For some time I have argued that the ’67 war in the Mideast was related to Israel’s nuclear plans. Today the Jerusalem Post heralds a book that says I am right…
I see it as part of my function to document instances of dual loyalty–in which American Jews are called upon to show loyalty to Israel. These appeals are problematic: 1, they define Jewish identity in a narrow and dubious way,…
A few weeks back, I landed on Michael Walzer for his parochialism in a speech about Jewish identity at the Center for Jewish History. The speech was complacent: it celebrated the American Jewish religious revival and American Jews’ connection to…
Last night’s “Sopranos” turned on the famous line from Wordsworth: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours…” Young Anthony Soprano reads the line on a college blackboard. Then his father realizes…
Realistic Dove has picked up an unbelievable story about the Israeli army not allowing Palestinians to bathe at the Dead Sea: Israelis bathing on the north shore of the Dead Sea had not been pleased with the presence of the…
Today brings more evidence that Republican congressmen have turned on the war and are talking about a September deadline out of fear of the political consequences of persevering in a failed policy. I’m an optimist; I think this trend will…
Last night I was reading a biography of Walter Benjamin that described the excitement over Zionism in Berlin intellectual circles 90 years ago. Socialists and dreamers adopted Zionist ideas. In the U.S., too, many eastern European Jews who had lately…
I’ve been moved by Jon Corzine’s ordeal, it’s about hubris and defeat and a new life, with a script seemingly provided to the governor by the recovery movement. Inote that Corzine’s girlfriend is a psychotherapist. The Corzine story echoes that…
Conservatives are obsessing over Hillary Clinton even more than Democrats are. She’s all they see when they look at the Democratic smorgasbord, they dismiss Obama. Conservatives secretly want Hillary to become President because that will fulfill their worldview, that p.c….