15 April 2014 – The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, led by its current President, Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr., participated in a luncheon discussion on Contemporary Ameican Jewry: Jewish Integration, Influence and Diaspora hosted by the Asia Pacific Institute of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on March 18, with guest speaker Dr. Steven Bayme, AJC Director, and Ms. Shira Loewenberg, Asia Pacific Institute (API) Director.
The Society’s membes who attended are as follows: Mr. Fumio Iwai, Deputy Consul General, Japan; Mr. Yeonjean Yoon, Consul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Palitha Kohona, Ambassador, Sri Lanka; Mr. Monirul Islam, Consul General, Bangladesh; Mr. Pham Banh Minh, Consul General, Vietnam; Mr. Benny Siahaan, Counselor, Consular Affairs, Indonesia; Mr. Raushan Yesbulatova, Consul General, Kazakhstan; Ms. Peta Conn, Consul General, New Zealand; and Mr. Od Och, Ambassador, Mongolia.
In his opening remarks, Consul General De Leon noted that this is the first collaborative effort between the Society and AJC to promote conversation between AJC and Consuls General from East Asia, South and Western Pacific, and Central Asia. The topic, Contemporary American Jewry, was chosen to highlight the story of the Jewish diaspora experience – integration and success – in the United States (US) so that other immigrant and ethnic populations represented by the Consuls General can draw lesson as they seek to also successfully integrate and empower their communities.
Dr. Steven Bayme began his presentation with the discussion of contemporary Jewish history in America as background to the Jewish diaspora. He underscored that Jewish success in America is partly due to asserting Jewish values that are in consonance with American societal values which are pluralistic in nature such as human rights and democracy. He emphasized that it is important for American Jews to focus on and assimilate their 6.8 million people in the US who claim to be Jewish, but are actually in various levels of integration and transition to American society. He also emphasized that to capture the hearts and minds of younger Jews, Jewish identity should be nortured closely with pride for the homeland and not solely defined by rhetoric on the holocaust and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
During the discussion that ensued, various participants remarked that their experience with Jewish culture are limited to biblical memory, or being asked to leave during a temple visit in Israel because he was not wearing a skull cap, or visiting Israel as part of a special mission to the Golan Heights. At the same time, the participants were pleased with the discussion and the exchange of views on the clarification on Jewish identity and the so called over-rated influence of the Diaspora on Israel-US relations.
Ms. Loewenberg, for her part, summarized that the discussion is all about building bridges and opening avenues for dialogue. She hopes for increased partnership with the Society on matters of mutual interest and benefit. END