“I think these are very, very unprecedented times” for Israel.
The current situation in the Middle East is certainly an issue for supporters of the Jewish state. Rabbi Daniel Gordis will discuss that, and how he believes members of the Jewish community can help insure Israel’s survival, at the third annual Kansas City Israel Action Forum sponsored by American Israel Public Affairs Committee. (See below for details)
“I think people are worried about whether the Egyptian peace treaty is going to hold and what is going to happen with Jordan. We have a new administration in Washington, but there is definitely some tension. This is a very, very interesting time and I think this is a critical moment in Israel’s history. It’s a time for people to think about what is at stake and what they know and don’t know. I think the lecture, in some small way at least, will be a useful introduction to that,” Rabbi Gordis said.
Rabbi Gordis is the author of “Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End,” (Wiley, 2009). The book was awarded the 2009 National Jewish Book Award. This is the second consecutive year he has been the forum’s featured speaker.
Dr. Daniel Gordis is senior vice president of the Shalem Center, where he is also a senior fellow. He is a regular columnist for the Jerusalem Post and a frequent contributor to the New York Times. He received his B.A. from Columbia College (Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa), a master’s degree and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Elisheva, live in Jerusalem and have three children and a recently acquired son-in-law.
While the current Middle East tensions seem to be at the top of most people’s minds, Rabbi Gordis believes the delegitimization of Israel seems to be the No. 1 threat the Jewish state is facing.
“Iran is as important as what is happening in Egypt and Tunisia and Algeria and everywhere else, but none of those things are actually going to topple the Jewish state,” he said.
“Ironically the thing that is the least violent is actually the most dangerous. The idea of delegitimizing the state and convincing the international community that Israel is a rogue state or that the creation of Israel was a mistake actually has the capacity to do a tremendous amount of damage to Israel’s international standing and could, ultimately, lead to Israel’s non-existence.”
At the forum, Rabbi Gordis said he will explain exactly how that can happen. He believes regardless of a Jew’s political or religious stripes, “all of us need to be in this together,” to keep Israel strong.
“Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, unaffiliated, left-wing, right-wing, Republican, Democrat, Israeli, American … it makes no difference. We as Jews should try to combat the deligitimization of Israel.”
In an issue such as this, Rabbi Gordis said the battle is won not with planes or bombs, but with words and ideas.
“As Jews, we need to prepare ourselves to have that conversation successfully. I think most Americans don’t really know how to defend Israel. There is simply too much that they aren’t familiar with,” he said.
Being well read about the issues, Rabbi Gordis believes, is the best way for people to educate themselves about what to say when others say things about Israel — some true and not true — such as settlements are the impediment to peace or that the Flotilla was illegal. He updates his personal website, www.danielgordis.org, on a regular basis with articles that he feels are truthful about Israel. He also maintains an e-mail list where subscribers can read his own dispatches on a regular basis. Those interested can register for the free e-mails on the website.
He also believes that Jews, even though it’s expensive, should all travel to Israel.
“One of the great things about Birthright Israel is that it has taken a younger generation of kids who really didn’t know a lot about Israel and made them much more conversive about the issues. And we’ve got to get people of other generations also to get over here.”
In addition, Rabbi Gordis believes people should support Israel politically.
“They’ve got to express their views to local papers, they’ve got to express their views to news media, to their local and national representative and so forth,” he said.
KC Israel Action Forum
Rabbi Daniel Gordis will be the featured speaker at the Kansas City Israel Action Forum, set for 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Light refreshments will be served (dietary laws observed).There is an $18 couvert per person, $5 for students.
Register online at www.aipac.org/kcforum2011 or contact Tali Jubelirer at (313) 253-8984.
Event co-chairs are John Isenberg and Bonnie Siegel. Larry Nussbaum is the AIPAC council chair.
