Checkbook Zionism: Philanthropy and Power in the Israel-Diaspora Relationship

American Jews donate approximately $2.5 billion to Israel each year. Behind all that money and influence lies a power-sharing dynamic that has left an indelible mark on the relationship between Israeli and American Jews and on the direction of Israeli society to this day.Checkbook Zionism investigates how both parties have managed their interests, emotions, and attitudes about the important yet at times tense collaboration between them. By delving into the history of American Jews' philanthropic giving to Israelis, Fleisch assesses the core nature of power sharing between both sides of the Jewish diaspora to the United States through in-depth contemporary case studies of the relationship between sixteen non-governmental organizations and their American Jewish donors. Field observation, document analysis, and interviews with leaders, activists, and select donors alike serve a critical role here, as Fleisch assesses whether these contemporary philanthropic associations repeat classic dynamics of power-sharing or whether they represent a marked departure from the Checkbook Zionism of old. The result is a new paradigm for evaluating power sharing that can be applied to future considerations of development in the Israel-Diaspora relationship.

Table of Contents:
Abbreviations Introduction  PART I The Rise and Fall of Checkbook Zionism 1 The Mechanics of Checkbook Zionism 2 The Culture of Checkbook Zionism 3 The Decline of Checkbook Zionism PART II Power Sharing in the Contemporary Era 4 An Introduction to the Study of Contemporary Relationship Dynamics 5 Prospects for a New Era of Partnership? 6 Power Sharing in the Twenty-First Century in Direct Giving Arrangements 7 Power Sharing in the Twenty-First Century in New Federated Arrangements Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Selected Bibliography Index

About the Author :
ERIC FLEISCH is an assistant professor in Jewish studies at Pennsylvania State University, where he teaches Jewish history, Zionism, and Middle East studies.   

Review :
"Checkbook Zionism 'follows the money' as it flows from American Jews to Israel. The result is one of the best-researched, most illuminating studies of American Jewish philanthropy ever written."  - Jonathan D. Sarna (author of American Judaism: A History) "Fleisch's groundbreaking work helps scholars and the public understand why, despite American Jews' significant investment in Israel, so many feel disempowered when it comes to the political future of the country. Even if there has been a major transformation in how American Jews support Israel, Fleisch reveals that the actual power they wield has remained remarkably restricted."  - Lila Corwin Berman (author of The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex: The History of a Multibillion-Dollar Institutio) "Checkbook Zionism is a timely entry into the literature about diaspora philanthropy for both its specific focus and its general themes. Fleisch provides new levels of understanding to a complicated cross-border relationship. He also provides a roadmap of sorts regarding how to assess diasporic power relationships when information is not readily available." (Voluntas)