Review of The Jewish Divide Over Israel Charles Jacobs, Hadassah Magazine, December 2007 Is there a Jewish divide over Israel? The outspokenness of some Jews suggests that many are deeply torn by the actions, indeed even the very existence, of the Jewish state. But on closer inspection, these individuals speak more for a certain intellectual class than the greater community. Edward Alexander and Paul Bogdanor have collected essays about more than a dozen of the most prominent Jewish critics of Israel. They range from academics Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein and Peter Novick to journalists Thomas Friedman and Seymour Hersh as well as Jewish studies specialists Daniel Boyarin and Marc Ellis. There are, to be sure, important differences between the attitudes of Friedman, who is a liberal critic of Israel, and a truly odious character like Finkelstein, who consorts with Hezbollah and characterizes Israelis as worse than Nazis, and placing them together in one book threatens to gloss over those vital differences. Similar distinctions must be made between literary scholar George Steiner and Marc Ellis; the latter believes the existence of Israel has fatally corrupted Judaism. Several themes run through the essays. In the view of progressives, many of them former Communists, Jews are collectively responsible for the misdeeds of Israel. For most of them, Israel is a flawed idea that promotes two hated concepts: ethnicity and nationalism. And even when they do accept Israel’s existence, the state is never perfectly just, fair or wise. Boyarin, for example, sees Judaism “morally disintegrating” because of its efforts to defend itself against terrorism. At the root of all this is a profound discomfort with the idea of Jews having power. To be without land and borders – i.e., in the diaspora and thus lack both refuge and responsibility – is the ideal. Is this opposition to Israel the latest manifestation of Jewish self-hatred? As for resurgent anti-Semitism (and many deny it exists), some of these writers argue that it is either the fault of Israel or to its benefit to make Israel appear to be a victim. For Steiner, historian Tony Judt and literary theorist Judith Butler, assimilation means not only turning against Israel, but joining some faction of progressive society. Opposing Israel as a way of fighting capitalism and imperialism is an old tradition for Jews seeking acceptance among Socialists and Communists. For those who profess interest in remaining Jews, such as Boyarin, Ellis and members of Jews Against the Occupation or a Jewish Voice for Peace, their reading of tradition demands repudiation of an Israel based on prophetic invocations: All good Jews must oppose Israel. Are defenders of Israel overstating the threat from these vile critics? Yes and no. Politically, their impact has not been great, but successes have come on university campuses. There the atmosphere has turned dramatically against Israel, with divestment petitions, campus protests and deeply politicized classrooms. As difficult as it is to believe that anyone could be swayed by guerilla theater such as Palestine Solidarity Week, there are ominous implications for future generations of voters and leaders. This book is required reading for anyone concerned about Israel and its supporters and enemies within the Jewish community. Charles Jacobs is president of The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership in Boston.