Ever since the establishment of the State in 1948, Israel has declared itself “a Safe Haven” for all Jews of the world and has enacted laws to make sure that any Jew who wants to come live “among his people” in the Promised land can do so.
While the principle of the Save Haven is admirable, in particular in light of the history of the first half on the twentieth century, attempts to lead this general declaration into orderly regulations has (of course) deteriorated into political dilemmas that are not easily solved in Israel. Who should be eligible? If only Jews, who is a Jew? What benefits should they receive? What duties will they have? When will they receive a passport? These, and other questions have occupied Israeli politicians at various times and with varying ferocity, and in particular the eligibility question and of course the “Who is a Jew” conundrum, have been raised again and again.
Events of the past months have made it painfully clear that it is high time for a renewed critical look at the principle of “Safe Haven” and re-evaluate the procedure of the immigration, the eligibility question and possibly the benefit issue as well.
After the scandal surrounding the Refugees from Ukraine, when a “selection” procedure was established, allowing the separation of non-Jews, who are not eligible for immigration, from those who are, the Absorption ministry made a decision to extend the benefits of eligible refugees to eligible Russians who have expressed an interest to leave Russia out of fear for a return of the “Iron Curtain”.
Since these Russian immigrants arrived together with the Ukrainians, it was decided that they would receive the same benefits. Thus these Russians were flown in from Russia in Israeli planes, the were put up in hotels after arrival, received a cash sum for day-to-day expenses and while staying in the hotel, they received a range of additional services. All of them benefits and services a “regular” new immigrant is not entitled to. And these people did not escape a warzone with just the clothes on their backs. And apparently quite a few did not “escape” at all.
Two months after the war in Ukraine started, a little over five thousand Russian immigrants have been registered with the Absorption ministry which was considered a significant achievement, at least until details of their “Absorption” became clear. A full one third of these Russian “immigrants” has already left Israel and gone back to their lives in Russia. They arrived at the cost of the Israeli taxpayer, they stayed in a hotel that the Israeli taxpayer paid for, they received cash from the Israeli taxpayer, but for 1,800 of these Russians, the whole affair was no more than a vacation, paid for by the State of Israel and when they received, as an extra bonus, their Israeli passport, they went home, mission accomplished.
As it turns out, on Jewish Russian Social Media, offers have been circling that an Israeli passport may be had in a short period of time and that it is a good “safety net” if the situation at home deteriorates. But when the opportunity presents itself so openly, can you blame those that take advantage of it?
Today, the world over, the Israeli Absorption Ministry, together with a large array of Jewish organizations, is very active in convincing, persuading, and maybe even coercing Jews to immigrate to Israel. And those that feel it is their destiny or their safety they should immigrate and they will (in most cases) be welcomed with open arms. But those who are comfortable with their lives where they are, even if it is in the midst of Goyim, should not be harassed about immigrating to Israel. The United States is the home of almost six million Jews, the large majority of whom has no intention whatsoever, to come live in Israel, because the U.S. is their home. The do not see Israel as a “Safe Haven” because they feel safe where they are and have no desire to leave.
The Safe Haven principle is important because Jews are still very often the target of hostile forces and it is good for them to know they have where to go if the need to flee becomes acute. But Israel should carefully evaluate the intensity with which the immigration of Jews is encouraged so as to avoid embarrassing (and expensive) situations as with the Russians who came for a vacation (and a passport) only.
I hope you found this article interesting and I welcome any comments you may have.
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