“As rabbis who critique our people’s shortcomings from our pulpits, we have this advice for Chabon: Acknowledge Israeli fears and vulnerability and not just Israeli power. Presume the good faith and good will of the Israeli people, even if you believe its policies may be wrong. People are far more likely to listen to you if you listen to them.”
Source: C. Strauchler & D. Wolkenfeld, “Saving Judaism from Michael Chabon” (Commentary)
Image description: pages of Hebrew text.
“This is not a eulogy. I have not changed my belief in and love for Israel, nor have I given up hope for its future. I hope that this piece will serve as a wake up call.”
Source: Mattan Berner-Kadish, “Loving Israel, Even When Israel’s Government Doesn’t Show Love for Jews Like Me” (RAC.org)
1. Some thoughts on Israel's new "Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People", which has thrown the government's relations with many minority communities, and to a degree, with Diaspora Jewish communities, into turmoil.
— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) July 31, 2018
“Diaspora Jews, much to their frustration, have virtually no impact on Israel’s policies. If anything, the newly passed Jewish Nation-State law essentially codifies that fact. What remains to be seen is whether rank-and-file Israelis will begin to worry that Israel is following in the path of numerous European countries that, like the U.S., are in the grips of regimes with hard-right inclinations. Until a few days ago, there was little reason to believe that Israelis were ready to be roused. How ironic it would be if the detaining of a Conservative rabbi sparked the conversation that Israelis desperately need to have. The time is growing near when the Israeli people will have to decide what kind of country they seek to build.”
Source: Daniel Gordis, “Soul-Searching After a Rabbi Was Detained in Israel” (Bloomberg)
Image description: pages of Hebrew text.
Erika Dreifus is a freelance writer and book publicist. She is also the editor and publisher of The Practicing Writer, a free (and popular) e-newsletter that features opportunities and resources for fictionists, poets, and writers of creative nonfiction.
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