Dear friends,
I am pleased to share with you this piece for your information and reflection, our own Rabbi Richard Jacobs in his own words.
This is the Shabbat that anticipates Yom Ha-Atzma'ut, Israel's Independence Day. As we gather to celebrate Israel and show our support for her, let us remember that Israel is strengthened--not threatened--by a multiplicity of viewpoints. Let a broad and diverse chorus of Ohavei Tzion -- lovers of Israel -- rise up!
Click here for the link to this important video and text of Rabbi Jacobs' speech.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Rabbi Jacobs said, "Attempting to delegitimize Israel, on too many college campuses and throughout much of Europe, critics try to portray Israel as though it is some apartheid-like state. It is an absurd assertion. Anyone who knows what apartheid was, and who knows Israel today, is well aware of that."
ReplyDeleteDo you know of any resources that address this question of whether or not there is apartheid in Israel with detailed information and that are educational rather than apologetic in nature? I don't encounter this a lot where I teach, but it has come up when I have dealt with South Africa in class as students try to grasp and apply the idea, and frankly, I feel ill-equipped to provide students with enough information to think critically about whether or not it applies to Israel.
I definitely don't think this was Rabbi Jacobs' tone in this context, but to say "Anyone who knows what apartheid was, and who knows Israel today, is well aware of that" can easily have the rhetorical effect a dare to either contradict the speaker or shut up, either provoking controversy or squelching dissent. It certainly would be taken this way, for example, if it's what I said in class. I would rather empower students to think around the issue for themselves and give them the tools, information, and skills they need to do it. But I don't have enough intimate knowledge of Israelite law and politics myself, which is why I ask where I can find it without having to become an expert.
Perhaps the Reform movement could do lots of people on lots of campuses an important service by providing these tools and fostering these kind of critical, reflective conversations.
Let me try again. My first post attempt didn't take.
ReplyDeleteAngela, I do not speak for either Rabbis Blake or Jacobs. But, I have found Harvard University's Alan Dershowitz an articulate party on the subject of Israel and apartheid. Short of answering your Q directly, let me point you to 4 links--the 1st by Hebrew University International Relations Robbie Sabel and the remaining 3 by Dershowitz:
http://www.jcpa.org/text/apartheid.pdf
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/lets-have-a-real-aparthei_b_485399.html
http://spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=7913
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/the-world-according-to-ji_b_34702.html
Good luck. It is very important for kids to learn to think for themselves early on. It is also important for them (and for adults) to discern the difference between fact-based observation replete with citations and opinion. Having said this, despite the solid ground on which Dershowitz's case is made, he is viewed as partisan. And, when anti-Israel forces are unable to adequately refute his points, Dershowitz is demonized.
I am not a teacher. But, this could be a tricky topic politically within a school or district, no matter how solid and balanced a case you present. I admire you for choosing to wrestle with this in your classes.
David S
2 more for you:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=2818295&ct=8493059¬oc=1
http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Israel/israeli_apartheid_week_2009.htm?Multi_page_sections=sHeading_5
David, thank you so much for these links. Shabbat shalom!
ReplyDelete