views
commentary
Let’s Bring Progressive Jews Back Into The Fold
P
not only susceptible to the pull of “inter-
rofessor Alan Dershowitz is
sectionality” — they are active par-
undoubtedly correct when he
argues: If you are in favor of wom- ticipants in the movements (i.e. Jewish
Voice for Peace, Black Lives Matter).
en’s rights, gay rights, minority rights,
Younger adults who identify as pro-
civil rights, a robust free press, inde-
gressive are in the minority of
pendent judiciary, high-quality
Americans who do not view
education and health care, then
Israel favorably, nor relate to its
there is only one place in the
society as an open, free democ-
Middle East that shares these
racy with shared Judeo-Christian
“progressive values,” and that
roots. Instead, Israel is viewed as
is Israel.
the aggressive, looming Goliath
Certainly you won’t find
over the poor, defenseless
such values in the Palestinian
Palestinian Arabs; post-colonial-
Authority-governed areas or
Lee Bender
ists who have stolen the Arabs’
in any of the 21 Arab and 56
land and heritage; and with min-
Muslim-dominated countries.
imal-to-no rights to their ancient
The latest Gallup Poll
homeland. Their common cause
released March 13, 2018, (and
is with the pernicious BDS
recent Pew Poll also) has some
(Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions)
generally good news: U.S. sympathies
movement that has as its ultimate goal
for Israel are at 64 percent, matching
to destroy Israel as the nation-state of
a long-term high, with 74 percent of
the Jewish people and replace it with yet
Americans viewing Israel favorably vs.
21 percent for the Palestinian Authority. another Arab state, “Palestine.”
I have spoken with several Democrats,
Other findings:
liberal and progressive Jews, and rabbis
• 83 percent of Republicans, 72 percent
about this phenomenon. Here is a sum-
of independents and 64 percent of
mary of what I have heard:
Democrats view Israel favorably.
• Some Jews are feeling alienated from
• Beyond party and consistent with
Israel. They intensely dislike Prime
Gallup’s previous findings by age, Israel
Minister Netanyahu. They feel there
also receives higher favorable ratings
is lack of egalitarianism regarding
from adults 55 and older (80 percent
religious (i.e. , non-Orthodox) practice
favorable) than from those 35 to 54
in Israel; there is unfair treatment of
(72 percent) or 18 to 34 (65 percent).
minorities in Israel; they are against
Conversely, the Palestinian Authority
Israeli “settlements” and are critical of
receives somewhat better ratings from
Israel’s very presence in the “territo-
adults 18 to 34 (31 percent favorable)
ries,” including Jerusalem, the Old City,
than from those 35 to 54 (15 percent)
Temple Mount and Mount of Olives
or 55 and older (18 percent).
Cemetery.
Now, the bad news: There is a blind
• Tikkun olam (the often-misinterpreted
spot in the progressive movement when
concept of a Jew’s duty to repair
it comes to characterizing Israel. The
the world) compels support for the
sad part is that too many Jews, especial-
Palestinian Arabs, the perceived
ly among the younger generations, are
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underdogs and victims, who are
“oppressed” by Israel.
• Purity of thought and actions: All vic-
tims are idolized, praiseworthy and
deserve to be supported — and here
that compels uncritical support for the
Palestinian Arabs.
Bari Weiss, a writer for the New York
Times (“When Progressives Embrace
Hate” 8-1-17) pushed back some with
regard to the relationship of feminists in
the progressive movement:
“I am sure that Linda Sarsour,
and perhaps the other leaders of the
Women’s March, will block me for
writing this. Maybe I’ll be accused of
siding with the alt-right or tarred as
Islamophobic. But what I stand against
is embracing terrorists, disdaining
independent feminist voices, hating on
democracies and celebrating dictator-
ships. If that puts me beyond the pale of
the progressive feminist movement in
America right now, so be it.’
This applies to Israel as well. We need
to convince progressives that Israel’s
values are theirs:
• That Israel’s case is based on its bona
fides: a world leader in innovation,
technology and discovery that shares
with the world amazing technolo-
gies in agriculture, water, medicine,
computers, security; is a first-world
responder to humanitarian crises
around the world; provides free
medical care to thousands of Arab war
refugees and civilians from Syria and
around the region.
• That Jews (population 14 million
worldwide, 6.8 million in Israel) and
their tiny state of Israel are the true
“David” vs. the Goliath of the Arab and
Muslim worlds (21 Arab countries, 400
million in population, with land mass
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625 times that of Israel).
• That illiberal Arab and Palestinian
regimes and groups openly call for
genocide of the Jewish people and
destruction of their state; pay terror-
ists to murder Jews; indoctrinate and
incite hate in their charters, mosques,
schools, camps and media against
peace. Instead, in the name of fair-
ness, they must hold the Palestinian
Arab leaders accountable for rejecting
peace and a state of their own, side-
by-side with Israel, offered six times
since 1937.
• Disgusting Jew haters as such as Louis
Farrakhan must be denounced force-
fully and not excused.
As one prominent rabbi who wishes
to be unnamed put it: “Look, we all
don’t need to agree with everything
Israel does. But we must not let those
differences of opinion over internal
issues diminish our love for and sup-
port of Israel. Israel, it is clear, has its
own agenda. Life there is similar to but
not exactly the same as life in America.
Israel is not America. But, even though
you disagree, you can be a loving and
passionate supporter.”
Jews must be united and agree that
Israel’s safety, security and right to self-
determination is preeminent, regardless
of who the democratically elected leaders
are in Israel and the U.S. As Jews, we can-
not afford otherwise. If leftism/progres-
sivism becomes the new religion of these
Jews, we will suffer immeasurably. Can
we bring them back into the fold? •
Lee Bender is the co-author of the book, Pressing
Israel: Media Bias Exposed From A-Z (Pavilion
Press 2012), co-developer of the website and
app, factsonisrael.com, and co-president of the
Zionist Organization of America-Philadelphia.
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April 12 • 2018
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