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views

“Dangers” continued from page 5

debate about Israel has to begin.
Some of my friends on the right do 
not like Jews all that much because 
they really like white people. They 
say, “Do not call us anti-Semites: We 
like Israel.” They tell us that the folks 
who chant slogans of the KKK or the 
Hungarian Fidesz or even the Nazis 
are “nice people.” They say Europeans 
need protection against the real 
threats, Mexicans, Muslims and blacks 
and immigrants, and sometimes our 
allies against those threatening peo-
ple also hate Jews, but OK. They say, 
we are not anti-Semites because we 
hire Jews as lawyers and accountants 
because, you know, Jews have talent 
with money. 
Some of my friends on the left say, 
“Don’
t worry about our anti-Semites; 
just look at those anti-Semites on the 
right.” 
Some of my friends on the right say, 
“Don’
t worry about our anti-Semites; 
just look at those anti-Semites on the 
left.” 
But really, anti-Semites present dan-
gers to us, whatever explanations their 
allies give to excuse the beliefs. ■

Louis Finkelman is a JN contributing writer, a 

professor at Lawrence Technological University 

and a rabbi at Congregation Or Chadash.

W

hy do American Jews 
feel such an attachment 
to Israel (though sadly, 
not as much as 
before)? Contrary to 
analogies I’
ve been 
reading, it is not 
comparable to Irish 
Americans longing 
for Ireland or Italian 
Americans caring 
about Italy. For us, 
the commitment is 
not merely ethnic or ancestral; it 
is also spiritual and existential. It 
is not a matter of dual loyalty, in 
fact, but dual love. It’
s a relationship 
that should not cause inner con-
flict or embarrassment, but great 
pride. Israel is, without doubt, the 
Jewish people’
s most impactful con-
tribution to civilization since the 
Talmud was completed 15 centuries 
ago.
It seems to me that when people 
are looking back at the Jewish con-
tribution to this historical epoch a 
thousand years from now, they will 
speak of Einstein, Freud and Marx 
— and their impact on the world 

at large. But our descendants will 
point toward Israel as our genera-
tion’
s most original, revolutionary 
creation.
Israel is our Book of Psalms and 
our Job, our magnum opus.
That is why Israel matters to 
Jews, no matter where we live. That 
is why things like elections matter, 
and religious freedom and planting 
trees and ensuring equal rights for 
women, LGBTQ and minorities in 
Israel. That’
s why free speech mat-
ters, and that people who disagree 
with a government policy shouldn’
t 
be detained at the airport. These 
things matter to Diaspora Jews. 
And if they don’
t, they should. And 
it should matter to Israelis that it 
matters to Diaspora Jews.
For American Jews, America is 
our home. But Israel is our can-
vas. The former is where we live 
our lives. The latter is where our 
lives will have mattered a millen-
nium from now. Whether or not 
American Jews actually vote in 
Israel’
s elections (and I believe we 
should have that right), American 
Jews should participate in shaping 

Israel’
s destiny.
That is why Israel’
s security also 
matters to us and why it needs to 
maintain a qualitative military edge 
over its neighbors.
Yes, America is a grand experi-
ment, too, one that American Jews 
cherish and also view as a great 
work of art. The past few years have 
reminded us that we can never be 
complacent in sustaining American 
democracy. As an American Jew, 
I love all that America stands for, 
even when she struggles to find her 
way, in the same way that my love 
for Israel remains unconditional, 
even when she disappoints and 
struggles. It’
s possible to love both 
grand experiments, America and 
Israel — and chew gum — at the 
same time.
It’
s not a matter of dual loyalty, 
then, but dual love. ■

Joshua Hammerman is a rabbi at Temple 

Beth El in Stamford, Conn. 
This essay was 

first printed in Times of Israel, reprinted with 

permission.

commentary

Dual Loyalty — Or Dual Love? 

Joshua 
Hammerman

