'Jewish youth are still very noticeable in all kinds of radical organizations—up to National Bolsheviks and Russian ultra-nationalists’: Rabbi Avraham Shmulevich
Why Russian Jews don't go to Israel. Traveler's notes
By Avraham Shmulevich
May 25, 2006
Recently, I often visit Moscow in connection with the organization of the Russian branch of "Bead Arteynu" and communicate a lot with Russian Jews.
And I, as probably every convinced Zionist returning from trips to the historical Motherland from the prehistoric Motherland, I am often asked the question: "What are the moods among the Jews of Russia, in connection with the strengthening of nationalist sentiments and the general "screwing the nuts"? What are their "departure" plans? As the media writes, the nuts are tightening there, anti-Semitism is growing - why don't the Jews go?"
I forwarded this question to the activists of the youth Moscow branch of "Bead Artsein" and their parents - and here's the picture turned out:
The first reason was given:
Arabs. Why leave non-Jewish Russia, where life is familiar and established - to live side by side with the Arabs? Moreover, the ruling circles of Israel openly proclaim the course of creating a "state of all citizens", and not a "Jewish state" - Russian Jews live in the state of all citizens. Recent events, primarily the destruction of settlements, footage of the beatings of Jews by the Jewish police in Amon, generally drove many into a state of shock - it turns out that the only country in which Jewish pogroms take place is the State of Israel. It's hard for Russian Jews to understand this.
Several people also mentioned that now, thanks to Sokhnut's efforts, a significant part of the new returnees leaving for Israel from the CIS countries are non-Jews, and it is impossible for a simple Russian Jew to understand the connection with the Jewish people of these new citizens of the Jewish state. As one young man told me: "I was at the embassy recently and looked at the faces of these new olims (repatriates). Sorry. But if they are Jews, then I'm Chinese! I have nothing in common with them. I've had enough of cattle here, but to tolerate these types also in Israel??"
It seems that nationally oriented Russian Jews are gradually ceasing to perceive Israel as a Jewish state, a state of the Jewish dream.
The second reason is the economic situation. Among people of the older generation, she is perhaps even the first reason for "not leaving". Young people believe that in Russia it is possible to realize themselves more fully - whether in the field of business or in the professional field. Perhaps the only group that still does not believe that they will be able to realize themselves in the Russian Federation are those who have firmly decided to engage in science. There is little left of its former popularity in Russia, scientists get pennies, fundamental research is curtailed, and among the population (Moscow for sure) there is a "naked cult of money" - but it is among the Jewish youth that those for whom "money is "not the main thing" is still enough. But first of all, they link their scientific future with Europe and America, not with Israel. And this is just strange - Israel is a leading scientific and technological power. Israel has something to be proud of here. But this side of Israeli life is completely unknown to Russian jewish students - the monstrously ineffective work of Russian representative offices of Sokhnut and other similar organizations affects.
The maintenance of the Sokhnut apparatus is spent on a huge amount of money collected by the Jews of the Diaspora - but it is the apparatus sitting in Israel that local employees receive pennies. "It is simply impossible to get any necessary information from Sokhnut about life in Israel" - this is the opinion of one Muscovite. "You have to learn it specifically so as not to tell anything important in a conversation! Just some Stirlitz" - a student who tried to find out in Sokhnut about the possibility of continuing her studies in the Land of Ancestors. But those who are associated with the Russian "Bead Artseinu" are not all a typical Moscow public, they are people who are initially nationally oriented. However, there are clearly not the majority of such people among Moscow "persons of Jewish nationality".
A very small part of Jewish youth is included in the activities of Jewish organizations in one form or another. Youth departments are either empty or simply closed - no one goes. There is simply no "heart-wheeling" propaganda "for Judaism" or "for Israel" at official events. For young people hanging out around official structures, Israel is just another country in the south, one of the possible, not the most preferred, "where to live" options. Rare discos on Jewish holidays are the only place where young people go at least somehow.
Official Judaism is not creative at all, devoid of even a semblance of drive, through and through - all this does not even cause a feeling of boredom, but simply complete indifference.
The only thing that is well delivered in Moscow is the distribution of assistance to poor pensioners. Still, charity has been the cornerstone of Jewish communities for two millennia of Exile, Jews living in America and Europe (most of them not related to Russia-USSR in any way) willingly donate money "to help their brothers", they are transferred to Russia through structures such as JOINT and religious organizations.
Interest in religion and other "spirituality" among Moscow Jews is high. The most exotic sects, the rarest (not to mention status) Christian denominations are full of "persons of Jewish origin". Many Jews are baptized. But a maximum of several dozen people come to the lectures held by official Jewish religious structures. Some life exists only in "amateur" communities and organizations not associated with the official Moscow Jewish establishment, and in self-organizing and self-financing communities of Georgian and mountain Jews (mountain - as many as two copies), operating in the premises of the Choral Synagogue. But they perform, first of all, the functions of fellow countrymen and business club.
Of course, there are exceptions, how without them - but typical "spiritual feeders", rabbis and lecturers, locals and those coming from Israel, who can be found in Moscow synagogues, make a rather strange impression. I tried to imagine myself as a fully assimilated Moscow Jew who came to the synagogue for the first time - and realized that after half an hour of communication with this audience I would simply run away forever. A feeling of naphthaleness and complacent inadequacy. And the topic of Israel, the central religious significance of the Land of Israel in Judaism, the need for aliyah - in most cases is simply "absent as a class". Just as there is no Judaism in the intellectual landscape of modern Russia.
Older people say that uncertainty scares them in Israel first of all. Almost all Muscovites have their own apartments (left over from the late Soviet authorities). You can't buy apartments in Israel - it's a universal belief. You can't learn Hebrew for normal work in six months of paid courses in Ulpan. In a year, the allowance ends at all - and then complete uncertainty. And how to teach children what's wrong with old people? Many people note that there is no "absorption plan" - if you knew clearly that you would get a loan for professional retraining, for children's education, for the purchase of housing - it would be easier to decide to leave. Well, mixed marriages, "anchors" in the form of non-Jewish relatives also do not contribute to aliy.
As for the notorious "tightening of nuts", Muscovites, especially residents of the province, do not feel it. Yes, political programs on TV are becoming more and more similar to Brezhnev's - well, there are enough alternative sources of information. It does not affect economic and just everyday life. Russian Jews trust Putin and the "regime" - although Jewish youth are still very noticeable in all kinds of radical organizations - up to National Bolshevis and Russian ultra-nationalists. Russian nationalism is also not perceived by Russian Jews as a real threat. More precisely, media reports about "Russian fascism" - few people saw it in real life. These conversations cause some concern, rather at the level of the subcort - but still Russian nationalism is directed at "southers", and Jews suffer from ethnic crime and other consequences of illegal migration as well as other residents of the capital. As one "Jewish mother" told me: "They won't forget about us either, but I've already been through so much in my life, somehow we can stand it in case of a new screwing of nuts."
In general, in modern conditions, the only opportunity for Israel to once again receive a refreshing wave of Jewish repatriation from Russia is to radically change. And for Russia to get rid of its Jews - to radically get worse.
The author is the chairman of the International Hypersionist Movement "Bead Artseinu" ("For the Motherland!").