JANUARY 19 • 2023 | 11

— is a communal strategy 
forged in the civil rights 
era meant to push scary 
antisemitic voices to the 
margins. It has its time and 
place. But we don’t always 
have to be on condemnation 
footing. 
It is not even always 
the best way to counter 
domestic antisemitism, 
and it does nothing 
to de-platform duly 
elected Israeli officials, 
no matter how you feel 
about them. Restraining 
our moral impulses will 
not “normalize” extreme 
voices. They have already 
been normalized by the 
thousands of people who 
voted them into power.
Moreover, constantly 
expressing disgust for some 
leaders can be heard by 
ordinary Israelis — the 
people who actually vote in 
Israel — as lack of support 
for the state in trying times. 
It will do nothing to curb 
their appeal in the eyes of 
voters and may even do the 
opposite. 
Moreover, when rabbis 
and other American Jewish 
leaders blanketly denounce 
political developments in 
Israel, they risk alienating 
from the Jewish state many 
American Jews who may 
never have visited the 
country, let alone studied 
there for a year during 
rabbinical school.
In the coming months, 

the Israeli government 
will likely make some 
political and policy moves 
objectionable to many 
people, such as advancing 
proposals to override the 
Israeli Supreme Court or 
undercutting gay rights. 
Jewish leaders should 
reserve their moral thunder 
for responding to particular 
policies or actions.

3. ENGAGE WITH 
MODERATES IN ISRAEL
There are moderate 
Israelis on the center-left 
and center-right trying to 
build a sustainable politics 
and civil society in Israel. 
American Jews should 
spend less time condemning 
those they disagree with and 
more time supporting those 
they do. They need and 
deserve our partnership. 
Bring these moderates to 
speak at your meetings and 
conferences. Make common 
cause when possible. Leave 
the political trench warfare 
to moderate Israelis on the 
ground.
These are challenging 
times in Israel. Engage 
thoughtfully. After all, they 
are us. 

David Bernstein is the founder 

of the Jewish Institute for Liberal 

Values and is a former CEO of 

Jewish advocacy organizations. He 

is author of the forthcoming Woke 

Antisemitism: How a Progressive 

Ideology Harms Jews (JILV.org/book).

MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL, EVEN 
IF YOU FIND ITS NEW LEADERSHIP 
DISTASTEFUL.
Save the Date

 Annual Dinner | March 26, 2023

@ CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

William Davidsonz”l

HONORING COMMUNITY LEADER

Ethan Davidson

AND CELEBRATING THE LEGACY

OF HIS FATHER

Linda Pedder
Staff Honoree

dinner23@farberhds.org

www.farberhds.org/giving/annual-event

