A homeland for Jews—before there was an official Israel, an “alternative” was created in Siberia. Called the Jewish Autonomous Region, it was Stalin’s experiment to increase the population in an undesirable area while exiling a hated minority. (Sounds like a repeat of the Pale of Settlement? Yeah, it was…)

For obvious reasons, the Siberian idea never caught on with any widespread enthusiasm. For centuries, Jews of Russian descent emigrated to escape pogroms, unjust laws, and a low standard of living. My own family, who originally hails from Lithuania and the Ukraine, were among them. When they left, in the early 1900’s, a Jewish State in the Middle East was just a dream. The only place on their radar was America.

In modern times, the majority of Jews are living in two places: Israel and America. Almost every country around the world has a micro community, but none are thriving, and very few of us would willing join one (I certainly would not). So when the NY Times recently published an article claiming Siberia’s “Jewish Homeland” has appeal, I was quite surprised.

Just because the area has a Yiddish street sign, a Chabad center, and some Judaica around town does not make it a homeland, anymore than I’d call Crown Heights a homeland. What makes Israel our Homeland is that it’s an expressly Jewish State, within Biblical borders, whose sole purpose is to provide safe haven for all Jews, everywhere, should the need arise. In times of trouble, no Jew has ever considered Russia their solution.

Mind you, I am not against the Siberian community. I love Jewish culture and I think it’s wonderful that the area’s heritage is being preserved. Would I visit? Sure. But I could never call it home.

Is it possible to have a viable Jewish Homeland outside of Israel? (I vote no.)

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