As Israel's election draws near, millions of Jews around the world are feeling the weight of the outcome, despite not being able to vote. For many, this election is about whether Israel will remain a vital part of their Jewish life.
What happened
Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi, from the Shalom Hartman Institute, discussed the election and its implications for world Jewry. They noted that while Israelis are focused on domestic issues, diaspora Jews are concerned about the impact of the election on their relationship with Israel and their identity as Jews.
Hartman and Klein Halevi highlighted the differences in priorities between Israelis and diaspora Jews. For Israelis, the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the October 7th events and the reordering of the relationship between the state and the ultra-Orthodox community are pressing issues. In contrast, diaspora Jews are more concerned about stopping settler violence and protecting the good name of the Jewish people.
The two also discussed the anxiety and uncertainty felt by many Israelis, particularly those in the opposition, who fear that if the current government returns to power, it could lead to a mass emigration of young, secular Israelis. This, in turn, could threaten the future of Israel's success story, often referred to as Startup Nation.
