Here in Haaretz is Edgar Bronfman—philanthropist, international Jewish organizational leader, friend of Israel—offering a reconsideration of Passover that says it’s all right to criticize Israel: “Suporting Israel means questioning its policies.” Wading into such dangerous territory, he’s obviously glad to have David Grossman for cover, as Bronfman writes:
Grossman’s comment resonated with me because Jews are a people of questioners. We emphatically question and discuss. That very Jewish form of engagement, however, is often seen as a threat rather than an asset when it comes to public discussions and criticism of Israel.
Yet, as Jews, we show that we care and are connected to each other by rigorous inquiry, not blind advocacy. Accordingly, I feel compelled to call upon Israel to redouble its efforts to bring about a two-state solution, especially as we enter spring and witness the Arab world in the midst of revolution and the possibility – however remote – of a blossoming democracy in Egypt.
Rather than being buoyed by these words—at this call for “questioners” to speak out—I find myself despairing. After all these years of occupation, with half a million Jewish settlers illegally occupying Palestinian land, with the checkpoints, the wall, and ethnic cleansing ongoing facts of life, after all the wars and threats of more wars—this is the best that Bronfman can come up with—that colonial Israel should “redouble its efforts to bring about a two-state solution.” (Math is not my strong suit, but even I know that 2 x 0 = 0, with 2 representing the “redoubling” and 0 representing the “efforts.”)
Given Bronfman’s importance in the Jewish world, his Passover homily might have been a startling, indeed a welcome, addition to the conversation a decade ago, but I am afraid that today its failure to reference any solid content renders it meaningless.
The Passover seder is based on the injunction to ask questions, and Bronfman could have laid out some serious questions for discussion. But, alas, even Edgar Bronfman is (still) afraid of telling the truth about Israel. That says it all. How sad.
