BY TARA DUBLIN

 

Craig Dershowitz, the CEO of Artists 4 Israel, is walking proof that Judaism and activism can co-exist in a meaningful way despite the current political climate. The heavily tattooed self-described “radical thinker” gave up his corporate lifestyle and has found a way to combine his humanitarian efforts with his passion for the arts, fusing them both together to advocate for peace both in the Middle East and in America. And despite its name, most of the artists involved aren’t even Jewish, a testament to Dershowitz’s ability to reach out to other communities and connect with them not just as artists or people of different faiths, but as fellow human beings.

 

 

Dershowitz has been carefully monitoring the rise of Antisemitism online as well as in daily life. Statistics show that Antisemitism hit an all-time high in 2020. And there are too many troubling signs pointing to Christian Nationalism only getting worse. But Dershowitz says he remains hopeful that the work Artists4Israel does will help not just change peoples’ minds, but their actions as well.

Jewish Life spoke with Craig Dershowitz about his work and his advocacy. 

Jewish Life: You’ve had such an interesting career arc, Craig! You founded Artists4Israel, tell us where the idea came from and why you’ve made it your focus now.

Craig Dershowitz: I was surrounded by an incredible team of visionary, disruptive, professional, passionate individuals. For many years, Artists 4 Israel was led by an entirely volunteer staff. But as it continued to grow, we were forced to make a decision [regarding leadership]. I am honored that I was asked to become the C.E.O. of an organization as powerful as this. I gave up my position at Morgan Stanley and became the first full time Artists 4 Israel employee.

Serving as a CEO for a non-profit organization, which is made up of artists and humanitarian aid workers, I often need to sit down, be quiet and allow the creatives and the experts to speak. So much of Artists 4 Israel’s programming is created from the bottom-up, by the efforts of those who are out there painting the murals, healing the injured and doing the daily work. This idea that those we serve determine the nature of Artists 4 Israel’s work creates our best opportunities for success.

JL: It’s also interesting that so many of the artists you’re working with aren’t Jewish or religious. Maybe they saw the cool tattooed dude and realized Jews can be cool, too? 

CD: You’re making me blush! 

JL: But too many people think Jews can’t be cool, so as a fellow tattooed Jew I just want to say that’s not true. 

CD: Almost every artist we work with isn’t Jewish! Artists 4 Israel believes that allowing for a non-Jewish artist to support Israelis in need and to share their perceptions of the country creates more opportunities for growth, learning, ally building and honesty. The question of how do we get them involved is difficult to answer because it has never truly been a question to us. By being arts-first and having worked with some of the most talented and influential artists in our field, we have created a name and reputation that allows us to meet artists where they are and have them reach out to us in equal measure.

JL:  That’s a perfect segway to my next question, which isn’t an easy one to answer, but it speaks to “meeting people where they are”: What do you think is the most important thing for Americans to understand about the conflict between Israel and Palestine? Do you believe there will ever be a time where Israel and Palestine can coexist peacefully? 

CD: As the CEO of Artists 4 Israel, I am forced to think not in black and white but in color, shading, texture and nuance which leads me to recognizing many more factors in play than Israel or Palestine. I believe Americans would appreciate learning that it is not just about the Israelis and Palestinians. There are so many other forces at play with their own goals, purposes and influences who affect every moment of the relationship and that Israel and Palestine are proxies only for a number of global concerns.

But I hope so with all my heart. I believe so with less of my heart but still enough to find some comfort in the future. There are a number of intelligent and thoughtful plans out there to create an enduring peace and now that the simplistic two-state solution has been discredited, some of these other, more nuanced and culturally sensitive plans can be considered. More importantly, much of the planning for peace is focusing more and more on direct talks between the two parties involved and not outside negotiators which gives more credibility and stability to any peace process.

JL: The topic of Israel is always a contentious one for American politicians. What do they get right & what do they get wrong? 

CD: American politicians seem to believe that it is better to force themselves from the top down. Every American President, since I can remember, has run full-on into Israel with their plan for peace and, it seems, a Nobel Peace Prize on their mind. It just won’t work that way. America is not Israel, the Middle East is not North America and the issues in question are not in any way similar to that with which Americans wrestle.

As the American political system continues to polarize, so too does Israel. It seems as if American politicians have turned Israel into a bit of a political football, using it to virtue signal and gain points and curry favor with certain demographics. This pandering denies the basic humanity of the people in Israel living with the decisions made by our decision-makers.

JL: Which leads us right into my next question: some people often assume that Jewish people, particularly American Jews, are militant supporters of Israel with no flexibility, which isn’t true. At the same time, Antisemitism is on the rise in America as well as globally. How do we fight the misconceptions about Jewish people that still persist?

CD: After having considered the situation for some time, Artists 4 Israel recently unveiled a series of programs aimed at disrupting antisemitism based on our successful strategies in combatting anti-Israel sentiment. The underlying principles for each program are: focusing on prevention over fighting, considering our allies and preexisting strengths and utilizing those as opposed to considering our enemies and disadvantages, moving away from “shame and blame” and historic fears, minimizing generational trauma, arts-focused activities and finding modern, public/social and large-scale ways to express ourselves. I am happy to go in depth but these strategies inform all Artists 4 Israel’s antisemitism prevention techniques.

JL: The arts bring joy & healing to people every day, a fact that’s often lost in this contentious political climate. How do you use your art to help people, especially marginalized people, who are hurting in America right now because of politics?

CD: Artists 4 Israel determined a few years ago to spread our arts-based healing programs outside of Israel and into communities around the world that could benefit from our support. We have found that art serves two major imperatives in uplifting marginalized communities: helping the individual in direct and personal ways and supporting local communities in beautification and revitalization efforts. In short, we have found that change and progress begin with small, immediately beneficial programs that are built on a foundational belief in the transcendent power of art. We recognize that we do not feed the hungry or cure diseases but communities need beautification, hope and personal and community empowerment while they wait for the larger solutions.

To learn more about Craig Dershowitz and Artists4Israel, check out Artists4Israel.org