I've recently experienced some pushback for my views on Israel -- not the substance of my views, so much as my eagerness to write about the country at all, as it experiences its political upheaval.
The pushback comes in two forms. There are the antisemites who tell me that if I care so much about Israel, I should register as a foreign agent, and maybe even be investigated by the FBI.
Then there are Jews in Israel who tell me I have no business commenting on Israeli affairs because I did not serve in the Israeli army and I do not pay taxes there and I have the luxury of living here.
To the first group, I would simply say this: I love America, and I believe that many of the best American values draw directly from the Judeo-Christian tradition that contemporary Israel keeps alive.
Moreover, America's founders included people who drew inspiration from Jewish texts and principles. Some even hoped, one day, to see a Jewish state in the Middle East -- a restoration of Israel.
Among these was John Adams, our second president. There were many others. And George Washington himself said specifically that the persecution of Jews was hostile to the idea of America.
One can certainly support Israel and be a loyal and patriotic American citizen. Both countries share the same values and interests. To deny Americans the right to be pro-Israel is to limit our own freedom.
And if you think that America cannot abide a people living within it who have another spiritual homeland, or a different set of religious laws -- well, join a long list of failed haters, dating back to the Bible.
To those on the other side, I would say: I love Israel, and over the past 25 years I have made the case for Israel, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, to boost support for Israel and Israel‘s security.
You may not experience that directly, but it does have an effect. You are correct that it is not really my business what kind of judicial system Israel has, although I am certainly entitled to an opinion.
However, when people in Israel start referring to their government as a dictatorship, that is very serious because much of Israel’s support from the rest of the world depends on it being seen as a democracy.
So it is something I must investigate and decide for myself. With respect, most of the judicial reforms Israel is debating are quite democratic, and less radical than the system we have in the U.S.
Most of our judges are elected directly, and our prosecutors. (This is partly the legacy of reforms by Andrew Jackson, 200 years ago.) Even those judges that are appointed are chosen by elected politicians.
One of Israel's proposed reforms would allow the elected Knesset to choose judges. Unless you think the United States is not a democracy, that reform is entirely compatible with democracy.
Therefore, while even I do not agree with all of the reforms, I feel an obligation to argue against the idea that Israel is a dictatorship, or that Israel is going to become the Jewish version of Iran.
These claims undermine support for Israel in the United States, and therefore, they are dangerous for Israel‘s security, as well as for the safety of Jews outside Israel, even if you do not see that directly.
I also do not want to see the radical tactics of some (not all) of the protesters succeed in Israel, because then Israel will never again be safe, and because those tactics will eventually be used here as well.
I may not have served in the Israeli military, etc., but I believe I have an obligation to state my view. And given that some Israelis appear to agree with me, it might benefit you to hear what I have to say.
This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”
There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?
Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.
But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.
Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...
The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.
Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?
One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).
Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).
Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.
Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.
Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!
