“If I felt that Israel faced an existential threat, I would go to fight for Israel. At home, I lobby government leaders to defend Israel.”
The Interviewee – Antonio Satryan (Born 1994), Student, President of Indiana University Hillel, AIPAC Campus Liaison. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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 very important to me. It means that Jews always have somewhere to go. Personally, a large portion of my family lives in Israel, keeping me connected to the Jewish state.“
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“Absolutely. If I felt that Israel faced an existential threat, I would go to fight for Israel. At home, I lobby government leaders to defend Israel.”
From your experience how common are your views among Millennials American Jews?
“I would say the most millennial American Jews are not as attached to Israel as previous generations. There are definitely many exceptions, but I feel that most are either apathetic or pro-Israel but not necessarily committed to it. There are also far too many young American Jews taking part in movements that do not support Israel, and this bothers me greatly.”
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 am a reform Jew. I believe some of the laws in Israel (marriage, who is considered a Jew) are a bit extreme because of the Orthodox dominance, but I appreciate that the Jewish state is governed by Jews.“
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
“I do because I spend much of my time defending Israel. That being said, Israel’s actions are easily defensible. In most cases, I am very proud.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“It’s not as easy as you might thing. Many Jews, even American Jews, grow up as the only Jew in their city/town.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“I believe Israel, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, effectively engaged with those among the diaspora who seek a connection to Israel.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“When able, yes. And they do a good job of this.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“I have been 3 times. I love Israel. I will always try to go back. My experiences have been formative, important, exciting, fun, spiritual, and unforgettable.“
What was your best experience of Israeli culture in the past year (book, music, TV, movie, theater etc.)?
“I attended a couple concerts during my most recent trip (Dec 2015-Jan 2016) which were a lot of fun.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown? Is it organized? Are there any community activities?
“My hometown has a pretty big Jewish community. My neighborhood is about 40% Jewish. We have a JCC and a couple temples. It’s a good place to be a Jew.”
