A Wakeup Call for Israel-American Jewish Relations

Over the last few weeks in Israel, police arrested a woman for carrying a Torah at the Kotel, thousands demonstrated against the growing number of gender-segregated buses, and, perhaps most troubling of all, a conversion bill giving the rabbinate ultimate authority passed the Knesset’s law committee. These events strike me as a wake up call. It is time for American Jews to reassess our relationship with the State of Israel. Since American Zionism took shape almost a hundred years ago, support for... Read More

Book Peddler on Xtracycle

My peddle assisted longtail bicycle on the way to a book signing with 30 copies of Zionism and the Roads Not Taken! Its not quite a traditional pushcart, but it is quite effective. The xtracycle attachment is really amazing–it makes for a perfect SUB (sports utility bicycle.) Thanks for Eric and Dave at Electric Bicycles Northwest for putting it all together. Share and Enjoy:  Read More

Daniel Gordis: Post-Ethnic is not Post-Zionist

A Response to Daniel Gordis’ article, “The Storm Ahead” Jerusalem Post (5/28/2010) Daniel Gordis’ Jerusalem Post article raises concerns about a growing crisis of young American Jews who lack a strong sense of connection to Israel.  I agree with his concerns and appreciate his efforts to consider potential solutions for building stronger bridges between our two communities. However, Gordis overstates his argument by claiming that “post-ethnic trends” in the “larger world” is the... Read More

Peoplehood is not the Same as Zionism

One of the underlying issues in today’s conversations about the meaning of “peoplehood” is situating the term’s relationship with historical expressions of Zionism. There is a lot at stake in establishing precisely where the concept falls on the spectrum between nationalism’s inclination to place the state at the center of collective cohesion and a more diaspora-oriented predisposition toward deterritorialized, voluntary, and permeable notions of minority communities categorized as ethnic... Read More

Kaplan and Jewish Peoplehood

Kaplan On A Visit to Palestine Mordecai Kaplan gave his readers plenty of reasons to accuse him of disloyalty. Over his long life, Kaplan denied central pillars of the Jewish narrative—including the existence of a supernatural God and the concept of chosenness. However, Kaplan’s association with the concept of “peoplehood” has escaped controversy. Indeed, it is more popular today than ever before. Foundations, denominations, and institutions from across the spectrum of Jewish life have adapted... Read More