Among the many gifts of the Jews is the expression, ‘On the other hand.” We developed the concept of reasoned uncertainty, making it permissible to raise doubts during intellectual discourse.
But what happens when we doubt ourselves?
This is the dilemma the Jewish community faces when some of our own condemn Israel. If there is a line between criticism and anti-Semitism, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to draw it.
A story this week describes the controversy over a new Web site, MuzzleWatch.com, launched by leftist Jews critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians — and with what they see as organized Jewry’s effort to “muzzle” that criticism.
At the same time, the American Jewish Committee published an essay by Alvin Rosenfeld excoriating such criticism, equating it with anti-Semitism.
Jewish supporters of MuzzleWatch categorically deny the charge. High profile figures such as playwright Tony Kushner and historian Tony Judt argue their criticism of Israel is intended to save Israeli Jews from destruction.
Rosenfeld and others would counter that the sort of criticism leveled by groups like MuzzleWatch does cross a line, weakening a united Jewish front and enabling Israel’s enemies.
Who is right?
As our article notes, Israel engages in this kind of debate all the time, as befits a vigorous democracy. If it’s good enough for Israel, shouldn’t it be good enough for us?
The short answer is “yes, but.” Noam Chomsky is free to churn out all the anti-Israeli screed he wants, just as it is equally incumbent upon Israel’s supporters to prove him wrong.
Political debate in Israel is conducted among Jews of diverging opinions, but all agree their homeland must survive. That is not at all true of Israel’s critics around the world.
While Israel is strong enough to weather criticism, Israel’s Jewish critics are disingenuous if they believe their actions have only benign consequences.
Jewish critics of Israel may not be anti-Semites, certainly not in the classic sense. But the lessons of the Holocaust have begun to fade with time. The Jewish people still face many dangers. While Jews are free to harshly criticize Israel, they should know their words give comfort to forces that want to annihilate all Jews, including those very critics.
Far removed from the fires of the Holocaust, those critics may have lost touch with history. Before so proudly taking up the anti-Israel cause, we urge them to ponder the past and consider: Saying “Never Again” does not absolutely mean it cannot happen again.
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California