who rebuilt a Melbourne community from the late-1950s and through the 1970s and 1980s along the model of kehillot and landsmanschafen from the ashes of Jewish Eastern Europe and a model of assertive self-dependence and also acceptance that antisemitism will rekindle itself in the diaspora.

“Jewish education (although not always in Hebrew or religious) has been a focal point for the reorganization of the Jewish community in Melbourne from the 1950s. The close proximity of Jews to one another mostly living in ‘Jewish neighbourhoods’ with numerous choices of kosher and religious institutions and the regularity of Jewish communal musical and arts events and concerts and film festivals ( both Jewish and Israeli – but always a separate series for Holocaust films) have all served to bring disparate elements of the Jewish community together at frequent intervals.

“Living near other Jews has created a strong positive identity for many young people, but longer term ( a generation later than America) American assimilation trends are likely to be spreading to Australia because of the high cost of education and the high cost of maintaining Jewish community diversity.

“Fortunately Jewish philanthropy by many successful Jewish business people (especially holocaust survivors) in Melbourne had a very positive effect. However query whether such philanthropy is to be sustainable over the next 2 generations, unless a new financially successful entrepreneurial Jewish class remains committed to Jewish survival and growth in Australia.”

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

“Do you know what it feels like as a Jew in the Diaspora? Have you learned the history and traditions of the Jewish communities from where your parents and ancestors came? If not, why not? “