It is exactly this assumption that undermines the otherwise wonderful suggestions of this report. Please do not misunderstand me, given the current place of Israel in mainstream Jewish discourse I do not think one can be part of a Jewish community and avoid the issue (as much as I may wish that were the case). Given that Israel is imposed on American Jews, I think your encouragement of dialogue over advocacy is a step in the right direction. And yet, the enclosed report’s assumption that Israel must be a part of Jewish identity and conversation furthers the imposition of Israel onto an American Judaism that is beginning to articulate an independent set of values. I want to encourage Synagogue 3000 to continue the important work of asking about the role of Israel in synagogue life, I just hope that that role can be interrogated rather than taken for granted. That is, I think S3K has a responsibility to articulate the why or why not of engaging with Israel at all before suggesting the how. I would be deeply curious to see how these unstated assumptions become articulated. As they do, I would encourage them not to take for granted the idea that Israel should be a part of American Judaism. If we did not have Israel engagement as a crutch, we may be forced to actually create a compelling and relevant diaspora Judaism.