Is Israel Draining America? Why Blaming the Jews Is Still the World’s Favorite Hobby

Honorable Rabbi Yosef Edery
14 minutes ago
6 min read

Thesis (full disclosure of bias):

I am an Orthodox Jew. I believe the Torah is true. I believe prophecy is real. And yes — I believe Israel and America were, in a very real sense, made for each other. One brings ancient moral wisdom, the other brings unmatched material power. Together, they have the potential to move the world toward the redemption the prophets talk about.

Now that we’ve admitted my bias, let’s talk economics — because math, unlike antisemitism, does not care about feelings.

Step One: When in doubt, blame the Jews

There is an ancient tradition among the nations of the world:

When things go wrong — inflation, crime, social decay, your kid not getting into college, your football team losing — find a Jew.

In the Middle Ages it was “the Jews poisoned the wells.”

In modern Europe it was “the Jews control the banks.”

Today in America it’s upgraded to:

“Israel is draining the U.S. economy and ruining everything.”

Elegant. Modern. Still wrong.

So let’s do something radical:

Let’s check the numbers.

Step Two: How much does Israel actually get?

The United States gives Israel about $3.8 billion per year in aid.

Cue dramatic music.

Until you realize:

The U.S. federal budget is about $7 trillion
Israel’s aid is about 0.05% of that

That means if America were a $100 shopping trip, Israel’s aid would be five cents.

If this is what’s bankrupting America, then Starbucks is a war crime.

Step Three: Plot twist — the money doesn’t even leave America

Here’s the part nobody tells you on Twitter.

Most U.S. “aid” to Israel never goes to Israel at all.

Under Foreign Military Financing rules, Israel must spend the money on:

American weapons
American defense companies
American factories
American workers
American engineers
American tax revenue

Translation:

America gives money to… America, and Israel gets tanks instead of a Venmo notification.

Calling this a “drain” is like saying: “I’m broke because I paid myself to fix my own house.”

Step Four: What does America get back?

Now here’s where the deal becomes embarrassing for the critics.

For a few billion a year, America gets:

Intelligence on terrorism, Iran, cyber threats
Joint missile defense systems (Iron Dome, Arrow, David’s Sling)
Real-world testing of U.S. weapons (not PowerPoint simulations)
A battle-hardened ally in the most unstable region on Earth
Zero American boots on the ground

If America tried to do this alone, it would cost tens of billions per year — and that’s before therapy for returning soldiers.

Israel is basically a strategic Costco membership for U.S. defense.

Step Five: “But Israel causes America’s problems!”

Yes, Israel is clearly responsible for:

American healthcare bureaucracy
Student loan debt
Social media addiction
Broken families
Crime in Chicago
The fact that Congress can’t balance a checkbook

Amazing country, really. Very powerful. Almost biblical.

Or — hear me out —

America’s internal problems are… American problems.

Blaming Israel for them is not analysis.

It’s outsourcing responsibility.

Step Six: The uncomfortable historical pattern

Here’s the awkward truth nobody likes to say out loud:

Whenever Jews are blamed for “draining the economy,” it is usually because:

The economy is mismanaged
The society doesn’t want to admit it
Jews are convenient

Israel is just the modern, nation-state version of the same old story.

Only this time, the spreadsheet doesn’t cooperate.

Final scorecard: Who’s winning?

Let’s summarize like adults:

Is Israel costing America large amounts of money?

No
Is the aid economically significant to the U.S.?

Not even close
Does most of the money stay in the U.S.?

Yes
Does America get intelligence, tech, stability, and deterrence?

Yes
Is Israel the source of America’s social and economic dysfunction?

Only if you think King Solomon invented TikTok

Conclusion: Made for each other (and the world)

From my admittedly Orthodox Jewish perspective, Israel and America are not an accident. One carries ancient moral clarity, the other unprecedented material power. When aligned properly, they can — and should — elevate the world.

But even if you don’t believe in prophecy, redemption, or Torah:

The cold, boring, secular math still says the same thing.

Israel is not draining America.

America is not being exploited.

And blaming Israel says far more about the blamer than the numbers.

The relationship isn’t charity.

It’s a deal.

And by every serious metric —

America is not losing.

A Note on Today:

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet

This article is being shared on the Tenth of Tevet (Asarah b’Tevet), a fast day observed by the Jewish people for over 2,500 years.

On this day, the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began — a slow, grinding process that eventually led to the destruction of the First Temple, exile, and immense suffering.

The sages did not establish this fast merely to mourn ancient history. They did so to teach something far more uncomfortable and far more relevant: disaster does not begin with collapse; it begins with denial. The walls did not fall on the first day. What fell first was clarity, humility, and honest self-assessment.

We fast today not only because enemies surrounded Jerusalem, but because the people inside the walls failed to remain fully grounded in reality — spiritually, morally, and socially.

Disaster Prevention Starts with Reality Checks

In every generation, catastrophe is preceded by confusion.

When societies stop asking honest questions, stop checking facts, stop grounding themselves in truth, and instead look for scapegoats — destruction quietly sets the table.

The habit of blaming Jews, Israel, or imaginary conspiracies for real economic and social problems is not new. It is one of history’s oldest avoidance strategies.

The Tenth of Tevet reminds us that survival depends on humility, on the willingness to say:

“Let’s look at what is actually happening. Let’s check our assumptions. Let’s deal with reality before reality deals with us.”

Truth, clarity, and grounded thinking are not luxuries. They are safeguards.

A Blessing

May all G-d-fearing people, of every nation, be blessed with:

Clear minds instead of slogans
Humility instead of arrogance
Truth instead of blame
Wisdom to correct what can be corrected before suffering forces the lesson

May we merit leaders and citizens who are anchored in reality, guided by justice, and courageous enough to tell the truth — and may that clarity hasten peace, stability, and the redemption promised by the prophets.

For Those Who Blame Israel for Everything — and Congratulations to You

Let’s be honest.

There are always going to be the loud voices out there claiming that Israel is the cause of every problem in the United States.

Some say it’s Israel’s fault we have inflation. Others claim Israel controls U.S. politics. A few even insist Israel is behind social unrest, debt, or the latest pop culture disaster. History and common sense suggest a simpler explanation: these people are noisy, misinformed, and looking for a convenient scapegoat.

Now, here’s the good news:

if you’ve finished reading this article, you are already smarter than all of them. You didn’t take slogans at face value. You didn’t let fear or bias cloud your judgment. You checked reality, weighed the facts, and thought critically.

Congratulations.

You are practicing humility, wisdom, and grounded thinking — exactly the traits that prevent disaster and build understanding.

You are thinking like someone who wants to see the world clearly, not just shout at convenient targets.

References and Further Reading

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

“U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts.”

Analysis of historical and current U.S. military and economic aid to Israel, including the 2019–2028 Memorandum of Understanding.
Congressional Research Service (CRS), U.S. Congress.

“U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel: Overview and Developments.”

Official government report detailing aid mechanisms, Foreign Military Financing (FMF), and strategic cooperation.
USAFacts.

“How Much Foreign Aid Does the U.S. Give to Israel?”

Data-driven breakdown of U.S. aid levels and comparison with total federal spending.
USAFacts.

“How Much Foreign Aid Does the U.S. Give to Egypt?”

Comparable data set used to contextualize aid relationships in the Middle East.
AP News.

“U.S. Has Given at Least $21.7 Billion in Military Aid to Israel Since Oct. 7.”

Reporting on supplemental military assistance during the Gaza conflict.
Times of Israel.

“Report Finds U.S. Spent Record $17.9 Billion on Military Aid to Israel in Year of War.”

Summary of independent research quantifying recent U.S. military support.
Reuters.

“Pentagon Announces Major Defense Contracts Related to Israel.”

Coverage of U.S. defense industry contracts linked to military aid and procurement.
Wikipedia.

“United States Foreign Military Financing.”

Overview of FMF rules, including requirements that aid be spent on U.S.-manufactured defense goods.
Wikipedia.

“BIRD Foundation (United States–Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation).”

Documentation of joint U.S.–Israel industrial and technological cooperation.
American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.

“U.S. Foreign Assistance to Egypt.”

Background on U.S. aid to Egypt for comparative regional analysis.
Pew Research Center.

“What the Data Says About U.S. Foreign Aid.”

Contextual analysis of public perception versus actual foreign aid spending.