Rethinking Jewish diplomacy

The article discusses the concept of "Jewish diplomacy," distinguishing it from representing the Israeli government. It highlights how transnational Jewish belonging and connection to Israel are often misconstrued as dual loyalty, especially since October 7th. The author argues that Jewish institutions need to build and maintain relationships within their societies and across borders, with sports offering a significant network for this purpose. Organizations like Maccabi World Union already provide extensive infrastructure. The piece emphasizes that "Jewish diplomacy" involves organized relationship-building for a purpose, not just goodwill, and requires clarity on who is speaking and for whom. It concludes that Jewish institutions should leverage existing sports networks to foster durable relationships before crises arise, while maintaining clear boundaries between Jewish identity, connection to Israel, and representation of the Israeli state.