What if Free Choice is Not in Your Best Interest?

March 10

What is the role of autonomy in assessing strategies to help Jews in such dire need that they must be evacuated from their country of origin? Specifically, what role should autonomy play in deciding to bring Jews to Israel or to the U.S.? Although thousands of Jews made aliyah from Yemen after the founding of Israel, there has been a persistent community there. Following the December assassination of a community leader, most of the community has decided to leave. The Jewish Agency for Israel, one of the two major partners (along with the Joint Distribution Committee) of the Jewish federations, is of course ready and able to accommodate their needs in Israel. Because the Yemeni community has, for many years, had a relationship with the Satmar Jewish community in New York, about 110 Yemeni Jews (about 25 families) would like to immigrate to New York. The U.S. State Department has agreed to this request in view of the threats to this community in Yemen. The Federation was faced with a difficult dilemma. As you may know, the Satmar community is one of the most vocal anti-Zionist/Israel Jewish sects. On the one hand, as Jews, we should respect the personal choices of these 25 families and support them accordingly in their time of need. On the other we are collaborating with an anti-Zionist sect. Even though the Satmar have committed to providing resources for these Yemeni Jews, the UJC, working with assorted New York and federal agencies will need to be heavily involved. One of the core values of Israel is to provide a home for any Jew in need, but does that value supersede the personal decisions that Jews in need make, when there are alternatives? This is a good question to ponder on Shabbat.