Book Review
Gordis, Daniel. We Stand Divided: The Rift Between American Jews and Israel. NYC, NY: HarperCollins, 2019.
Reviewed by Elaine Margolin, Hewlett, NY, USA
America is filled with oblivious Jews, ignorant of Israel’s importance and their responsibility as Jews to the Jewish state. Daniel Gordis’ compelling new book We Stand Divided: The Rift between American Jews and Israel tries desperately to reach them, particularly secular American Jews who have strayed too far from the nest. Gordis grew up in America and has lived in Jerusalem for decades receiving great acclaim for two recent works, Israel A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, and Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End. He is clearly concerned that the magical link between Jewish people of all stripes and places is becoming irreparably frayed; and understands intuitively that we are only as strong as our weakest link. Gordis believes American Jews are avoiding certain basic realities about their Jewish identity and is trying to tear at their resistance. He is especially concerned about America since 85 per cent of the world’s Jewry now resides in either the United States or Israel. He explains that both countries are democracies but of a different sort. Israel’s democracy has the added burden of defending itself from the constant dangers that surround them that still question it’s right to exist. America has no such problem. Gordis speaks to many American Jews who are upset with their perception of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians but he believes they are woefully ignorant of the history that has prompted the stalemate. He adds that they know little to nothing about Israeli culture and have no real sense of Israelis and what they are up against. He acknowledges that many American Jews feel slighted by what they sense as Israel’s perception of them as diminished somehow by residing in America. Gordis adds that these mostly secular American Jews, who make up the overwhelming majority, have no sense of what it is like to send their children into the army to defend their country, a requirement of almost all Israeli Jews. In addition, some American Jews are insulted by comments prominent Israelis make, like Attila Somfalvi, who asked recently “What have you done in recent years to fully understand Israeli society, or to present yourselves to Israel?”
1 Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal Volume 15 Number 2 (2018) ISSN 1209-9392 © 2019 Women in Judaism, Inc. All material in the journal is subject to copyright; copyright is held by the journal except where otherwise indicated. There is to be no reproduction or distribution of contents by any means without prior permission. Contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.
Book Review
Gordis recalls nostalgically how American Jews rallied behind Israel during the 1967 war and is worried that American Jews and Israeli Jews share different notions about Jewishness in general. In contrast, he was mortified in 2014 when If Not Now was created, an organization that focuses on what some perceive to be Israel’s misdeeds, and uses ugly and divisive rhetoric when it comes to all matters regarding the Jews. He is mystified that members of If Not Now never mention the Holocaust, Palestinian violence, and of the declarations of Hamas about the destruction of Israel. He fears they have tapped into anti-Semitic urges in both non-Jews and Jews alike. Gordis quotes Berl Katznelson who arrived in pre-state Israel at 22 and became Ben Gurion’s ally. Katznelson wrote about the emerging Jewish state: “This young, small community has developed its own spine and distinct characteristics…We are becoming ever more sensitive to every insult and instance of paternalism {from the Diaspora}. We are developing courage and losing patience, feeling urgency—in short, we are becoming revolutionary.” During this same time period, American Jews were assimilating and compromising and jockeying for position. The opportunities were present but came with a price tag. The understated contract said we will accept you if you don’t seem too Jewish, or act too Jewish. Jews felt pressure not to offend the non-Jewish majority. Gordis feels prideful living in Israel and we sense he suspects American Jews are jealous of this. He cites Ahad Ha’am who insisted Jews relinquish the “baggage of exile,” and Ben Zion Dinur who said “Zionism is a revolution against Exile, a declaration of war on it.” Gordis tackles the American Jewish secular belief in universalism as naïve insisting that Jews are never really allowed “to erase their ethnic differences” simply because they are Jews. He laments how few American Jews know Hebrew. He condemns their thoughtless commentary on Israel’s military actions which they describe as too aggressive without knowing the facts on the ground. Still, he is hopeful for a reconciliation of sorts. He feels American Jews have much to offer Israel regarding pluralism and religious feminism, and thinks Israel has the capacity to bestow upon American Jews the gift of purpose and belonging. He makes a heartfelt plea but he has a hard
2 Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal Volume 15 Number 2 (2018) ISSN 1209-9392 © 2019 Women in Judaism, Inc. All material in the journal is subject to copyright; copyright is held by the journal except where otherwise indicated. There is to be no reproduction or distribution of contents by any means without prior permission. Contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.
Book Review sell here. American Jews have become seduced to the rhythms of secular Jewish life; anesthetized by materialistic comforts and an uneasy amnesia of sorts. They run from serious thinking about their collective identity as Jews afraid of becoming ensnared by it. Intermarriage has reached 70 per cent. These young Jews want to marry whom they please, or not marry at all. If you asked them about their greatest social concern, most would probably mention the environmental crisis that looms. A certain pretentiousness that is more preoccupied with social class dominates their thinking. Younger Jewish millennials generally identity themselves as unaffiliated with any religion or ethnic identity. Gordis still wants to reach them. He wants to share with them his own euphoria regarding the miracle of Israel’s creation and shows them how it can be their own if they are just willing to listen.
3 Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal Volume 15 Number 2 (2018) ISSN 1209-9392 © 2019 Women in Judaism, Inc. All material in the journal is subject to copyright; copyright is held by the journal except where otherwise indicated. There is to be no reproduction or distribution of contents by any means without prior permission. Contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.