A B Yehoshua is right

A B Yehoshua writing in Haaretz says:

"Jewish identity in Israel, which we call Israeli identity (as distinct from Israeli citizenship, which is shared by Arab citizens who also live in the shared homeland, though their national identity is Palestinian) - this Jewish-Israeli identity has to contend with all the elements of life via the binding and sovereign framework of a territorially defined state. And therefore the extent of its reach into life is immeasurably fuller and broader and more meaningful than the Jewishness of an American Jew, whose important and meaningful life decisions are made within the framework of his American nationality or citizenship. His Jewishness is voluntary and deliberate, and he may calibrate its pitch in accordance with his needs".

A B Yehoshua's comment recently aired at a conference in the US is that Jewish identity in Israel is a richer and deeper experience then the diaspora one. His views caused a bit of an uproar at the conference with Diaspora leaders outraged that their jewish identity was being disparaged. I am a Jew living in the diaspora and I totally agree with A B Yehoshua. Like it or not, Israel offers a richer Jewish identity as being Jewish is not simply a private voluntary commitment but is a public one. Israel as a Jewish State in a very public way is dealing with issues of Jewish identity, which is expressed in practical and multifaceted ways.

We in the diaspora can not deny this. This is not to say we can not have strong jewish identities but the possibilities for a fuller identity is more open in Israel.

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