Israel Talk Re: Einat Wilf (author)

Einat Wilf is a writer and a member of Kol Dor, a worldwide network of young jews dedicated to the rethinking of the Jewish world from a global perspective. Sounds like an interesting organization. She writes extensively in various publications and another article she authored titled, "Mitzvot of Peoplehood", took a rather revolutionary approach to basically redefining what it means to be a Jew. It's worth a read http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3041999,00.html .
I'm not sure that I really like the way she writes, but she does write with a spirit which juxtaposes the other Wilf I'm familiar with, the name of my campus at Yeshiva University. The Wilf Campus of YU is virtually dead, while Einat Wilf's ideas and writings are very much alive. This said, I 'm not sure her head is screwed on quite straight. Like anyone with revolutionary ideas, she finds her self stuck between optimism and pessimism and asks questions much more quickly and effectively than she can answer them.
Another article she wrote delved deep in to the issues and questions which arose post the summer conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Like Wilf, our focus with Israel and Israel's focus ought to remain like it was before being distracted by the summer's violent affairs- focused on Israel's social and economic development. Israel needs to re-access its character and this is precisely what Einat and many others like her are trying to do.
In the most recently aforementioned article, Wilf's discussion of Israel's dissallusionment with her leadership was especially striking to me. If Israelis do not have faith in the ability of their government to lead, it will become increasingly difficult for Jews throughout the world to stand with Israel wherever she may stand. Perhaps what Israel lacks is a leader of the David Ben-Gurion or Aaron David Gordon caliber. Where might a leader like this come from? Can Israeli society see another leader like this ascend to a position of leadership? Recently a former Kesher/ARZA fellow who recently made aliyah, Zack Katowitz, posted an interesting piece as a facebook note (yes, the facebook note is a strange phenomenon-Zack didn't write this but found it). I think what follows is something to consider.... it's a little long but worth the read....

"It seems the only thing people concerned with Israeli politics can talk about these days is the fact that there is absolutely no inpsiring leadership anywhere on the horizon. Everyone recognizes that this is bad news for the Jewish State, but it also bodes ill for North American Jewry, particularly the younger generation.

Israeli leaders have always been a counterpoint to the typical American Jewish leader. While the stereotypical Israeli leader is a general, a kibbutz founder, a thinker-pioneers, or some other version of an action hero, the image of an American Jewish leader is a successful whitecollar warrior. Indeed, in the States, where there are no Jewish community elections, a big bank account is one of the keys to gaining sway over the institutions that manage Jewish communal affairs.

The presence of these Israeli leaders meant that young American Jewish kids who were interested in community leaderrship were exposed not only to the "make alot of money and be a philanthropist/board member/strategic planning committee director for Super Sunday" model of Jewish leadership, but also to the Israeli "after me damn it to all hell" style of leadership. And, since the American Jewish leadership, and by extension American Jewish parents, respected Israelis heroes such as Ben Gurion, Begin, Dayan, Meir, Alon, their kids were able to consider following in these Israelis more drastic footsteps (even in the face of their parents' on the face of it disapproval) and not focus their lives on the traditional path to success, as reperesented by their parents and local leadership. Indeed, the model of these Israeli leaders probably inluenced many young American Jews to be more daring even in their traditional occupations in the States.

But now, since Sharon's exit, Israeli leadership comes across as less heroic than a federation board, and about as interesting. Sometimes the leaders of Israel even feel more like subsidiaries of American Jewry rather than partners. One thing is for sure: these leaders do not tug at the heartstrings of the youth anymore by inspiring them about Zionism and the life of the sovereign Jew.

This dearth of leadership could mean the death of the Israeli hero leader stereotype, leaving American youth without a critical revolutionary model that can inspire them in a different way than the typical example from the American context. We need Israeli leaders not only for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of the whole Jewish People."

What has created this "dearth of leadership" and can the force be countered?