Two Roads

          I have been reeling by the recent attack http://www.forward.com/articles/14847  of the President of the Union for

Reform Judaism on J Street  http://www.jstreet.org/campaigns/statement-response-rabbi-eric-yoffie%E2%80%99s-comments-forward-december-31

          J Street and J street PAC, are a new voice which is attempting to be an alternative voice to the Israel lobby and AIPAC. Rabbi Yoffie’s attack seems to be centered on J street’s assertion that neither side is right. I interpret the Rabbi’s words describing J Streets views as “morally deficient and appallingly naive” as a condescending attack on the views of many Jews and a view that is central to my religious and political beliefs. He says further that these views are “profoundly out of touch with Jewish sentiment”. I have been deeply hurt, angered and further alienated by his comments.

           I believe that his thinking sheds light on the crux of the problem. Even the most liberal Jewish leaders live in the world of the Jewish establishment where the in an undefined, amorphous kind of way the idea of God and the state of Israel have become conflated.

          I have been thinking a lot about a new kind of Judaism. A Judaism where an American Jew can choose to love Israel (as an Italian American loves Italy) but that’s not part of the covenant. A new kind of Judaism which emulates the Social and Political involvement of the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism but where the concept  of ‘the centrality of Israel to Judaism’ is removed. That concept has been used by the Israel lobby both overtly and covertly to deify the state of Israel. Once deified Israel  cannot be questioned. I believe that separating the state of Israel (the political return to Zion) from Judaism would be better for Israel and better for Judaism.

          A Judaism whose values are not attached to the secular values of a state would be a Judaism whose vision and message of right and wrong would be clearer. And a State with religion removed from governance could be a true democracy. And Israel without unconditional American support would need to think more of the consequences of her actions and might spend more energy in peacemaking than war making. Thanks, Chuck