NYT OPINION: American Jews, You Have to Choose Sides on Israel
By Thomas L. Friedman
Section: Opinion
Source: New York Times
Published Date: March 7, 2023 at 02:00AM
Now, a lot of American Jews are going to need to find a new focus for their passion.
Because if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeds with his judicial putsch to crush the independence of the country’s judiciary, the subject of Israel could fracture every synagogue and Jewish communal organization in America. To put it simply: Israel is facing its biggest internal clash since its founding, and for every rabbi and every Jewish leader in America, to stay silent about this fight is to become irrelevant.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency just ran an article that offered a revealing glimpse into this reality. It quoted a Los Angeles rabbi, Sharon Brous, as beginning her sermon on Israel last month with a content warning to her congregants: “I have to say some things today that I know will upset some of you.”
Every American rabbi knew what she meant: Israel has become such a hot-button issue that it cannot be discussed without taking sides for or against Netanyahu’s policies.
By Thomas L. Friedman
Section: Opinion
Source: New York Times
Published Date: March 7, 2023 at 02:00AM
The effect of Netanyahu’s policies can’t be dismissed.
Ever since Israel’s founding in 1948, supporting the country’s security and its economic development and cementing its diplomatic ties to the U.S. have been the “religion” of many nonobservant American Jews — rather than studying Torah or keeping kosher. That mission drove fund-raising and forged solidarity among Jewish communities across America.Now, a lot of American Jews are going to need to find a new focus for their passion.
Because if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeds with his judicial putsch to crush the independence of the country’s judiciary, the subject of Israel could fracture every synagogue and Jewish communal organization in America. To put it simply: Israel is facing its biggest internal clash since its founding, and for every rabbi and every Jewish leader in America, to stay silent about this fight is to become irrelevant.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency just ran an article that offered a revealing glimpse into this reality. It quoted a Los Angeles rabbi, Sharon Brous, as beginning her sermon on Israel last month with a content warning to her congregants: “I have to say some things today that I know will upset some of you.”
Every American rabbi knew what she meant: Israel has become such a hot-button issue that it cannot be discussed without taking sides for or against Netanyahu’s policies.
Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/opinion/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-protests.html
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