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March 2007

Some of you are aware of the interesting and indeed passionate discussion among American Jews triggered by Alvin Rosenfeld's recent report entitled, "Progressive Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism," a report circulated by the American Jewish Committee. Rosenfeld, a well known Holocaust scholar, takes the position that progressive Jews who criticize Israel, if not anti-Semitic themselves, may be aiding and abetting anti-Semitism in the world. Rosenfeld claims to be speaking only of those who question Israel's right to exist, and insists that he's not seeking to scuttle discussion. Yet many disagree, and worry about the effect such statements may be having on Jewish support for Israel in this country.

Jim Levinson, Sh'liach Tzibur
 

Let me say, parenthetically, that one of my mentors advised me, when I began serving as a Shaliach Tzibur 18 years ago, "If you want to avoid trouble, don't talk about abortion and don’t talk about Israel." Of course we've talked plenty about both. This is a congregation which represents a wide array of opinion on these and many other subjects, and, happily, one where it's safe to voice any of them without fear of reprisal or of being ostracized. I much appreciate, and learn from the comments I receive on all sides of all these issues. Please keep them coming!

Back to Rosenfeld and to the effect his report, and others like it (see for example the writings of Shulamit Reinharz of Brandeis University,) may be having on American Jewish thought and expression with respect to Israel. Some have expressed the belief that real anti-Semites in the world – and none of us can question that they exist – are bolstered in their efforts by criticism of Israel that is voiced within Judaism itself. Others fear that articles like Rosenfeld’s have a censorial disposition which will have the effect of alienating a significant portion of Jewish support in this country at a time when such support is needed more than ever. Limiting discussion, they remind us, has never been a Jewish thing.

So, friends, we have here an important and timely issue, and one on which good and moral individuals can indeed come out in different places. As we discuss this, however, I would propose that we accept as givens two important understandings:

1. that we exempt from this discussion the clearly legitimate dialogue that engages us as it engages so many Israelis who are working for Israeli-Palestinian understandings and an end to those injustices that inevitably take place in the West Bank – as they have taken place in every occupied territory since the beginning of time. Criticizing injustice anywhere does not imply turning away from our Jewish identity; rather it means turning toward it - toward Tikkun Olam, a central tenet of our Judaism.
2. that we agree – my African-American friends and I discuss this often - that terms like "anti-Semitic" and "racist" are enormously charged; and that we must be extremely careful about using them carelessly or irresponsibly, both because they are so hurtful when used unjustly, but also because they demean the power of these terms when used to describe the genuinely vile prejudice that does exist in the world.

Keeping these guidelines in mind, I look forward to rich discussion on this issue, and indeed on any that pertain to our community, our lives as American Jews, or our relationship to Israel.

B'Shalom,
Jim