[META] State of the Sub: Help us shape the future of AskIsrael — Community Feedback Thread

The Future of r/AskIsrael: Seeking Community Feedback to Foster Growth and Quality

Over the past month, our community has experienced a remarkable surge in new members, transforming the landscape of r/AskIsrael. To ensure we continue to serve your needs effectively and cultivate a vibrant, respectful environment, our moderation team invites our members—both new and seasoned—to share their insights, experiences, and suggestions for the subreddit’s future development.

Background and Evolution

r/AskIsrael was originally established nearly four and a half years ago. However, for most of its existence, it remained dormant, with minimal activity and a small, private membership base of approximately 100 users. During this period, engagement was virtually nonexistent. Recognizing the potential for a lively forum dedicated to discussions about Israel, Reddit appointed a new moderation team with extensive experience managing other country-specific and culturally focused subreddits.

This renewed leadership paid off. In just a month, the subreddit has expanded dramatically, welcoming over 1,000 new members and averaging more than 2,000 contributions weekly. A key question for us is: How did you find us? Whether through searches, Reddit feeds, or other channels, understanding this helps us better tailor our outreach and visibility strategies.

Addressing Challenges: Managing Growth and Moderation

Such rapid growth, while exciting, comes with its own set of challenges. Notably, we’ve encountered increased incidents of brigading—coordinated efforts to influence and disrupt discussions. Please rest assured that we are actively working to identify and mitigate these issues. Our initial approach involved manual review of all posts and comments to maintain quality, but as the community expanded, this became unsustainable.

Currently, our moderation relies heavily on automated tools and user reports. While these systems help manage a broader volume of content, they are not foolproof, and some problematic posts or comments may slip through. We appreciate your patience as we fine-tune our moderation processes to balance open dialogue with community safety.

The State of Our Community

We are genuinely grateful for every member contributing to r/AskIsrael. Our community has organically evolved into a space where individuals with varying levels of familiarity with Israel come to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage in meaningful discussions. We see a diverse mix of participants—including residents of Israel, members of the Jewish diaspora, and curious individuals from all over the world.

The comment sections are often lively and informative, fostering conversations rooted in evidence and mutual respect. Although the community faces challenges from automated bots and coordinated disruptions, our dedicated moderators and vigilant members help debunk misinformation and uphold constructive discourse.

The Purpose of r/AskIsrael

While numerous Israeli and Jewish-focused subreddits exist, many cater primarily to local or cultural audiences. r/AskIsrael aims to stand out by welcoming outsiders—those who are new to Israel, interested in learning more, or seeking impartial perspectives. We aspire to be a platform where discussions about Israel occur in a fair, open-minded, and evidence-based manner—not driven by political agendas or stereotypes.

Our goal is to facilitate nuanced conversations that bridge understanding, serving as a resource for education and respectful exchange.

We Want Your Feedback

Your experience and insights are vital to shaping the future of r/AskIsrael. Please share with us:

• What aspects of the community are working well?
• Are there areas where we can improve or expand?
• What changes would make the subreddit more engaging, inclusive, or effective?

Together, we can build a welcoming, informative, and respectful space for all interested in Israel and its diverse narratives. Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to hearing your suggestions and working together to grow r/AskIsrael into the best possible community.