etters Building Peace

hank you very much for the the state. Everyone (each perhaps from T Institute for Social Thought’s his own vantage point) pushed for this premiere issue of Azure: Ideas for eventuality and identified with the the Jewish Nation. I expect this agonizing war that had to be fought. journal will be highly valued in the Those signing the declaration of in- years ahead as Israel seeks to build dependence were politicians from the peace both with its neighbors and left and from the right; secular, reli- among Israel’s own Jewish population. gious and centrist. There was not a The new and fresh ideas your journal single writer or intellectual, to the best offers are a welcome addition to the of my knowledge, who did not iden- discussions surrounding the future of tify with the war. Israel. The phenomenon of a left wing I look forward to reading more is- dragging the country in the direction sues of this new journal. of anti-Zionism started only after the Six Day War. Even Uri Avneri in his Martin Indyk Fields of Philistia describes the war and U.S. Ambassador himself as a loyal fighter. Tel Aviv S. Yizhar, in his Days of Ziklag, The Ruins of Hiz’ah and The Prisoner of War, does not come out against the Sufficient Grief war or the occupation, but rather against displays of stupidity, immoral- I would like to offer a number of com- ity and depraved brutality during the ments regarding Yoram Hazony’s ar- war—but all the while identifying ticle, “The End of Zionism?” (Azure 1, with its goal. This is exactly like Natan Summer 1996) In 1948, the year of Alterman writing one of his rousing Israel’s War of Independence, Israel “columns” about the events at Kfar enjoyed a nearly wall-to-wall consen- Kasem, while at the same time believ- sus, across all ideological camps in the ing in the Greater Land of Israel to country, in favor of establishment of the end of his days.

spring 5757 / 1997 • 7 Amos Oz is another story. His gen- Already Out of Control eration is fairly removed from the 1948 war. In My Michael, which was Thank you for sending me the first is- cited in the article, one may discern sue of Azure. My appreciation is ex- the seeds of identification with the Pal- ceeded by my recognition of the fine estinians (in a nostalgic way), but in job you have done. I really was in for most of Oz’s writings and stories there a pleasant surprise, quite satisfied over is no mention of these issues. Even in your courage to publish—in these the novel Black Box, which is among dark days—a new intellectual journal. his later works, there is no identifica- I was even more pleased to witness the tion with the Palestinians (though high standard. Judging by your abil- there is a grotesque portrayal of activ- ity to sustain The Shalem Center and ists from the Greater Land of Israel to continue distributing background movement). In any event, the trend materials that are critical for an un- towards identification with the Pal- derstanding of current events, I believe estinians, which gathered momentum that you will go a long way with and culminated in the Oslo agree- Azure. Both the name and the con- ment, began fairly late—in my opin- tent are deserving of heartfelt con- ion not before the Yom Kippur War. gratulations. I merely wish to say that the grief Our era is already out of control, we are now facing is sufficient in it- due both to the mess we inherited self, and there is no need to hasten its from the Labor-Meretz government— arrival, as was done in the article. It stuck like a bone in the throat of the should be emphasized that the phe- new administration, which is unable nomenon of anti-Zionism is much to either swallow it or spit it out—and more of a “journalistic” phenomenon to the diversity of political forces that than a literary one. It appears in heavy Netanyahu has gathered into his gov- doses in newspapers, articles, op-eds, ernment. Thus, Azure is especially poetry, syndicated columns and the- important today. ater. Serious authors know how to dis- I will not deny that you caused me tinguish between their literary cre- great satisfaction by printing Ofir ations and any political articles they Haivry’s “Act and Comprehend” write, or speeches they deliver in the (Azure 1, Summer 1996), a paean to public square. Even Meir Shalev’s ar- his scholarship and seriousness; the ticles in the press are totally different same goes for Yoram Hazony’s exposé from his prose. on the gang of anti-Zionists who go by the name of “Post-Zionism.” Hanan Sever Kibbutz Yiftah Tzvi Shiloah Herzliya

8 • Azure Checking the Tzitzit that Post-Zionism has become the “dominant cultural force in the coun- I was pleased to see Azure added to try.” Is this really so? Where on the the tzitzit [fringed garment]; even if spectrum do we locate the Torah- the talit [prayer shawl] is not all t’chelet based research institutes, the hesder [azure], the addition is still important yeshivas, and the yeshiva army prepa- and timely. I hope the project will con- ratory academies? What about the tinue on indefinitely and without in- haredi and non-Jewish sectors, who do terruption. Three cheers for the trans- not see themselves at all as part of the lation of the letter from Martin Luther Zionist camp—nor of its successor? It King (Azure 1, Summer 1996). It seems to me that we should seriously contains several key insights that have consider whether all of this is really a high degree of relevance to our own true, or whether it emanates from bi- reality. Please allow me several short ased parties that have succeeded in comments on the content of the ar- making it part and parcel of Israel’s ticles: public discourse. 1. In his preface, the editor empha- 4. Also in regard to the “cultural sizes [in the Hebrew edition] that war” discussed by the editor, I am not “Azure was born for lack of choice.” convinced that the great divide is re- I am bewildered by this undervalua- ally between those who totally negate tion. Azure’s importance and proper Judaism and those who champion it. place are assured even without the It would appear that the noise of the existence of a fundamental and multi- detractors is much louder than their sectoral crisis. A forum for clarifica- actual relative weight in Israeli culture tion, and a focused one at that, is and among its consumers. always beneficial. Meir Gross 2. In his preface, the editor men- Beit El tions the “majority of Israel’s elite.” This is a concept that has not been adequately examined. Who exactly is this “elite”? Theater-goers? Yeshiva students? Academics? We are not au- Failing Substitutes tomatically obligated to adopt the defi- nitions that a certain cultural group I congratulate you on your article “The in Israel is attempting to inculcate. End of Zionism?” which I thought was 3. Similarly, Yoram Hazony writes the most perceptive (if equally trou- in his article, “The End of Zionism?”

spring 5757 / 1997 • 9 bling) analysis of the situation in Is- while wishing enormous success to rael I have read in years. The Shalem Center. An honest in- I have just completed a book on the tellectual approach to the needs, American Jewish community, whose problems and aspirations of the Jew- conclusions are at least somewhat par- ish people and the State of Israel rep- allel to your own regarding Israel. I resents a very important contribution suggest that the adoption of substitutes to their future and well-being. for Judaism—new forms of what is I am sure that by reading the con- now known as “Jewishness” and con- tents of Azure, I will gain a better sisting of liberal politics, “Jewish cul- understanding of Israel and its ture,” ethnicity, Holocaust studies, people. So allow me to repeat my etc.—is clearly failing to keep Jews most sincere thanks to you and your Jewish; and conclude that a commu- institution, and to express my hopes nity built around anything but the old- that the effort you have initiated be time religion will not survive in this effective and long-lasting. country. But the American Jewish Manuel E. Lopez Trigo community is entirely dedicated to the Ambassador from Costa Rica liberal attitude toward religion, namely Jerusalem that it is a dangerous, divisive, reac- tionary force that must be mar- ginalized lest Jews lose their chance for integration and social advancement. Congratulations on your superb Philosophers and Principles piece. Regarding Ofir Haivry’s article, “Act Elliott Abrams and Comprehend”: Senior Fellow In view of the discussion of Thales, Hudson Institute I would like to add that there are Jew- Washington, D.C. ish parallels and possible influences on his views. It was long fashionable to minimize this influence, despite the identification of Thales, “the first Honest Intellect Greek philosopher,” as a Phoenician by Herodotus. This Aryanist or anti- Upon receiving a copy of Azure: Ideas Semitic prejudice has given way in for the Jewish Nation, I want to ex- some recent studies to the recogni- press my most sincere thanks to you tion that both Thales and another

10 • Azure early philosopher, Pythagoras, were Hazony’s article, “The End of Zion- Phoenicians. ism?” It is nothing less than a confir- In regard to the mention of Cyrus mation and true reflection of my own as a “non-Jewish king” who is yet feelings and convictions concerning called mashiah, it might interest you present conditions in Israel. to know that some believe that Cyrus I had followed with intense inter- descended from the ten northern tribes est the campaign that the Likud and who were exiled after the fall of Sa- Benjamin Netanyahu had mounted maria and settled in northern Mesopo- before the election and am proud to tamia and places further east by say that as far back as two years ago I the Assyrians. Cyrus is described (I be- had predicted Netanyahu’s election as lieve, in the Cyropaedia of Xenophon) the next prime minister of Israel. as having received his education in But I was quite dismayed with the a school devoted to the principle of results of the election. The victory of justice. the Likud was much too narrow. Where were the “think tanks” of the Elliot A. Green “right”? Where were the professors and Jerusalem thinkers and the media when it came to the point for Israel to be made aware and warned about the consequences of the concept of “Post-Zionism”— Nefarious Normality the predictable total failure of the peace process and the nefarious efforts For some months I have been pleased of Shimon Peres and his entourage to to receive The Shalem Center’s peri- become “normal” and eventually per- odic publications concerning social haps join the Arab League, as is most and political conditions in Israel. eloquently pointed out in Azure? I have been in full agreement with Finally, please accept my wife Eve’s your analyses and conclusions, and am and my congratulations on the occa- always eager to receive your materials. sion of your first issue of Azure. We I am absolutely delighted, however, do hope for many to follow. with your latest publication, Azure. Joseph P. Morrison I don’t remember when I last felt Miami, Florida so uplifted about any kind of reading as I did after having read Yoram

spring 5757 / 1997 • 11 Wind in the Willows the country’s authentic cultural lumi- naries. Their track record is beyond In his article “Act and Comprehend,” dispute: Hundreds of plays, endless Ofir Haivry asserts that homes should shelves of books and records, all rep- be built in order to bolster the nation’s resenting the same national-political bond with disputed parts of the home- view, were the only way the public’s land. According to Haivry, homes to thirst for culture could be quenched— a large extent engender a sense of be- a thirst that keeps intensifying. With longing and strengthen the bond, and nowhere else to go, the soul makes do therefore—if I may interpret his re- with substitutes; it is satiated by the marks—the sight of a Burger Ranch poisonous drink, without protest or restaurant alongside skyscrapers would scorn. The homes built over the years be the ultimate sign of a firm grip on in Kiryat Arba or in Shiloh did not the land. provide the slightest respite for the ex- I have a serious problem with this hausted soul. The homes preached to idea. Form may indeed have an im- the converted, only serving to deepen pact on content, but homes can result the gap, seeming—then as now—alien only from belief and vision, not and not natural, fantasies of a sector the other way around. The caustic steeped in perilous illusions, a sector public debate today over building that follows the path of a nebulous stems not from a difference of opin- divine imperative or of murky emo- ion on particular plots of land, but is tions that have no place in modern an outgrowth of culture and creative Israeli society. activity, such as literature, cinema and Where is it written that one must theater. Since the establishment of the live in the territories? Who said that it state, Israeli writers have endeavored is good to die for our country? Why to anchor their national-political views are the graves of our forefathers so im- in a wide-ranging and impressive portant? Serious answers to these ques- canon. Yesterday’s extremists are tions have never been written in a clear today’s centrists, not because their and modern idiom. Yeshiva boys serve opinions have softened or become in the military, full of motivation and moderated, but because they have suc- ideals, but we have never read a book ceeded in explaining them at every op- written by one of them; if they would portunity. Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, ever go to the theater, they would S. Yizhar and many others are consid- know that an Israeli play has never ered today (and justifiably so) to be been written from a perspective simi-

12 • Azure lar to theirs, not to speak of the tected environment, and not expose cinema. oneself to “secular” culture. Anywhere The classic exilic Jewish way of you turn, you will see a yarmulke, of- thinking actually flourished in the ten at the highest levels, and even in ghetto. It was sheltered from the in- the army—the height of material ex- fluence of the gentiles and the outside istence. The Zionist rabbis tout their world. The ghetto ensured that the talented youth, organize a rally in the members of the community would city square and salute: “Behold stay inside and would not seek their Solomon’s litter, sixty brave men all self-realization elsewhere. It turns out around, all of them girded with swords that the ghetto, together with Euro- and well-versed in the art of war”— pean Jewry, “made aliya” and quickly we are not afraid, we live in peace with found its place in Israel. The religious the left and with secularism, we are Zionists set up settlements and yeshi- exposed to the most “dangerous” en- vas, and raised large families. Even if vironments and have remained Zion- they live in the city, serve in the army ist and religious as in the past; every- like everyone else and work at the thing is rosy. neighborhood bank, the majority are The rabbis appear to have forgot- still living in a cultural and spiritual ten that when the first army prepara- ghetto—a ghetto that never forced tory academies were formed eight years them to grapple with the lofty spiri- ago, the entire rabbinic establishment tual challenge presented by their part- was up in arms, maintaining ada- ners in building the state, their intel- mantly that the hesder system was good lectual rivals. It was cozy in the ghetto, enough, and that there was no reason secure and warm. There one saw no for a young religious man to join the need to explain or justify oneself, nor regular army—naturally, it was con- was there enough time or desire to sidered “dangerous.” But the religious write books or plays. youth voted with their feet. Spiritual Today, everything is collapsing. desiccation and the disjunction be- The roots of the collapse are firmly tween religion and state engendered a planted in current rabbinic attitudes strong predilection for the elite units. that perpetuate the spirit of the dias- While their peers from the kibbutzim pora, attitudes to the effect that it is and moshavim began to show the first better to hide behind the yeshiva walls, signs of flagging motivation, among or at least behind the walls of the bank the religious youth it blossomed. Per- or hospital, in a supportive and pro- haps this was, in part, a compensation

spring 5757 / 1997 • 13 for a feeling widespread in the religious The declaration that religious Zi- community of somehow not belong- onism has integrated itself all spheres ing, a result of years of repression and of life is no more than self-delusion. the castration of all spiritual and ar- Whereas this may be true on the tistic impulses by the religious schools lighter side of reality—the material and yeshivas. facet, uniform for everyone; it is un- Today, wherever you look, you will deniably false on the spiritual side, find religious military officers who find which is complex and arduous, pre- support from the rabbinic establish- senting tough demands. Do religious ment. Having seen the success of the Zionists wish to demonstrate spiritual preparatory academies, the Zionist excellence? Let them write books and rabbinate adopted it as its own, lend- plays, publish articles, compose mu- ing its stamp of approval. This was not sic, do something spiritual—at least do the result of a sudden passion for plu- something. We can see for ourselves ralism or a new vision of the future of that not a single refreshing and origi- Zionism; it was simply the recognition nal spiritual work has been written in of a reality that turned out to be fairly the last fifty years, a work with roots successful. This military reality re- planted in religion, or by an author of freshes the soul of the young religious significant Tora stature. The only man, a soul that seeks to show its place thing produced has been updates and in society, a place equal to that of his commentaries, vocalized luxury edi- secular comrades. tions of one sort or another, a rehash The spiritual void was stopped up of something already extant. Despite with military putty, and today one gets the fact that religious people should the impression that the needs of the naturally spearhead the country’s spiri- religious community are satisfied. But tual pursuits, connect to the upper it is only a temporary, facile solution. worlds, in reality there is only retreat Sooner or later, our sons will also un- and a diminution of the spirit. The derstand that the army is not an end rabbis are not the cultural vanguard of in itself, that a country cannot be built religious Zionism, despite their pre- solely on the foundation of security tense to the contrary. They are the and defense of the homeland. A seri- bearers of halacha and commentary, ous inquiry is needed on the question of religion and establishment. Their of “What are we doing here?” an in- style of thought is dogmatic and ex- quiry that cannot remain only on the ilic; they do not even fathom the need level of halachic rulings or dusty, for artists, painters or authors, and as eighty-year-old journal articles. a result religious Zionism today finds

14 • Azure itself in a crisis no less deep than that They are the occupants of the house of secular Zionism. There is still an for which the workers labored for important difference: The most typi- naught—frustrated occupants who do cal expression of the problem, demo- not understand where they went tivation, bypassed religious Zionism, wrong. which has not yet figured out why it When we say “Michael Jordan,” we does what it does, and it is not yet left think of more than basketball; we also without answers. But the time for de- see his smile and personality beaming moralization will come, as well. Reli- from behind the ball. The same goes gious Zionism in all its years of exist- for books and drawings, plays and po- ence has not specified its outlook— etry. Aviv Gefen is more famous than not even to itself. There are the stu- his words or melodies; he represents a pendous works of Rabbi Kook, and worldview, even without resorting to that’s it. Since then, apparently, noth- words. Today’s youth buy Aviv Gefen, ing has happened. not just his records. The religious pub- Building homes is the easy way out. lic cannot sell its opinions and ideas It transfers responsibility from the in- because it is still incapable of articu- dividual, imposing it on the Housing lating them in the vernacular. An al- Minister, the government and thou- legiance develops only where a mutu- sands of foreign workers. A real bond ally agreed-upon message is dispatched will not develop without a profound and absorbed. The religious public has dialogue that takes into account all the not broadcast such messages for many aspects of cultural life. “If God does years; this sector remains locked in the not build the house, the workers la- ghetto, talking only to itself, afraid pri- bored for naught.” Without a clear marily of itself. Afraid that it will be and deep vision, the house cannot per- contaminated, that the outside world severe. Without spiritual foundations, will not measure up to its standard of there can be no material stability. spiritual quality, that it will fail. And Thousands of homes in Ariel did noth- thus, “every man has his sword upon ing to endear the general public, since his thigh because of the fear by night.” they were not the product of dialogue The sword of creativity, spirit and ex- and cultural-spiritual persuasion, but citement remains fastened to the weak- rather as part of an ideology that does ened body; the sword can no longer not know how to manifest itself. revolve, because it is too difficult. The Scary-looking, Uzi-toting settlers in religious are not represented at the army parkas are the representatives Betzalel art school, nor at Nisan Nativ, of the settlements in the territories. nor at the music academy. If there are

spring 5757 / 1997 • 15 one or two, it means that in spite of sicians, actors and singers. We need a everything their souls were restless and wide range of activity. We need brave could not endure the spiritual shallow- rabbis and open-minded educators. ness they had inherited. We need to acknowledge reality. We The situation is critical, the dam need awareness. about to burst. There is no time to sit Da’el Shalev around, no time for hesitation. We Jerusalem must get up and act. We need authors. We need painters. We need poets, mu-

Azure welcomes letters to the Editor. Letters should be sent to: Azure, The Shalem Center, 22 Hatzfira St., Jerusalem, Israel. Letters may be edited for length.

16 • Azure