To define the Jewish state by its current government or any of its governments or politicians is to misunderstand what Israel is, and worse, to pollute its very essence.
Your principal, of The State of Israel being more than her politics, is true here in the UK. Here we have the King and The Royal Family, who are certainly above mere politics. The Royal Family, and their close friendship with Winston Churchill, was part of the reason the British beat Hitler and The Nazis. So Israel is not alone in this regard, and also too is the fact that both countries have no written Constitution, but a very strong practical application of The Rule of Law, through the Courts and the Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, our leaders do define us. We are suffering dreadfully here in he US. with being defined by our monstrous president and his demented directives. It is for every citizen to stand behind their own standards, and fight the injustices. However, the broken system here is exacerbated by the chopping away of our freedom to do so. Gerrymandering is becoming the law of the land, rebelling is loudly ridiculed and we need persistence to blunt his most outrageous and illegal acts. The rest of the world is indeed, judging us by his behavior, a s a laughing stock, and then again, fear.
Thank you Joshua. I am beyond words. This is a blueprint for peaceful coexistence for all - it should be taught at schools, universities and in the home. Take out the words Israel and Jewish and it is applicable to all PEACE loving nations with basic morals and respect for ALL life. Thank you - this goes into my "Israel" folder for prosperity. My children's children must read this. Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱
For many American Jews their Leftism Trumps Their Judaism. Hence the need and obsession to focus primarily on Israeli politics. And that includes many US rabbis.
I agree with the ideas highlighted in this article. When the US broke free from England it wasn't about politics but the colonial Americans wanting to be free of British mistreatment. Israel is no different. What Ben Gurion and all the founders wanted was a safe home for the Jewish people so they would not have to stand for world mistreatment as practiced going back centuries. The existence of Éretz Yisra'él IS a miracle.
Joshua, that was a brilliant article. Well thought out, well written .. great execution.
Whilst world media constantly views Israel by its politics, that same shallow misguided platform views the palestinians as having come from a country called Palestine which was colonised by european Jews.
As the informed know, it is far more complex and the way the world has dealt with the problem, the greater the problem has become.
I have a friend who lives in Israel and is very much against the current government. He tells me that if I post something about the things Israel does I have to also mention the things that Israel does that are not ok. I am trying to tell him that our fight is different. He is fighting for his country, and while diaspora Jews are also fighting for Israel, we are fighting for our right to exist too. He has no knowledge of Jew hate other than the past but outside of Israel we are living Jew hate all the time. To add the disclaimers that he mentions would only weaken Israel in the diaspora.
"Why, then, do critics hold Israel to this absurd standard: If they dislike an Israeli prime minister, they question the state’s right to exist."
The question may be putting the cart before the horse. Questioning Israel's right to exists using the prime minister, or any Knesset member who is a staunch nationalist, or any other excuse like "settler violence," is used as justification to denounce Israel as a pariah state needing to be expunged .
Way too many people who call themselves Zionists are actually conditional Zionists. They are Zionists if the Jewish state elects left wing politicians. Or it supports the disaspora's vision of plurality. Or if it continues the suicidal path of apeasing the murderous Palestinians or int he case of the world's most famous conditional Zionist, Thomas Friedman, only so long as it remains the Jewish Disneyland of his childhood imagination. These people are NOT Zionists. A Zionist stands behind the Jewish state no matter who is running it. It doesn't mean we have to agree with the Israeli government (though as a Jew living in safety in the United States I am very deferential to the Israeli people's own views on what is right for them) or with the Israeli Rabbinate or the Haredi or any other particular thing. It means that our love for and support of the State of Israel is not contingent on these things.
Israelis fighting to prevent their own genocide gets reframed and twisted into the claim that Israel is committing genocide. This charge is so vile and perverse coming from westerners who know better.
That is the reality in which Israeli politics operates, a reality most of the world ignores because acknowledging it would shatter the convenient illusions of “simple solutions.” It is easier to blame Israeli politics than to confront the truth: This is not a dispute over particular policies; it is a never-ending war against genocide, for survival.
Brilliant analysis of the present situation.
Your principal, of The State of Israel being more than her politics, is true here in the UK. Here we have the King and The Royal Family, who are certainly above mere politics. The Royal Family, and their close friendship with Winston Churchill, was part of the reason the British beat Hitler and The Nazis. So Israel is not alone in this regard, and also too is the fact that both countries have no written Constitution, but a very strong practical application of The Rule of Law, through the Courts and the Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, our leaders do define us. We are suffering dreadfully here in he US. with being defined by our monstrous president and his demented directives. It is for every citizen to stand behind their own standards, and fight the injustices. However, the broken system here is exacerbated by the chopping away of our freedom to do so. Gerrymandering is becoming the law of the land, rebelling is loudly ridiculed and we need persistence to blunt his most outrageous and illegal acts. The rest of the world is indeed, judging us by his behavior, a s a laughing stock, and then again, fear.
We need to present a united front of opposition, and a definite plan to attack every single time he does something illegal (every day!)
Thank you Joshua. I am beyond words. This is a blueprint for peaceful coexistence for all - it should be taught at schools, universities and in the home. Take out the words Israel and Jewish and it is applicable to all PEACE loving nations with basic morals and respect for ALL life. Thank you - this goes into my "Israel" folder for prosperity. My children's children must read this. Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱
For many American Jews their Leftism Trumps Their Judaism. Hence the need and obsession to focus primarily on Israeli politics. And that includes many US rabbis.
"if we have to choose between being dead and pitied or alive with a bad image I will choose Alive with a bad image"
Golda Meir
I agree with the ideas highlighted in this article. When the US broke free from England it wasn't about politics but the colonial Americans wanting to be free of British mistreatment. Israel is no different. What Ben Gurion and all the founders wanted was a safe home for the Jewish people so they would not have to stand for world mistreatment as practiced going back centuries. The existence of Éretz Yisra'él IS a miracle.
Joshua, that was a brilliant article. Well thought out, well written .. great execution.
Whilst world media constantly views Israel by its politics, that same shallow misguided platform views the palestinians as having come from a country called Palestine which was colonised by european Jews.
As the informed know, it is far more complex and the way the world has dealt with the problem, the greater the problem has become.
🎗️🎗️🎗️
I have a friend who lives in Israel and is very much against the current government. He tells me that if I post something about the things Israel does I have to also mention the things that Israel does that are not ok. I am trying to tell him that our fight is different. He is fighting for his country, and while diaspora Jews are also fighting for Israel, we are fighting for our right to exist too. He has no knowledge of Jew hate other than the past but outside of Israel we are living Jew hate all the time. To add the disclaimers that he mentions would only weaken Israel in the diaspora.
Bravo!👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
"Why, then, do critics hold Israel to this absurd standard: If they dislike an Israeli prime minister, they question the state’s right to exist."
The question may be putting the cart before the horse. Questioning Israel's right to exists using the prime minister, or any Knesset member who is a staunch nationalist, or any other excuse like "settler violence," is used as justification to denounce Israel as a pariah state needing to be expunged .
Way too many people who call themselves Zionists are actually conditional Zionists. They are Zionists if the Jewish state elects left wing politicians. Or it supports the disaspora's vision of plurality. Or if it continues the suicidal path of apeasing the murderous Palestinians or int he case of the world's most famous conditional Zionist, Thomas Friedman, only so long as it remains the Jewish Disneyland of his childhood imagination. These people are NOT Zionists. A Zionist stands behind the Jewish state no matter who is running it. It doesn't mean we have to agree with the Israeli government (though as a Jew living in safety in the United States I am very deferential to the Israeli people's own views on what is right for them) or with the Israeli Rabbinate or the Haredi or any other particular thing. It means that our love for and support of the State of Israel is not contingent on these things.
Israelis fighting to prevent their own genocide gets reframed and twisted into the claim that Israel is committing genocide. This charge is so vile and perverse coming from westerners who know better.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
That is the reality in which Israeli politics operates, a reality most of the world ignores because acknowledging it would shatter the convenient illusions of “simple solutions.” It is easier to blame Israeli politics than to confront the truth: This is not a dispute over particular policies; it is a never-ending war against genocide, for survival.
I don't think they do know better.
Beautiful!
Agreed.
Brilliant insight!