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American Zionism


Enmity; or, Yiddish in America Enmity; or, Yiddish in America
Monday, September 12, 2011 by Allan Nadler | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

He was irascible, neurotic, self-obsessed, and socially inept; a brilliant misfit and misanthropic dilettante. Upon his death in July 2010, Harvey Pekar's few close friends insisted that the underground comic-book writer was also a gem in the rough, an out-of-date socialist naïf.
Frisco Kids Frisco Kids
Friday, September 2, 2011 by Hannah Elka Meyers | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

Everyone knows the caricature of a New York Jew: intellectual, neurotic, reflexively liberal. In recent years, the reach of the caricature has expanded to cover not just New York Jews but urban Jews on America's "left coast." But a new book comprehensively and compellingly describes a Jewish population whose liveliness belies any stereotype.
Jews against Zionism Jews against Zionism
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 by Lawrence Grossman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

It will come as a surprise to many that the current adamant Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state was once American policy. An even greater surprise is that an American rabbi and the Jewish organization he headed played a major role in the government's articulation of that policy.
The Jewish Samuel Menashe The Jewish Samuel Menashe
Monday, August 29, 2011 by David Curzon | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

The poet Samuel Menashe, who died on August 22 at the age of eighty-five, grew up in Queens, New York. His poems have always been appreciated by other poets; but, until late in his life, his poetry did not receive the attention it deserved.
Reconstructing Judaism Reconstructing Judaism
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 by Joseph J. Siev | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

At a time when all three major Jewish denominations in America—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform—find themselves in a state of deep internal fracture, a fourth and much smaller movement, Reconstructionism, has just voted to create a unified body to coordinate the activities of its lay and rabbinical arms.
David Mamet’s Homecoming David Mamet’s Homecoming
Monday, July 18, 2011 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

A new book by the playwright, director, and author David Mamet is by definition a significant literary event—but to judge from its critical reception, The Secret Knowledge is not only a bad book but possibly an evil one. Why such heat?
The Reluctant Renegade The Reluctant Renegade
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 by Elliot Jager | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

Since its founding, Conservative Judaism in the U.S. has defined itself in sharp contrast to Reform, pursuing a more religiously centrist and Zionist middle course. Its UK parallel, Masorti ("traditional") Judaism, was born as a secession movement from Orthodoxy—inspired by theologian Louis Jacobs.
Getting Birthright Wrong Getting Birthright Wrong
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 by Philip Getz | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

In mid-June, The Nation magazine, which for decades has provided a special platform for Jewish critics of Zionism, published an article by a young alumna of Birthright Israel, the organization that since 1999 has sent 260,000 young Diaspora Jews (including this writer) on free ten-day tours of the Holy Land.
Montreal, a Love Story Montreal, a Love Story
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by Allan Nadler | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

The second International Yiddish Theater Festival, an elaborate ten-day fete whose program ranges from carnavalesque performances to academic symposia, just wrapped up last week in Montreal. What is especially surprising about this celebration is that Montreal is a city with a Jewish population of less than 80,000.
Hebrew School Hebrew School
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 by Allan Arkush | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features

Samson Benderly, one might say, had crusading in his blood. A direct descendant of Jacob Emden, the zealous 18th-century European battler against Sabbateanism, he spent his youth in Palestine before coming to the United States in 1898 with the aim of becoming a physician.
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Editors' Picks
Who's on First? James Kirchick, Haaretz. So-called progressives should stop mimicking the far Right and refrain from using terms like "Israel-firster" that question the allegiance of their fellow Americans.
Silent Majority Matthew Ackerman, Contentions. Everyone says young American Jews are increasingly hostile to Israel. But is it true? A new poll cautions us not to mistake a vocal minority for the majority.
Radical Orthodoxy Daniel Boyarin, Book of Doctrines and Opinions. The Talmud scholar imagines a religious practice, "free of the ethnocentrism and even racism that characterizes so much of contemporary orthodox language . . . that would authentically enable my own radical political commitments." (Interview with Alan Brill)
Obama's Jewish Problem Allison Hoffman, Tablet. The core of the Obama campaign's play for Jewish votes is simple: Overwhelm what the Obama camp sees as Republicans' bald emotionalism on Israel with a flood of facts and figures. Will it work?
Blaming the Jews Elliott Abrams, Weekly Standard. It would be Jewish journalists, of course, who have come up with the smartest ways to package anti-Jewish sentiment for a U.S. audience in the presidential election season.
Diaspora and Disagreement Arnold Eisen, On My Mind. It was never enough for Zionists to proclaim the virtues of life in Israel—they had to argue that Jews could only expect assimilation or anti-Semitism from the Diaspora. Were they wrong?
The Real Story David Hazony, Forward. In the hysterical response to an ad campaign targeted at expat Israelis, the insecurity of American Jews is laid bare.
Open House Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynet. Rahm Emanuel is now mayor of Chicago, Dan Shapiro turned down the position of Middle East desk chief, and Dennis Ross has resigned. Is there anyone left in the White House who understands Israel?
How Not to Win the Jewish Vote Michael Medved, USA Today. The notion that candidates win backing in the American Jewish community based primarily on support for Israel is groundless.
The Mis-Education of a Young Evangelical Dexter Van Zile, New English Review. How traumatic has the Jewish refusal to accept Jesus as the messiah been for Christians, and to what end?