Hardly a day has passed since October 7th without news and discussions about the relationship between Israel and the United States. Most recently, we are witnessing the Biden Administration’s efforts to expedite an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Reflecting on US-Israel relations brings me back to my earliest days at the Schusterman Family Foundation (now Schusterman Family Philanthropies). This summer marks 30 years since I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to help Charles and Lynn Schusterman realize their vision for the Jewish people. Unlike many emerging philanthropists, the Schustermans had a clear focus from the start: helping American Jews strengthen their Jewish identities.
They were not alone in this mission. Alongside other major donors of that era—Edgar and Charles Bronfman, Michael Steinhardt, Jim Joseph, Zalman Bernstein, Harold Grinspoon and others—they supported organizations like Hillel, BBYO, PEJE (Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education), STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal), Spark, and Birthright. By the late 1990s, “identity” had replaced “continuity” as the primary focus of Jewish philanthropy.
What was fascinating about that period was the diversity of motivations among these donors. While all shared the goal of ensuring a bright future for American Jewry, their reasons for dedicating time, energy, and resources to Jewish identity varied greatly, shaped by their unique histories and personalities.
For the Schustermans, the rationale for focusing on strengthening Jewish identity was straightforward. Charles and Lynn felt that the unwavering support of the United States was crucial for Israel’s survival, and believed the best way to maintain this unbreakable alliance was ensuring that there would always be a critical mass of engaged and pro-Israel Jews in America actively participating in political advocacy, particularly with members of Congress.
Today, the landscape is far more complex than it was in the 1990s. The American Jewish community, never a monolith, is now more divided in its views on Israel than at any time I can recall. It also wields less cohesive influence in American politics.
For these reasons, and many others, bridging the divides within the Jewish world has never been more crucial. Unity does not require unanimity. It demands that we constantly remind ourselves—especially during challenging times like these—that we are all part of one family, committed to ensuring a bright future for all Jews.
I believe this is something we can all agree on and, like the major philanthropists of the past, work together to achieve.
Shabbat Shalom, and may this be the week the hostages return home.
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