The challenge of Western Aliya
By Richard A. Macales
(March 21) - Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration Absorption Ariel Sharon's bold initiative to bring one million new immigrants to Israel in the next decade is the Jewish state's greatest challenge.
The number of potential immigrants from the former Soviet Union is dwindling, leaving Western countries, and particularly the "Anglo-Saxon" nations, as the greatest reservoir for new immigrants.
Sharon has reason for optimism. At the time of his birth in 1928, there were 160,000 Jews living in the country. Today, the Jewish population stands at five million. Sharon has been a major player in many aliya projects - both overtly and covertly - in his varied governmental posts.
He must believe there is great potential in aliya from the English-speaking world. In North America there are about six million Jews. To tap into this highly educated and skilled community, Sharon must do a major overhaul of the Ministry of Immigration Absorption and the Jewish Agency (which operates the Israel Aliya Centers in the Diaspora).
Initially, Sharon must abolish the little-known yet powerful "Blaustein-Ben-Gurion Agreement" of 1950. This now-archaic pact was designed to limit Israel's aliya activities in the "democratic world" out of fear of "dual loyalty" and possible resultant anti-Semitism. Blaustein-Ben-Gurion has been the blueprint for Jewish communal leaders in the West - fund-raise and lobby on behalf of Israel, but don't aggressively push aliya.
President Moshe Katsav, shortly after his accession to office last year, upset the status quo when he made a pointed call on the Jews of the United States to make aliya a high-priority item on their agenda.
Second, a historic new agreement must be reached in the government of national unity and among contemporary Diaspora leaders, actively encouraging and supporting aliya. The highly successful Birthright program, which brings young Jews from the Diaspora on subsidized trips to Israel in order for them to become acquainted with the country, is a good first step in this direction.
Third, Sharon must work out a comprehensive agreement with Israel's various immigrant and ethnic parties to provide equal resources for all immigrants, regardless of their country of origin. Since Israel's founding, infrastructure, manpower, and budget for aliya have been earmarked for Jews (and non-Jewish family members by marriage) originating from what the government and Jewish Agency have designated as "distressed" countries - places where anti-Semitism can be life-threatening or where Jews suffer from severe economic hardship.
Currently, immigrant entitlements provided by the ministry help "distressed country" olim receive money to buy appliances, houses, and cars through grants, loans, subsidies and other in-kind gifts. In contrast, Western olim have the right to bring in three duty-free shipments in five years and receive a $100-a-month rental subsidy for two years. This discriminates against lower-income Western Jews and/or large families who cannot afford to purchase furniture and appliances, let alone pay for the transport of these goods to Israel (which is no longer subsidized).
Changes of attitude toward Western immigrants must also prevail at the ministry and the Jewish Agency. Officials cannot assume that all Jews from Western countries have the financial means to purchase luxury villas, thereby negating the need to provide significant financial assistance.
The bureaucrats' unhelpful attitude toward Western immigrants also extends into housing allocations. Priority is given to those from distressed countries in the shrinking number of absorption centers. Western immigrants are often told to arrange for private rental housing. Sharon must reevaluate these priorities. Looking into each person's checkbook will only keep people away and/or encourage immigrants to keep their assets abroad.
Is it any wonder then that fewer than 1,300 Jews made aliya from North America last year and a similar number came the year before? The problem, however, lies not only in economics. As in every aspect of Israeli life politics play a very significant role in immigrant absorption as well.
Former minister of immigration absorption Yael (Yuli) Tamir, an outspoken leader of the peace camp and the "secular revolution," was perceived as being less than supportive by North American immigrants because, by and large, their political and religious viewpoints are more to the right.
Tehilla, the Union for Religious Aliya (a non-partisan group) has been one of the most successful support groups in getting its members to make aliya, thereby refuting the argument that Western Jews don't want to live in Israel. Over the past decade, however, Tehilla's budget was slashed drastically by successive governments.
Israel has evolved into a land of opportunity with a lot to offer the free market-oriented English speakers. Israel also has an unparalleled Jewish educational system in which Judaic values and Zionism once again take center stage. To ensure that we remain a strong and proud majority we must heed Sharon's call - and concurrently call on him to revamp the immigration system.
