Prof. Emeritus, Samuel M. Edelman, Ph.D, Executive Director at the Academic Council for Israel. Emeritus Professor CSU, Chico, Academic Fellow, The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies; University of Miami.
I was born the same time Israel was born in May 1948 in Altoona PA. Currently split my time between Chico, CA and Hallandale Fl. I currently teach History of Israel and History of Zionism at University of Miami and actively fight BDS through the Academic Council for Israel for which I am the executive director.
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 the State of Israel is central to my identity as a Jew. I am a member of am Yisrael, the people of Israel, as a Jew. My prayers, history, vision of self are tied to eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel.
“All Jews need to remember that no matter where we resided in exile we still remained the people of Israel tied to the land of Israel. We may be nostalgic about our places of exile and the languages of exile we used such as Yiddish, Ladino, or Judeo-Arabic but we still used Hebrew letters and words in those languages. We still prayed facing Jerusalem. All of our holiday celebrations and commemorations contained within them the idea of return to our land.
We are one of the few indigenous peoples of the world who have successfully returned to our homeland. If we had been able to return to our homeland prior to the 1930’s the Shoah would never have happened. So the existence today of the State of Israel provides for Jews around the world an insurance policy of future refuge if needed.”
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“Yes, it is in my own self interest as well as in the interest of Jews all over the world to defend our homeland. Anti-Jewish hatred seems to be the hate that just will not go away. It exists even when there are no Jews around such as in many Arab countries. I have over my life span either witnessed or suffered from this form of discrimination and hate. I witnessed it when I attended the Munich Olympics. I have seen it in demonstrations in Europe and the US. I see it now on college campuses and in academic professional organizations I have attended such as American Studies, Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies where the only good Jew is one who condemns Israel. So yes it is critical that I step forward to defend the existence of Israel.”
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“No I do not feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions, even though I see their actions as morally justified. If I ever make aliyah or would fight in the IDF or have my children or future grandchildren fight in the IDF then I might win the right to feel morally responsible. Until then I do not feel I have the right to tell Israelis what they should or should not do. I do have the right of course to voice my opinions which I readily do and may make suggestions if asked for my advice. But until I live my life in Israel and confront what Israelis confront daily then I have no right to tell Israelis what to do from the comfort of my home in the US.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“I think most Israelis have little understanding of the level of success the Palestinians and their supporters have had in portraying Israel as a violator of human rights of Palestinians and as an evil nation. Their success in the propaganda campaign is even affecting young Jews and making them turn away from Israel at the best and at the worst turn into some of the more antagonistic haters of Israel. Israeli professors who spend time in Europe or the US or Canada have been startled by the toxic atmosphere especially on campuses. What Israelis also fail to understand is that they need to throw away the term hasbara and embrace the word persuasion. Israelis need to stop trying to explain their perspective and begin to persuade others to get them to embrace their perspective.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“Israel’s policies are often counterproductive especially in the religious area. Reform, Conservative and Renewal Jewish views have to be on par with the Orthodox in Israeli policy. Israel needs to begin to invest in the Diaspora more substantively.
“The Arab and Moslem world has invested billions of dollars in to university Centers of Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic Studies and into faculty Israel has given very little to a similar program. We are now suffering on the campus because there is now a full generation of academics in the humanities and social sciences who have grown up and been educated by these Arab and Moslem funded programs with a warped view of the Middle East and Israel. Israel Studies is underfunded and under supported as are faculty groups who are pro-Israel. Furthermore, Israel is putting money and effort into Hasbara when it should be putting money and effort into counter propaganda programs and programs and projects to persuade others (not just to inform them).”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“Yes Israel does have an obligation as do all Jews no matter where we are to defend and support our co-religionist under threat.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“Yes, I have been to Israel many times. I am constantly amazed at the resilience, the adaptability, the happiness, the humor and good will of Israelis in spite of what they confront on a day to day basis. I am also concerned about the disparity between rich and poor in Israel which needs to be dealt with.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there community activities?
“I live in two places. I have a home in rural Northern California and in Southern Florida. The northern California home has three synagogues including Chabad. One synagogue (the oldest) is thriving but just getting by. The other breakaway synagogue is not thriving. Israel is not supported by everyone. The older synagogue has a large core of members who are clearly pro-Israel. The breakaway synagogue have most of their members who are either hyper critical of Israel or who are outright hostile to Israel. Chabad is Chabad.
“The university has a minor in Jewish and Israel Studies that I started but the program is underfunded and under supported. Hillel is active and very pro-Israel. There are programs but as faculty such as myself retire and are not replaced the critical mass of pro-Israel faculty has declined. On a positive note the pro-Israel Christian community in the area has increased and become more vocal and even more supportive. At the same time the anti-Israel forces have also grown more vocal and aggressive.”
