God Is in the Crowd: A Model for Post-Diaspora Judaism, Tal Keinen
This is a book written by a committed Jew, a Jew committed to the survival of Judaism, rather than the survival of its religiosity a Jew committed to the survival of Israel. This review is, by design, brief. It behooves each reader to try to absorb its ideas and explore them with care. Perhaps, in that way, “The Wisdom of the Crowd” theory can be more relevant than I found it to be at the end of the book. I simply do not think it will work as well with abstract ideas, as it does with concrete ideas, when they are put into motion and assessed. However, social media sites use its principles to make many decisions.
With careful deliberation, Keinen lays out a plan for the survival of not only Israel, but also for the survival of the Jew, the Jew that is rapidly facing extinction on its current course through intermarriage and a lack of acceptance by the Israeli government which is influenced heavily by the ultra orthodox and their stringent rules for what constitutes a true Jew. The government of Israel, although welcoming Jews to the country, does not welcome all Jews equally into their community. Necessarily, that practice of discrimination eliminates a huge percentage of Jews from Israel’s support and even from supporting other Jews. Divisiveness reigns.
Keinan, born in America, explains his background and experiences, along with his decision to remain in Israel and serve in the IDF. He describes his plan utilizing the theory based on the principles outlined in the “The Wisdom of the Crowd”, by James Surowiecki. He uses that theory with regard to how the Jews have survived centuries in the Diaspora, and he attempts to explain how that same “wisdom theory” can be exploited to save Israel and the Jews from disappearing from the face of the earth, not necessarily through violence, but rather through attrition. Israel is losing its following, and therefore, the numbers of Jews supporting it and choosing to remain Jewish is dwindling, as well. As he attempts to use this theory by applying its principles to an abstract idea, when it is better suited to concrete ideas, I began to disagree with what he presented, although I agreed with most of the tenets he put forth in his argument for why a plan to make Israel and all Jews a more cohesive group was necessary; I just disagreed with his method and its chances of success, but I must admit, I had no idea of my own with which to counter his, which is largely the problem that exists for Israel and most Jews today.
I believe he honestly presents the situation outlining the tension that exists in the Middle East today, and he honestly describes some of the animosity, also, that exists between Arab and Israeli, between the countries and its citizens. However, I do not believe that his idea of allowing “outside” Jews to have a vote in how Israel governs the Jews within and without Israel is actionable or attainable. It is an interesting concept, and certainly, without the voice of Jewry in the outside world represented in Israel, Israel runs the risk of becoming nothing more than another radical country ruled by a religious group, governed by dogma and religious practices which will dominate the culture and future of the country, ultimately negating it as a haven for world Jewry. The ultra orthodox are the ones who have a higher rate of reproduction, as do Muslims and most other radical or ultra religious groups. If those radical religious groups gain a foothold, greater than they have now, Israel will probably no longer be able to sustain itself as it is, and will probably be wracked by war ad infinitum.
So while I do not think Keinan’s theory can work the way it is designed now, I think that it is imperative for some kind of a plan along the lines he outlines to be worked out. If Jews are to survive, if Israel is to survive, no Jew can be excluded or refused full rights in the country, and the rules for acceptance have to be realistic and inclusive. If Israel is to survive, the numbers of Jews living outside of Israel have to give the native Israelis the power to continue to control their own destiny, but they will only do this if they feel they have some kind of a stake in the country’s future. How to accomplish this is the question. Continued war is simply not the answer.