Erika Dreifus

“When an argument displays no genuine and realistic concern for the Jewish people — when it is animated solely by abstract ethical concerns, or sympathy for Palestinian suffering, or animus against the Israeli government — then it doesn’t exist within Jewish peoplehood but stands outside of Jewish peoplehood, even if a Jew is making it. Such critics do not practice what the political philosopher Michael Walzer calls ‘connected criticism,’ the kind that comes from within a community and wants to improve it. Indeed, for some of them, the main purpose of speaking out on Jewish issues is precisely to advertise their lack of connection — to show the world that they are ashamed of the Jewish people or the Jewish state, and should not be held responsible for it. But as history shows, and as we are learning again in our own day, enemies of the Jews do not make such fine distinctions.”

Source: Adam Kirsch, “Are Zionists and Anti-Zionists Arguing for the Sake of Heaven?” (Sapir)