44.2 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

A Jewish Voice Exclusive Interview with World Jewish Congress President Ronald S Lauder

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

Jewish Voice: With Rosh Hashana coming up, what is your goal as a Jewish leader for the coming year?

Ronald Lauder: My goal as a Jewish leader is the same as my goal as a grandfather: to show my grandsons an Israel that embraces all Jews. I want to show them not just the country’s immense beauty and many wonders, but also the sacred values upon which it was founded. I also plan to continue investing time, money and heart in the peace process, which has been my life’s work for a quarter century. And as the Lauder Employment Center in the Negev expands, I’m looking forward to progress on construction of my personal home in Beersheba.

JV: In a recent New York Times Op-Ed, you called on Israel’s government to embrace “a just Zionism and a pluralistic Judaism that respects every human being.” What was the response to your essay?

RL: I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, across the world and across political divides. Some truths are tough to face. But Israel needs an honest reality check to keep the Diaspora engaged and connected to our homeland. I believe the article sparked an international conversation, and I hope much-needed change will come soon.

JV: As the U.S. midterms approach, do you fear bipartisan support for Israel waning?

RL: I do. Bipartisanship has been the lynchpin of U.S. support for Israel for 70 years. But in recent years, gaps have emerged; there are some on the far left, for example, who seem eager to erode American solidarity with the Jewish state. As Jewish communal leaders like myself pass the torch to the next generation, it is our responsibility to stress to young American Jews the importance of standing with the Jewish state through thick and thin.

JV: Growing numbers of Jewish millennials in the U.S. are questioning support for Israel, such as the students who walked off their Birthright trip. Why has this problem worsened over recent years, and what can be done to reverse it?

RL: Israel’s founders emphasized the need to combine Jewish nationalism with universal humanism. During this past summer of disharmony, Israel’s government seemed to many millennials and others to be tarnishing equality and egalitarianism. Israel must hear the voices of protest and outrage and rededicate itself to the moral compass that’s guided the Jewish people for 4,000 years.

JV: In July, the Knesset passed a controversial law defining Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” What do you make of the law’s passing and the ensuing uproar?

RL:The nation-state law correctly reaffirmed that Israel is a Jewish state. But it also damaged the sense of equality and belonging of Israel’s Druze, Christian and Muslim citizens, and diminished Israel’s standing on the global stage. The Israeli government should revisit that divisive and counterproductive measure, as well as the recently-passed anti-LGBT surrogacy law.

JV: Mark Zuckerberg recently defended Facebook’s policy of not automatically removing Holocaust deniers from its platform. Do you agree with his position?

RL: Absolutely not. Holocaust denial is a sickening exploitation of our First Amendment rights and has no place in our society. Facebook talks the talk of community and tolerance. Now they must walk the walk and remove hateful anti-Semitic bigotry from their platform.

JV: New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made national headlines for condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians but then being unable to answer basic questions about the conflict. How do we better educate the next generation of political leaders about Israel?

RL: Decades of miseducation and anti-Israel biases cannot be reversed overnight. But our elected officials ultimately answer to constituents. Americans who understand the complicated dimensions of the conflict must emphasize Israel’s commitment to a peaceful two-state solution and condemn hateful comments like those made by some on the far left.

JV: Israel has historically been a political punching bag at the United Nations. With the General Assembly coming up, do you expect the tenor of the conversation about Israel to change?

RL: One of the best decisions President Trump has made was to appoint Nikki Haley as U.S. Ambassador to the UN. Since her first day in New York, she’s been a breath of fresh air. Decades of deep-seated hostility and unfair treatment of Israel can’t be changed overnight, but she has already made incredible progress by reaffirming American strength and demanding justice in the UN’s halls. And I know her efforts will continue to bear fruit in the year ahead.

balance of natureDonate

1 COMMENT

Latest article

- Advertisement -