My favorite Israeli babe, Orit, gets an inkling that Judaism isn't Israelism, especially not in LA.

An open letter to American Jewry, particularly the Modern Orthodox

First, I'd like to thank you, America, for being a wonderful host to me after the terrible Disengagement. It was nice to spend time with my family in sunny Los Angeles, relax with manicures and pedicures, and zone out to the latest TV shows. I was able to gather new strength, gain new perspectives, and clarify my mission to go back to Israel and change a country.

However, it was less fun to go to shul on the High Holidays at my folks' modern Orthodox shul. Services were terribly boring. But what really annoyed me was that no one talked about Gush Katif. The sermons that I heard (or didn't fall asleep to) mentioned Katrina a lot, but rabbis were silent on the topic of the Disengagement. I find this disturbing because all throughout the holidays we pray for the joy and peace of Israel, yet while thousands of Israelis are in a state of suffering, uncertainty, and confusion, no one seems to care, even though the liturgy expresses otherwise.

On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, when we're supposed to reflect rigorously on the state of our soul, no one really talked about the fate-altering Disengagement. This certainly should have been a hot topic on the Day of Atonement, but again, it was easily evaded, if it was even on anyone's minds. And still, we prayed -- all day -- for righteousness, honesty, and peace of mind -- personal and national.

But, in America at least, Judaism is not about the Jewish people anymore. Judaism is about having a nice life and wearing nice outfits to shul, where you can network with equally smart, successful, and well-dressed people. It's about saying morning and evening prayers because it feels holy and idealistic. Hey, everyone wants to feel good about themselves.

For many American Jews, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur seemed all about how to continue living a nice suburban life. The Torah might as well be a Tony Robbins self-help book because it outlines great techniques for living, sprinkled with a few historic traditions and ethical codes.

But I realized, during my nice stay with you, that you say you care, but deep down, I don't think you really do. You say you love Israel and that you are Zionists, but I don't think you really are. Judaism is not about nationalism to you. Judaism is not about a people living free, independent, and strong in their homeland -- it's about having a nice house, a good parnasa [livelihood], and a way of life that's safe and comfortable.

Orit 's starting to get it, slowly but surely.