DOV TALES
by Dov Burt Levy

What do you think? Are Israelis living in America different from other immigrants? Do Israelis who choose to live in America fully integrate into American society? What's the big deal if the few Israelis who come to the U.S. to study eventually marry Americans and remain here?

My answer to these questions would be that Israelis are different from other immigrants. That's mainly because of the guilt syndrome, induced by Israeli society on her citizens who choose to live abroad. Israelis living in America will also tell you that they have great difficulty making American friends. And it is a big deal because we are talking of a surprisingly large number of people.

A groundbreaking meeting took place that may be a first step towards helping Israeli immigrants to integrate and be more fully involved in American society and, at the same time, enable American Jews to get closer to our Israeli residents.

The history of this meeting goes back more than 10 years when Larry Lowenthal, Boston director of the American Jewish Committee, thought AJC should reach out to the growing population of Israelis living in metropolitan Boston.

The Israeli Consul General in Boston gave thumbs down to the idea, because, he said, no American Jewish organization should recognize, and therefore legitimize, Israelis not living in Israel.

Why would he feel so strongly? Since the War of Independence in 1948 fighting five surrounding Arab countries, Israel, with a population of 750,000, needed immigrants if it were to survive.

So the biggest guilt trip in the world was laid upon Israelis who, for whatever reason, chose to live abroad for more than the time necessary to do their business, study their subjects, or gather new spouses and return to Israel.

Even the language was an accomplice. Immigrants were "olim," people who made aliyah, who went "up." Those who emigrated from Israel were "yordim," those who went down.

An old Israeli joke pokes fun at those on their way to America: "How long will you be there?" "Not long. Only until Boaz finishes college." Boaz is three.

In Israel, a lot was made in those days of the in-migration statistics because this was, after all, a scorecard on the future of the Jewish state.

Times have changed and historians will parse the reasons. I offer two. First, the sheer number of Israelis living abroad — somewhere between 400,000 and one million — is a lot of people to look down on, to wipe off the books. Some stay a short time, others longer, some forever.

In fact, most Israelis abroad maintain an incredible interest in Israel, read Israeli newspapers daily, visit constantly and send their children to Israel every year.

Second, many important and celebrated Israelis have lived in America, clearing the way, making it acceptable. I think of Yitzchak Perlman, Natalie Portman, Abba Eban and a dozen more.

Now, 10 years after Lowenthal first suggested his idea, several Israelis have joined the AJC Board and new Israeli officials are in charge in Boston. The time had come.

The AJC meeting, held in Wayland on January 10, was a first step towards an AJC dialogue with Israelis. After all, AJC specializes in outreach to Christians, African-Americans, Muslims and the Latino community. Israelis should not remain a neglected exception.

Who were the Israelis and American Jews attending, besides Consul General Nadav Tamir and Consul Rony Yedidia, both of whom spoke to the group?

All different. Some were born in America, some in Israel, some in third countries. Many lived part of their childhood in America, part in Israel. As one person noted, "In Israel, I was the American girl; in America, I was always the Israeli girl."

Many came for college, graduate school or post-docs. Some returned to Israel, married, and returned to America. Some are American citizens, some have green cards and other work visas.

Now they work as psychologists, at synagogues and temples, in business and finance, as teachers, writers and a dozen other kinds of work.

Many of their problems are those of all immigrants. They are strangers, no family or friends here, and American culture is different, sometimes off-putting, like play dates for kids or notifications before dropping in to see a friend. One woman said she finally made a close American friend this year, after 19 years here!

Whether you are Israeli, or an American who cares about these issues, and are perhaps interested in attending future meetings, please phone the AJC office 617-457-8700 or e-mail boston@ajc.org .

Shalom. I'll see you there.