Thank you for your excellent conversation. I believe you give voice to very many Jews who have been labeled, bullied, and intimidated into silence by the self-appointed policemen of organizations like the ADL. No doubt many are also conflicted between loyalty to their faith and values, and to the blind, uncritical loyalty they are told they must have for Israel. The idea of a Jewish movement that concretely gives voice to this large minority, for example by formally supporting the ICJ proceedings investigating Israel's Genocide of the Palestinians as you suggest, is a great idea.
Avrum wrote a great book in 2008, after the second Intifada, titled "The Holocaust is Over: We Must Rise from Its Ashes." It speaks, among many other things, to the need for Israel and Jews to understand themselves in a new way that does not shackle them to a sense of perpetual victimhood, threat, and dread, and to courageously embrace peace. I remember periodically monitoring its success, especially within Israel, and was saddened that it did not gain traction in Israel- perhaps it was suppressed. This fact caused me great worry at the time, as I felt it said much about the closed place that Israeli society was in psychologically. It portended the continued rightward shift towards increasing subjugation of the Palestinians, as well as accepted open hatred, which enabled and culminated in the war crimes and Genocide of the past two years.
Avrum's book would have made a huge difference if it had been assigned as reading to Israeli high school students and was widely read in Israel. The discussion and debate would have been tremendously fruitful and may have helped Israel find its path toward acceptance, accommodation, and the end of the Occupation. Sadly, the book was ahead of its time. Despite the unspeakable death and destruction, perhaps it will speak to some Israelis now. I hope it is relaunched and promoted again. Avrum's voice is a very important one that must be heard. Thank you both again.
Thank you for your excellent conversation. I believe you give voice to very many Jews who have been labeled, bullied, and intimidated into silence by the self-appointed policemen of organizations like the ADL. No doubt many are also conflicted between loyalty to their faith and values, and to the blind, uncritical loyalty they are told they must have for Israel. The idea of a Jewish movement that concretely gives voice to this large minority, for example by formally supporting the ICJ proceedings investigating Israel's Genocide of the Palestinians as you suggest, is a great idea.
Avrum wrote a great book in 2008, after the second Intifada, titled "The Holocaust is Over: We Must Rise from Its Ashes." It speaks, among many other things, to the need for Israel and Jews to understand themselves in a new way that does not shackle them to a sense of perpetual victimhood, threat, and dread, and to courageously embrace peace. I remember periodically monitoring its success, especially within Israel, and was saddened that it did not gain traction in Israel- perhaps it was suppressed. This fact caused me great worry at the time, as I felt it said much about the closed place that Israeli society was in psychologically. It portended the continued rightward shift towards increasing subjugation of the Palestinians, as well as accepted open hatred, which enabled and culminated in the war crimes and Genocide of the past two years.
Avrum's book would have made a huge difference if it had been assigned as reading to Israeli high school students and was widely read in Israel. The discussion and debate would have been tremendously fruitful and may have helped Israel find its path toward acceptance, accommodation, and the end of the Occupation. Sadly, the book was ahead of its time. Despite the unspeakable death and destruction, perhaps it will speak to some Israelis now. I hope it is relaunched and promoted again. Avrum's voice is a very important one that must be heard. Thank you both again.