GOVERNMENT MINISTRY SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN WORLDWIDE JEWISH TIES:

Connecting Israeli Jews to Jewish communities in the Diaspora is the aim of a new campaign launched by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The driving force of the new project stems from the understanding that Israel is committed not only to its own future and prosperity, but to the future and prosperity of Jews wherever they live. In this vein, Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett quotes the Rabbinic adage, "All Jews are responsible one for another." One feature of the new campaign is to have Jews from abroad video themselves as they talk about their Jewish lives and their connection to Israel. Minister Bennett explained that in order to overcome the obstacles of security threats, assimilation, anti-Semitism, and Israeli disconnection with Diaspora Jews, "we have three guidelines. The first is Partnership, in that we do everything together with Jewish leaders and organizations abroad. Number two is Jewish Continuity – we seek to connect young Jews to their Jewish identity and to Israel by answering the questions, 'Why be a Jew?' and 'Why Israel?' And third, is the 'Two-Way Street' – Jewish communities and individuals from both Israel and abroad are responsible for each other," said Bennett. (INN)