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Authentic Jewish Leadership For Israel |
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The Jewish State: Guidelines Jewish Economics
Return to a Healthy Jewish Economy
Jewish Labor Jewish Labor Jewish labor was one of the major values of the leftist pre-state Zionist movements. They viewed the return to manual labor as a way to break free of the weak and detached image of the Diaspora Jew. The idea of return to manual labor also stemmed from the socialistic/Marxist views adopted by the left. Besides its potential affect on the social and economic structure of the state-to-be, Jewish labor was heralded by the left as a psychological or spiritual rectification -- practically transforming it into a new "religion." The pioneers who built the state waged an intense crusade for Jewish labor. Their ideal was clear: We must build the Land of Israel with our own hands and with exclusively Jewish labor. Arab laborers or their Jewish employers were often physically threatened so that this ideal could be implemented.
Jewish Labor in Modern Israel None of the ideals of Jewish labor have survived in Israel today. Israel's historic Labor party has become the party of the elites and the wealthy. Most of the manual workers today are either Arabs or other foreign workers. While massive unemployment crushes Israel's economy, foreign labor can be hired for cheap -- pushing even more Israelis out of the working population and into the arms of unemployment and welfare. In Israeli culture today, manual labor is considered undignified. The various governments prefer to enhance unemployment by affording welfare payments to the unemployed. While this gives them peace and quiet, they are actually fostering the atrophy of wide segments of Israel's population.
The Solution: Belief-Based Jewish Labor Belief based leadership must break the vicious cycle. The ideal of Jewish labor does not originate in the Socialistic left, but rather in the Torah. The Torah teaches us to take pride in physical labor, especially in the Land of Israel. In the words of the sages: "One who earns an honest living from the work of his hands is greater than one who fears Heaven." (Talmud Berachot 8a).
Precedence for Jewish Poor The motivating principle behind Jewish labor is the guidance of our sages that the poor of one's city have precedence over the poor from afar. A Jew must first give financial aid to his own family, then to his close neighbors, the poor of his city, etc. (See article by Shmuel Sackett: No Tsunami Money From Me). Thus, employers must be encouraged to offer employment at decent wages to Jews and to forgo the enticement to hire cheap foreign labor.
Creating a Culture of Manual Labor Love of the Jewish People means encouraging Jewish labor. Often, employers of foreign workers claim that they would be happy to hire Jewish laborers, but that Jews prefer to receive unemployment benefits and stay at home. This is where the educational system must be involved, to inspire children and adults alike with the awareness that manual labor is a Jewish value of which to be proud. Just one or two generations ago, it was Jewish people who built Israel. When they receive proper compensation for their work and when they receive ideological and cultural encouragement, Jewish motivation to work will be high.
Won't this Cause Prices to Rocket? Initially, prices for produce and goods produced with Jewish labor will rise. This escalation, though, will be set off by the fact that the extra money will remain within Israel's economy. For one, tens of thousands of currently unemployed Israelis will no longer need to receive welfare, injecting more money into the economy. Further, they will have earned money with which to buy what they need, thus fuelling economic growth. Moreover, the vast sums of money paid to foreign labor now funneled to the economies of other countries will remain in Israel.
Arab Labor Since the Six Day War, the cheapest and most available source of labor has been from the Arabs. More than any other types of foreign labor, Arab labor has sent Israel's economy into its present tailspin. Besides the abovementioned problems with foreign labor in general, there are two other problems that Arab labor presents. Jewish labor manifests our love of the Land and keeps foreigners from our home. The Arabs are attempting to usurp the Land of Israel, claiming that it is theirs. By hiring Arab workers, we enhance their economic standing, giving them the means they need to remain in Israel and to undermine our presence in the Land. The second problem is security. Time and again, Arabs entering Jewish businesses and homes have taken advantage of their status to murder Jews, to give vital information to terrorists planning to murder Jews, or have served as a cover for terrorists trying to illegally access Israel's cities and checkpoints. This intolerable situation must stop immediately.
Yesha Settlements as a Model A growing number of settlements in Yesha ("Judea and Samaria") have adopted the principle of Jewish labor. Young people in particular can now be found in these settlements working at manual labor -- particularly agriculture. Manhigut Yehudit applauds this development, and will do all that it can to encourage it.
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