Vladimir Minkov Ph.D, a retired nuclear scientist, published author and writer. He is the co-author of “Nuclear Shadow Boxing”, a scientific history of the nuclear confrontation between the Soviet Union and USA during the cold war and is the author of “The Jews and Their Role in Our World”, which explores his personal journey to discovering Jewish identity. Having lost much of his family in the Holocaust and finding his search for spiritual development stifled in the Soviet Union, Vladimir migrated to the United States in the late 1970s. He currently resides in Skokie, Illinois. Runs a blog called – “Intellectual Judaism – yes, it is“.
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 Jewish State of Israel is of great importance to me personally and to the great majority of my friends and collaborators who immigrated to various Western countries, mostly to the USA and Israel, from the anti-Semitic Former Soviet Union. In my opinion, the existence of Israel and support of her should be of major concern of the Jewish people and the entire Judeo-Christian world as a major step in realization of the idea of building a better world for everybody based on our Judeo-Christian principles.”
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“I am defending the existence of Israel and the need for the West to defend her in many my publications.”
Do you affiliate yourself with a specific confessional division in Judaism? What is your view regarding the dominance of the Orthodox division in Israel religious establishment?
“Now I am a member of a small non-denominational synagogue. I the past, for a long time I was a member of a reform temple. I left this reform temple (with mostly nice and friendly people and a very responsive rabbi) because of its inability to transform our Torah-based spiritual concepts to political and social actions. I am not against liberal policies supported by the Reform movement – I am against substituting the Torah-based concepts by Liberal concepts whatever it may mean.”
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“I feel morally responsible for helping Israel develop the most secure policies in the hostile anti-Israel Islamic world – but not for forcing them to do what they consider to be detrimental to their survival strategies.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“The spiritual mission of the Jews as the Chosen – to help the others to build a better world for everybody – which obligates the Jews to be present everywhere.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“Not too good. Israel’s policies are aimed at encouraging Aliya instead of creating a sort of a Jewish Nation – not to govern over the others but to help them build a better world for everybody.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“That is a too general question – everything depends on how “in need” is defined.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“I enjoy the Israeli reality – that is a combination of everything what the Jews created from the times of Mount Sinai.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there community activities?
“I live in the Chicago Metropolitan area – that is like in Israel – here you can find everything.”
Is there a question you feel should be added to the project’s questionnaire?
“Yes, I would add two more questions. (1) What could be done to enhance our spiritual connections with the Christians to build a better world together with them, and (2) What could be done to defend the Judeo-Christian world from the adversaries.”
