World
Zionists Battle Detractors
Race and racism encyclopedia's chapter on Israel called anti-Semitic.
Robert Sklar
Editor
I
n the wake of complaints by two
major Jewish organizations, the pub-
lisher of the Encyclopedia of Race
and Racism vows to broaden the range of
views it offers in the chapter on Zionism.
Further, the publisher apologized to critics
of the Zionism chapter, but apparently will
not delete it from future editions of the
encyclopedia.
The Zionist Organization of America,
the oldest pro-Israel organization in the
nation, believes the subject of Zionism is
inappropriate in such an encyclopedia.
The ZOA calls for the chapter's removal in
print and online editions.
The encyclopedia was published
in November 2007 by the Macmillan
Reference USA imprint of Farmington
Hills-based Gale, a Cengage Learning
Company. The reference book contains
more than 400 signed, peer-reviewed arti-
cles. It was edited and written by scholars
from a variety of fields.
Noel Ignatiev, professor in the
Department of Critical Studies at
Massachusetts College of Arts in Boston,
wrote the chapter on Zionism. In a Nov. 18
e-mail response to a IN inquiry about the
ZOA complaint, Ignatiev wrote, "Zionism
defines Jew not by place of birth or resi-
dence, religious observance, language or
culture, but by descent — the essence of
race.
In a Nov. 10 letter of response to a IN
inquiry, Gale related that the encyclopedia
examines the anthropological, sociologi-
cal, historical, economic, cultural and sci-
entific aspects of race and racism in the
modern era. The
letter stated that
Gale will not shy
from controversy,
but remains com-
mitted to "compre-
hensive, respectful
coverage" through
publications that
support criti-
cal thinking and
informed debate.
"Based on the
constructive feed-
back we have received:' the letter contin-
ued, "we have concluded that we should
offer a broader range of views on the sub-
ject of Zionism:'
The American Jewish Committee also
registered its dismay about the chapter
in a letter to Gale. The AJC letter cited
"numerous historical omissions and
errors."
Gale has begun to commission a series
of articles for the encyclopedia's online
edition that will address the ZOA and AJC
objections.
The Concerns
In an earlier letter to Gale, two ZOA lead-
ers, National President Morton Klein and
Center for Law & Justice Director Susan
Tuchman, wrote:
"Zionism is the expression of the Jewish
people's yearning to return to their histori-
cal and religious homeland in the Land
of Israel. The Jewish people also have a
legal right to the land as recognized by the
League of Nations in 1922 and then later
by the United Nations. Zionism has noth-
ing to do with race or racism and thus
does not belong in a reference book about
those topics:"
The letter went on to denounce the
chapter itself. "In fact," the letter states,
"the anti-Zionist content of the chapter
crosses the line into anti-Semitism since
it demonizes Jews and Israel, denies the
Jewish people their right to self-determi-
nation and has the effect of promoting
hatred and prejudice against Jews:"
'Chosen' Controversy
The ZOA challenged the response that
Frank Menchaca, Gale's executive vice
president-publishing, gave to the AJC.
"Zionism defines Jew not by place
of birth or residence, religious
observance, language or culture,
but by descent the essence of
race.
- Noel Ignatiev, professor and author
Menchaca's response cited comments from movement that started in the late 19th
John Hartwell Moore, editor-in-chief of
century was an expression of that long-
the encyclopedia. The ZOA letter stated
held dream that Jewish sovereignty be re-
that according to Moore, Jews are racist
established in the Land of Israel:'
because their Torah describes them as
The ZOA called out Moore's explanation
God's "chosen people and that as a result, for including the Zionism chapter. Moore
they consider themselves "superior to
stated, "The bottom line, in my opinion,
other races!'
is that if Zionists influenced the State
Jews are racially diverse and don't rep-
of Israel to divide its citizens into racial
resent a race themselves, the ZOA letter
categories and grant privileges to Jews
stated. "The almost 6 million Jews from
while discriminating against others ...
more than 100 countries who are Israeli
that is a topic that properly belongs in an
citizens include people of all colors and
Encyclopedia of Race and Racism."
physical characteristics. For example, there
In its letter, the ZOA responded that the
are Arabic Jews from Arab lands, black
State of Israel does not divide its citizens
African Jews
from Ethiopia,
Indian Jews
from India
and Chinese
Jews from
China?'
Contrary to
Moore's asser-
tion, the con-
cept of having
- Morton Klein, Zionist Organization of America president
been chosen
has nothing to
do with racial
superiority
or a belief in
their entitlement to special privileges, the
into categories, noting it is the only estab-
ZOA letter noted.
lished democracy in the Middle East. "Of
its 6.3 million citizens, more than 20 per-
"Rabbis throughout history have
discussed what it means that the Jews
cent are not Jewish; almost all of them are
Arab Israelis, the vast majority of whom
are a 'chosen people:" the ZOA stated.
"Essentially, the concept means that the
are Muslims, and they have equal rights
Jewish people have pledged to fulfill
with Jewish citizens."
Ignatiev, the chapter's author, ques-
certain obligations to God and to other
people — to be a 'covenant people, a light
tioned the ZOA assertion that Arab Israelis
"have equal rights with Jewish citizens:'
unto the nations: In short, the concept of
"Within Israel, native Palestinians, even
chosenness' relates to Jewish responsibili-
those who are nominally citizens, suffer
ties, not racial superiority"
various forms of legal and extra-legal
The encyclopedia's editor-in-chief
Moore further claimed that "the Zionists
discrimination:' Ignatiev told the IN. "This
is documented in the encyclopedia and
emphasized the 'chosen people' theme to
get political support for the founding of a
elsewhere. And, of course, the refugees,
formerly residing in what is now Israel,
Jewish state in Palestine after World War
and their descendants, are banished, while
people from abroad are guaranteed the
The ZOA observed that Jews have more
right to 'return to a place they have never
of a historical and religious connection to
lived."
the Land of Israel than anyone else. "The
The ZOA further noted that Israeli
Jewish presence in the Land of Israel goes
immigration policies are similar to other
back to the time of the Hebrew Bible, long
before the birth of Christianity or Islam:'
Zionists on page A26
The ZOA letter added: "The Zionist
"Zionism is the expression of the
Jewish people's yearning to return to
their historical and religious home-
land in the Land of Israel."
(
November 27 • 2008
A25