Pushing the Button

Issues arise in the headlines. We read the concise few words, we may read a few paragraphs of a few articles, but we rarely have the chance to dig in to the issues underlying the headlines, and learn from a plethora of voices.
 
In this section we shall be “pushing the button” – inviting short responses from interesting and unusual people throughout the world of Jewish and Zionist education and culture – trying to explore beyond the surface to find the real conversations. 

Encouraging Aliya – insensitive?

The videos produced by the Absorption Department encouraging Israelis in North America to return to Israel, ignited a controversy. Within a few days the Prime Minister himself ordered the campaign to be cancelled.

Yet in the meantime, an interesting and important dialogue had begun to open up. Were the commercials really so offensive?

Or were they mainly touching on a subject that itself is terribly sensitive yet crucial: What is the value of Jewish life in Israel as compared to the Diaspora? Indeed, how do we define a valuable Jewish life?