To the Editor:
Re “American Jews and Israeli Jews Break Up,” by Jonathan Weisman (news analysis, Sunday Review, Jan. 6):
We would do well to consider the theology of the Zionist Martin Buber. In the relationship Buber calls “I-thou,” parties remain concerned with each other’s fears and hopes while maintaining the right to advance their self-defined interests.
Liberal American Jews (I am one) cannot expect the Israeli government to abandon political alliances it deems necessary for survival, negotiate a two-state solution and support equal rights for non-Orthodox Jews just because we want it. Nor can the Israeli government suppose that liberal American Jews will forsake our moral assumptions and defend Israeli policies those principles impel us to challenge.
American Jews and Israeli Jews need each other and must support each other. But we cannot govern for each other, and we remain fully within our rights to critique each other.
There are times we don’t like those we love. Yet Buber reminds us that with patience and effort, the “I-thou” can be re-established, as it can be between American Jews and Israeli Jews. Governments change. External crises arise, overriding the luxury of internal disputes. Mr. Weisman’s “Great Schism” is far from inevitable.
Joshua M. Davidson
New York
The writer is senior rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York.
To the Editor:
Oddly enough, I found Jonathan Weisman’s article to be a declaration of the strength of the Jewish people around the world.
Each disagreement outlined by Mr. Weisman is a proud testament to the vitality of the varied opinions within the Jewish community.
Proud and free diversity of beliefs is what makes a people strong and healthy, not monolithic adherence to a single dogma.
That is why the Jews are still around.
Irving Thorne
Minneapolis
Source: Read Full Article
Home » Analysis & Comment » Opinion | U.S. Jews and Israel: Critiques, but No Rupture
Opinion | U.S. Jews and Israel: Critiques, but No Rupture
To the Editor:
Re “American Jews and Israeli Jews Break Up,” by Jonathan Weisman (news analysis, Sunday Review, Jan. 6):
We would do well to consider the theology of the Zionist Martin Buber. In the relationship Buber calls “I-thou,” parties remain concerned with each other’s fears and hopes while maintaining the right to advance their self-defined interests.
Liberal American Jews (I am one) cannot expect the Israeli government to abandon political alliances it deems necessary for survival, negotiate a two-state solution and support equal rights for non-Orthodox Jews just because we want it. Nor can the Israeli government suppose that liberal American Jews will forsake our moral assumptions and defend Israeli policies those principles impel us to challenge.
American Jews and Israeli Jews need each other and must support each other. But we cannot govern for each other, and we remain fully within our rights to critique each other.
There are times we don’t like those we love. Yet Buber reminds us that with patience and effort, the “I-thou” can be re-established, as it can be between American Jews and Israeli Jews. Governments change. External crises arise, overriding the luxury of internal disputes. Mr. Weisman’s “Great Schism” is far from inevitable.
Joshua M. Davidson
New York
The writer is senior rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York.
To the Editor:
Oddly enough, I found Jonathan Weisman’s article to be a declaration of the strength of the Jewish people around the world.
Each disagreement outlined by Mr. Weisman is a proud testament to the vitality of the varied opinions within the Jewish community.
Proud and free diversity of beliefs is what makes a people strong and healthy, not monolithic adherence to a single dogma.
That is why the Jews are still around.
Irving Thorne
Minneapolis
Source: Read Full Article