Last year, following the release of The Jerusalem Post's first list of the world's 50 most influential Jews, I was inspired to create a list of my own -- not of Jews, but of non-Jews, specifically those that are having the most positive influence in shaping the Jewish future.
A year later, much has changed, new figures have emerged, others have faded and some have remained. But the importance of bringing attention to this group is constant. For this reason I have sought to make this a regular endeavor, as such I present the second-annual list.
Similar to the criteria used by other list makers, I chose my candidates from around the world and from all walks of life. The list includes, politicians, activists, business giants and more, all of whom have made a significant constructive impact on Israel and the Jewish world. Last year I only listed the top six, but wanted to make the list slightly more comprehensive, so it is now expanded to include the top 10.
Although by no means an exact science, my aim in this compilation, is to provide some insight into the playing field of this unique yet modest group. Additionally I aim to provide a glimpse at their often courageous, sometimes unacknowledged activities on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.
10. Julie Burchill
Columnist and novelist
Currently a columnist for The Independent, she has written for newspapers such as The Sunday Times and The Guardian. The Jewish Chronicle described her in 2008 as "Israel's staunchest supporter in the UK media."
9. Jon Voight
Actor
Supporter of Jewish causes, most notably Chabad, Voight is also a prolific spokesman for Israel. A rarity in Hollywood circles, he has advocated for Jewish values, consistently reaching an often indifferent audience.
8. Patrick Debois
Founder, Yahad-In Unum
A Roman Catholic priest, Debois is head of the Commission for Relations with Judaism of the French Bishops' Conference and Consultant to the Vatican. He is the co-founder and president of Yahad-In Unum, an organization whose mission is to document the murder of the 1.5 million Jews of Ukraine, shot dead by the Nazis and buried throughout the country. This work is vital in ensuring that the memory of these victims will not fade with the death of the last witnesses.
7. John Hagee
Founder, Christians United for Israel
Hagee's Christians United for Israel continues to experience rapid growth, now boasting upwards of 600,000 members. The group makes significant contributions to Jewish causes, and has become a potent political force in support of Israel. Author of "Jerusalem Countdown" and "In Defense of Israel," the pastor from San Antonio has met with every Israeli prime minister since Menachem Begin and his ministries have given more than $8.5 million to bring Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel.
6. Warren Buffet
Investor
The famed investor has been a strong supporter of Israeli innovation, and has bought into it significantly. Last year, while visiting the country, he famously said that "Israel has shown that it has a disproportionate amount of brains and energy." Buffet's strong statement of confidence has gone a long way in encouraging significant foreign investment in the Jewish State.
5. Jose Maria Aznar
Former Prime Minister of Spain
In 2010, Aznar founded the Friends of Israel Initiative, with the stated goal to "counter the attempts to delegitimize the State of Israel and its right to live in peace within safe and defensible borders." Referring to the ill-fated takeover of the Mavi Marmara by Israeli commandos, Aznar said in 2010 that the world must support Israel because "if it goes down, we all go down." His unique organization provides a strong voice of reason in circles where it might otherwise not be heard.
4. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
The largest customer of Israeli military equipment and Israel's second-largest economic partner, Indian ties with Israel are now stronger than ever and advanced negotiations for an extensive bilateral trade pact are well under way. Singh is largely responsible for cultivating and developing this crucial alliance that is vital to Israel's economic stability and continued growth.
3. John Boehner
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Among the many friends of the Jewish community in the U.S. Congress, Boehner's recent actions have made him stand out. Centrally involved in the recent invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, Boehner provided the platform for the Jewish narrative to be conveyed to a pivotal audience at an important time.
2. Rupert Murdoch
CEO of News Corporation
At an American Jewish Committee dinner honoring Murdoch he opened his acceptance speech by saying, "over the years, some of my wildest critics seem to have assumed I am Jewish. At the same time, some of my closest friends wish I were. So tonight, let me set the record straight: I live in New York. I have a wife who craves Chinese food. And people I trust tell me I practically invented the word chutzpah."
As CEO of News Corporation, Murdoch has continued to ensure that the outlets under his direction, including The London Times, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, are fair and honest in their coverage of matters relating to Jews and Israel.
1. Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Recently winning a majority government for his conservative party, Harper has been a great friend to Canada's Jewish community as well as an outspoken supporter of Israeli positions in the international political arena, saying last year, "When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand."
His recent blocking of a G8 resolution in support of President Obama's Middle East policy speech that would mention the call for a Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines, while not incorporating other elements of the speech, earns him the top spot this year.
The author is the director of the Algemeiner Journal and the GJCF and can be e-mailed at defune@gjcf.com. Please visit Algemeiner.com for more information.
Follow Dovid Efune on Twitter: www.twitter.com/efune
Now I get it, this is a spoof right?
In the "investment" category, I would put George Gilder of the Gilder Technology Report ahead of Buffet.
"In an interview today, an official from the American Jewish Committee would not criticize Pastor John Hagee for his explication, in a recently resurfaced sermon, of Hitler as a "hunter" sent by God to drive European Jews to Palestine."
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2008/05/american-jewish-committee-wont-touch-hagee-holocaust-silence-aipac-adl
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/21/mccain-backer-hagee-said_n_102892.html
Just goes to show that Z|0n|$ts will embrace anti-semites as long as they are pro-|$rae|..... Makes you wonder whether |$rae| and it's policies really are good for the Jewish people....
I mean this is a list full of some of the most twisted and hateful people. John Hagee?! Jon Voight?! Rupert Murdoch?! . And some are just downright funny. John Boehner
Israel is a real place, with real people, real problems and real conflicts. While I understand why many are grateful for support from whatever source, I do question the long-term effect and benefit of that support when it comes from those for whom Israel and the Jewish people are characters in an eschatological play. I think for some on that list, any attempt to address the real conflicts among the people in that region is seen as a deviation from the script.
BAM! You have a war. It is really easy to start one. You don't even need to own stock in a company that is profiting from the war you started. Anyone can do it.
Double points if you bring up a religion that you know nothing about!!!
Go duck hunting if you are not in the war mood but still wanna shoot someone.
What's positive about encouraging a state of permanent conflict?
Friends are not only there during the good times, true friends stay during rough times too.
I'm sorry that you only stick by your friends when it's easy.
But I don't think your parable particularly applies to the situation that Israel is in.
A better example would be the little brother of the toughest guy in school. He throws his weight around because he knows his big brother will keep him safe.
A true friend might try to remind him that violence isn't the only way to solve problems and that he won't always have his big brother there to protect him.
These aren't the rough times for Israel BcemXAHA, I fear that they are coming though, and that's what I'd expect a real friend to try to prevent.
If you see a friend doing something dumb do you say anything or do you just let them do it?
You might have to worry about any other breed of men, but not about the modern intellectuals: they'll swallow anything. I don't feel so safe about the lousiest wharf rat in the longshoremen's union: he's liable to remember suddenly that he is a man-and then I won't be able to keep him in line.
But the intellectuals? That's the one thing they've forgotten long ago. I guess it's the one thing that all their education was aimed to make them forget. Do anything you please to the intellectuals. They'll take it."--Ayn Rand, with whom I tend to disagree on many points...but when she's good, she's great. Israel, you are NOT alone.
http://commonground.ca/iss/238/cg238_olson.shtml
Canadian columnist Geoff Olson - "My Tory Nightmare"
"Then there’s his position on Israel – on bended knee. From the attacks in the occupied territories to Israel’s 2006 bombing raids in Lebanon, his friends in the Mideast can do no wrong."
"For decades, he has belonged to the Alliance Church, a body that won’t ordain women, denounces homosexuality, strongly opposes abortion and divorce and believes Christ will return during the Apocalypse. Evangelical Christians recognize the PM as one of their own, but there’s no political capital to be made by admitting his religious beliefs explicitly since that would alienate the majority of voters."
I agree. He's a great man and a great friend of Israel
I disagree about many on this list. They are not positively influencing any Jewish future. Most are certainly influencing Israel's future - although it's debatable as to whether the support will have a positive effect on the future.
Personally, this list is a right-wing list for Israel support. You're guilty of doing the same thing as so many people - conflating Israel with Judaism.
Because Israel is a vital part of the contemporary Judaism to many Jews
I'm a Jew. I love Israel. I think men such as Hagee are bad for Israel and even worse for Judaism.
Indian economic and defense ties with israel are purely business. India developed these ties with Israel after Oslo, in the expectation that peace would prevail, and the occupation would end. India is deeply uncomfortable with the way Israel has conducted itself, since Oslo. Israel has no morals... example Israeli defense ties with China.... these have not gone unnoticed in India.
There is a growing unease with what Israel has become. It would be naive to expect things to carry on as usual.
Come Sept the 20th... just see the way India votes... and it will not be because of any other reason, but disgust at the way Israel behaves