From James Kirchick (here): Introducing the term “pinkwashing” into the mainstream debate about the Arab-Israeli conflict is edifying in at least one respect: It lays bare the delusion, paranoia, and cynicism of the Jewish state’s most earnest detractors. In their minds, any positive statement made about the country is necessarily part of a propaganda campaign [...]
In 1934, members of the Labor youth movement in Palestine began their summer camp on the evening of Tisha B’av. In response to this, Berl Katznelson, one of the most important ideologues of the Zionist Labor movement, wrote an article titled “Destruction and Uprootedness.” (hat tip) In this article Katznelson argued for the importance of [...]
From Haaretz: The ministerial committee on ceremonies and symbols said this week the wording of the Yizkor memorial prayer for fallen soldiers should return to its original version at state ceremonies. The prayer recited at the official state ceremony on Mount Herzl that marks the end of Memorial Day and the start of the Independence [...]
Uri Heitner writes (Hebrew) about how Zeev Jabotinsky was a supporter of both the free-market and certain aspects of a welfare state.
I am not sure if history will see this as the opening battle, but the struggle for what may be the future of Religious Zionism seems to be under way. A number of weeks ago Rabbi Neriah Gutal wrote a review of Rabbi Israel Rosen’s book, Ve-Ohev ha-Ger in Musaf Shabbat. A number of responses [...]
Haaretz has an article about a change in the Yizkor prayer in Israel for fallen soldiers. The prayer at military memorial ceremonies for Israel’s fallen soldiers – Yizkor (Remember) – will open with the traditional “May God remember his sons and daughters,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz ruled this week. The statement followed [...]
With the word Nakba being in the news during the past few days, I thought that some might find the following interview with Arieh Lova Eliav interesting. Eliav was someone who could truly say that he helped build the modern state of Israel. He was also one of the first Israelis to call for the [...]
If anybody was looking for some good Israel-related reading, here are two books that I highly recommend. The first book is Allis and Ronald Radosh’s A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel . This book describes the incredible drama that preceded America’s recognition of the State of Israel. If there was [...]
One part of the official celebrations of Yom ha-Atzmaut is the Israel Prize. The prize is the highest recognition of contribution to Israeli society and culture. It has often been a lightning rod for criticism-it is elitist, left-wing, etc. This year there is even a list of alternative Israel Prize winners published by Makor Rishon. [...]
I have previously written about new liturgies for Yom ha-Atzmaut, and I wanted to add one to the list. Beit Tefila Israeli is an important part of the Jewish Renaissance in Israel. Here is their vision: Beit Tefilah Israeli aspires to establish an active Jewish community which speaks to the breadth of the secular public [...]
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