A question to American Jews, do you love America more or Israel more?

Question

please explain why.

Answer 1

America is my home, and my country. I have no interest in living in Israel, but believe it should survive. It is the responsibility of the member-nations of the UN to protect Israel from those who swear to destroy it.

I am amazed at the number of non-Jews answering this question on behalf of Jews. STFU, please. We're capable of answering - more so than you are capable of reading and comprehending.

Answer 2

Well, I have been to Israel many times and it's a completely different experience from the U.S. I was raised conservative in a suburb with very few observant Jews, so whenever I visit it's a bit of a shock. You go from being a minority to majority, you don't have to worry about anti-Semitism or finding kosher food or people not understanding your religion. In the USA you are the exception; in Israel you are the rule.
This aspect aside, Israel holds tremendous religious and historical significance, from ancient times and also more recent struggles. The state of Israel is a sanctuary from oppression obtained after the Holocaust and preserved through a number of wars since then. Israel is very valuable.

But while I hold great pride in Israel, I wouldn't live there. Sure, it makes the lifestyle more convenient, but Israel has its own culture. The drivers are too crazy, the streets are too dirty, the pace is too fast, the people are too rude. I like the diversity and luxury of America. They both have their good points and bad points, though it's hard to say which one I like better. I choose to live in the US, but that could largely be due to my comfort level here.

Israel is ingrained into the Jewish culture; it is a home for when we have nowhere else. The Passover seder traditionally ends by reciting the phrase "Next year in Jerusalem"...the religion is inseparable from the land. But for me, it doesn't mean I need to live there.

Answer 3

I don't understand why the jews need a home land. I'm American. But my ancestors were German. I don't feel a burning need to go to Germany. I have many Italian, Polish, and African American friends and they don't feel a need to go back to there ancestral lands. The jews were scatted all over Europe. They were French, German, Polish, all over the place. So whats wrong with being a French jew etc etc. I still don't know why they kicked the Palestinians out of there home land. As for Micheal R response, if it wasn't for Israel the Arabs wouldn't mad at us. They are mad at us because our gov. backs Israel.

Answer 4

was puzzled for a long time about the odd belief which apparently persists in America that Palestine has somehow "always been a Jewish land." Recently an American I talked to cleared up this mystery. He pointed out that the only things most Americans know about Palestine are what they read in the Bible. It was a Jewish land in those days, they reason, and they assume it has always remained so.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is absurd to reach so far back into the mists of history to argue about who should have Palestine today, and I apologise for it. Yet the Jews do this, and I must reply to their "historic claim." I wonder if the world has ever seen a stranger sight than a group of people seriously pretending to claim a land because their ancestors lived there some 2,000 years ago!

If you suggest that I am biased, I invite you to read any sound history of the period and verify the facts.

Such fragmentary records as we have indicate that the Jews were wandering nomads from Iraq who moved to southern Turkey, came south to Palestine, stayed there a short time, and then passed to Egypt, where they remained about 400 years. About 1300 BC (according to your calendar) they left Egypt and gradually conquered most—but not all—of the inhabitants of Palestine.

It is significant that the Philistines—not the Jews—gave their name to the country: "Palestine" is merely the Greek form of "Philistia."

Only once, during the empire of David and Solomon, did the Jews ever control nearly—but not all—the land which is today Palestine. This empire lasted only 70 years, ending in 926 BC. Only 250 years later the Kingdom of Judah had shrunk to a small province around Jerusalem, barely a quarter of modern Palestine.

In 63 BC the Jews were conquered by Roman Pompey, and never again had even the vestige of independence. The Roman Emperor Hadrian finally wiped them out about 135 AD. He utterly destroyed Jerusalem, rebuilt under another name, and for hundreds of years no Jew was permitted to enter it. A handful of Jews remained in Palestine but the vast majority were killed or scattered to other countries, in the Diaspora, or the Great Dispersion. From that time Palestine ceased to be a Jewish country, in any conceivable sense.

This was 1,815 years ago, and yet the Jews solemnly pretend they still own Palestine! If such fantasy were allowed, how the map of the world would dance about!

Italians might claim England, which the Romans held so long. England might claim France, "homeland" of the conquering Normans. And the French Normans might claim Norway, where their ancestors originated. And incidentally, we Arabs might claim Spain, which we held for 700 years.

Many Mexicans might claim Spain, "homeland" of their forefathers. They might even claim Texas, which was Mexican until 100 years ago. And suppose the American Indians claimed the "homeland" of which they were the sole, native, and ancient occupants until only some 450 years ago!

I am not being facetious. All these claims are just as valid—or just as fantastic—as the Jewish "historic connection" with Palestine. Most are more valid.

In any event, the great Moslem expansion about 650 AD finally settled things. It dominated Palestine completely. From that day on, Palestine was solidly Arabic in population, language, and religion. When British armies entered the country during the last war, they found 500,000 Arabs and only 65,000 Jews.

If solid, uninterrupted Arab occupation for nearly 1,300 years does not make a country "Arab", what does?

The Jews say, and rightly, that Palestine is the home of their religion. It is likewise the birthplace of Christianity, but would any Christian nation claim it on that account? In passing, let me say that the Christian Arabs—and there are many hundreds of thousands of them in the Arab World—are in absolute agreement with all other Arabs in opposing the Zionist invasion of Palestine.

May I also point out that Jerusalem is, after Mecca and Medina, the holiest place in Islam. In fact, in the early days of our religion, Moslems prayed toward Jerusalem instead of Mecca.

The Jewish "religious claim" to Palestine is as absurd as the "historic claim." The Holy Places, sacred to three great religions, must be open to all, the monopoly of none. Let us not confuse religion and politics.

We are told that we are inhumane and heartless because do not accept with open arms the perhaps 200,000 Jews in Europe who suffered so frightfully under Nazi cruelty, and who even now—almost three years after war’s end—still languish in cold, depressing camps.

Answer 5

How many jews living in America do you think ever lived in Isreal?

Hardly any. Isreal is only created in 1948. Jews are form everywhere. How a Jew can be allegiant to a state he neer lived in is beyond me

Answer 6

Most of them probobly have never been to Israel. It is a very offensive question because you are basically saying that they should denounce their religion if they like this country more.

Offensive and just plain ignorant.

Answer 7

As a country to live in, America. I enjoy the more pluralistic society.

As a concept. Both. I'd hate to choose between them. Fortunately, I don't think I will need to do so anytime in the future.

Answer 8

We love America and Israel equally. And stupid that person that thinks that we drag America into war. If it wasn't for Israel, America would be the target for all arabs. Besides, all new technologies used in U.S. are developed in Israel - search the net for that information.

Answer 9

When in America : America

In Israel: Israel

Answer 10

No question, they love Israel. Its time to start thinking about this country.