Small Places, Large Issues

The Knesset

Across from the entrance to the Knesset stands a monumental bronze menorah emblazoned with scenes of the ebbs and flows of the Jewish story. Among the panels are renditions of the leaders who served the Jewish people with vision, with courage, with modesty, and with great compassion – Moses, Yohanan Ben Zakkai, Maimonides, and the pioneers of Israel's pre-state period. A new government in Israel is about to be sworn in. In the Knesset Hall, on the main podium beneath the portrait of Theodor Herzl, each of Israel's 120 parliamentarians will pledge themselves to public service and to uphold the law and honor of the State of Israel. In the shadows cast by the examples set by the inspirational figures decorating the Knesset grounds, there is good reason to be very concerned about Israel's current leadership. The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute in its report on the state of Israel and of the Jewish World commented recently that:

2008 was a dismal year in Israeli political life. The long-simmering crisis of Israeli political leadership brought to the fore by the Second Lebanon War of 2006 showed no signs of abating

Following on the resignation in 2007 of President Moshe Katzav resulting from a number of criminal charges, including rape, 2008 saw the indictment of Finance Minister Avraham Hirschsohn for theft, money laundering, fraud and other crimes involving diversion of charitable funds for his own personal use. This was only the latest in a series of prosecutions and criminal allegations involving highranking Israeli officials in recent years, including the former justice minister as well as the two chief rabbis.

The multiple criminal allegations against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, culminating in the police’s recommendation that charges be brought against him and the subsequent submission of his resignation on September 21, 1008, offered a depressing climax to this parade of corruption in high places. Olmert has remained unrepentant and defiant, confident that he will in the end be vindicated and have the last laugh over his many foes. (p. 35)

Prof. Eyal Naveh of the Israel Democracy Institute described the situation as dire:

“Politics" has become a dirty word and the political arena has become alien and contemptible. Through the eyes of a superficial and sensationalist media, students and graduates of the educations system witness the corrupt goings-on of an assortment of mediocre partisan go-getters. Thus, there is an ever increasing sense of alienation between politicians and Israeli youth. Although some of today's youth seek change, they lack the insight and tools with which to effect it because they never received a proper political education.

A generation of youth lacking political awareness may be inclined to seek easy solutions, preferring external authority to assuming responsibility, which could eventually lead to the acceptance and support of dictatorial solutions. It is obvious that the majority of today’s youth are abandoning the public sphere. Some have adopted an attitude of apathy and nihilism towards society and the State while others express dangerous longings for “a strong leader to set things straight”. A politically illiterate society may be highly advanced in the areas of culture, technology and science, but could easily lose its resolve as a democracy, as has occurred repeatedly throughout history.

Prof. Naveh's laudable call for a stalwart commitment to education for democracy in Israel is crucial. It seems however that not only could Israeli youth benefit from such a program, Israeli politicians could benefit as well. And they might begin by bringing each member of Knesset about to be sworn in to stand in the shadow of the menorah and to ask themselves, each and everyone - am I acting in a way that honors both the responsibilities of nurturing democracy and follows in the footsteps of the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people? From the Rose Garden Menorah, the fathers and mothers of the past, join the fathers and mothers of Israel today as together they watch with increasing concern over the Knesset.

For more information:

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