Marking 75 Years since Israel Adopted "The Law of Return"
"On This Day" in 1950: Israel adopted "The Law of Return" - A few random thoughts about the Welcoming Haven for Jews across the Globe
“On This Day” in 1950: The Israeli Knesset passed the “Law of Return” offering Israel as an automatic home to any Jew in the World who wanted to come and be a citizen of the Jewish State.
The Law of Return came just two years after the founding of the State of Israel; five years after the end of World War II and the “Final Solution.” The Law of Return came after Jews had experienced the pre-World War II years of seeing Jews fleeing the Nazi, but finding little refuge from other countries in Europe and the Americas and the British-run Mandatory Palestine (perhaps the most famous example, the voyage of the St. Louis) Something which occurred in the post-World War II pre-Statehood years which saw Jewish Displaced persons being refused entry into British-run Mandatory Palestine.
So finally, Jews from anywhere in the World have a place to call home, with the right to come to Israel as a citizen of the State. The one place on the Globe where Jews are assured of entry.
Israel became “The Ingathering of The Exiles.” From the displaced Jews of Europe; from the Arab Lands where many Jews were expelled or made unwelcome after Israel’s founding. From Eastern Europe and Russia at various times over the post World War II - which more wanting to come but being denied exit by the Communist regimes (and the rallies of the “Free Soviet Jewry” and the chants of “Let My People Go” became well known in the West especially in the 1970s and 1980s.)
Survey after survey has shown antisemitism in the West reaching levels not seen for many decades. And this even as the governments of the countries - unlike during the Nazi era - are opposed to antisemitism. Obviously Israel-Gaza has contributed to this. But it goes far beyond that.
Israel as a refuge offers back-of-the-mind “just in case” relief to many Jews. For a growing number of Jews, Israel as a refuge, is far more in the front of their mind. Even in countries such as the United Kingdom and France who think of leaving their countries for Israel - even an Israel at war, facing its own difficulties and threats.
Would some or many Jews coming to Israel rather come to the United States or other countries? Very possibly. But the very fact is that these other countries don’t WANT the Jews. And Israel does. (And yes there are many flaws in Israel and in the Israeli bureaucracy etc.) But still!
Haters of Israel -including some Jews - detest many things about Israel. One of them is Israel’s Law of Return! There is this paradox for some antisemites. They don’t want Israel to exist. At the same time, they clearly don’t want Jews in “their” country.
The Law of Return and subsequent Amendments to the Law of Return
