October 30th, 2009 by Rocky Mountain Jew
Add a comment Does AIPAC no longer represent the broad political spectrum of American Jews? Do all American Jews hold the same viewpoint regarding Israel and the peace process? Must Jews who are liberal regarding domestic politics also be liberal regarding the Middle East - or vice versa? These are just some of the questions the American Jewish community is asking itself since the formation of J Street, a Jewish lobby dedicated to promoting diplomacy in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Formed in the 2008, the lobby has a decidedly left-leaning slant, which attracts a whole slew of American Jews who prefer a soft versus hard approach regarding the Middle East. The flip side, though, is that we currently have in office a president who is making us question, for the first time since the 1960s, the solidity of America’s friendship with Israel.
With J Street wrapping up its first ever conference, Rocky Mountain Jew brings you links to some of the commentary on this growing new lobby.
September 10th, 2009 by Shana Goldberg
Add a comment Following up on Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s lecture last week in Zurich, I find myself with one thought: how unclear and unfocused discussion on the Arab-Israeli conflict has become.
Don’t get me wrong. At times Riskin is straightforward, such as emphatically stating that the issue of settlements, contrary to Barack Obama’s opinion, is not central to the conflcit. But overall, after attending several such lectures over the past few months, I realize that for those who don’t have a black and white mindset, discussion quickly digresses into a higgeldy-piggelty of justifications, recriminations, and grievances.
On the one hand, anyone with a soul cannot address the topic of occupation without some empathy. Whether one believes “occupation” is a false term or that the Arab world has created the Palestinian refugee problem for its own purposes, the knowledge that so many suffer on daily basis is important acknowledge.
On the other hand, legitimate complaints on the part of Israel do exist. As Riskin says, Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza followed up by wanton destruction on the part of the Palestinians living on the Strip. Or, going back in time, the Arab world’s rejection of Britain’s post-war partition plan.
So where does it all conclude? Sadly, nowhere. Only cluttered discussion with no real soultion.
January 20th, 2009 by Rocky Mountain Jew
2 Comments Today has finally arrived. The culmination of so much, and, concomitantly, the final death knell in a coffin that’s been sealed long ago.
Over the past week, the media’s been full of stories on Bush’s legacy. These opinions pieces have typically varied between outright condemnation coupled with relief and those desperately attempting to salvage something good from the past eight years. Usually it’s the fact that no terrorist attacks have taken place on US soil since 9/11. For those more generous, aid to Africa may be cited.
Today, however, there is a decided turn. The coverage is off Bush and onto our new president - from predictions of Obama’s inaugural speech to a euphoric heralding of a new era.
Despite the bleak economic situation, the excitement is palpable. A new leader, accompanied by a new(ish) crew. Change is finally coming.
No doubt about it, Obama et. al. will have an extremely difficult time ahead.
But just for a moment, just for this one day, it’s feels nice inhaling a fresh breath of air.
