One of the new mantras in the Jewish community is, Don’t bring up Israel, the subject is so polarizing that it will poison any social situation. The young ones are likely to talk about the Nakba, the middle-aged ones are praising J Street, and the older ones are having a cardiac.
I have certainly noticed this in my life. At social gatherings, even liberal NY social gatherings, there is a tacit contract that no one will bring up The Subject, lest everyone get their feelings hurt. And because I am doing penance for a long career as a breaker of china/personality disorder, I try and abide by the contract and maintain a frozen smile.
Though deep inside I know that this state of affairs only exists because of pressure from my faction, who believe that, A Jewish community that cannot talk about justice in Palestine is not a Jewish community we want to be part of.
The inability to talk about the central moral question facing the community is having a deeply-destructive effect. Here are a couple of symptoms of this destruction.
First, the liberal Jewish community is becoming marooned politically on a few safe issues. Here, for instance, a Democratic Jewish group invokes the “Jewish values” of supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage and social justice. That formula seems a little tired to me.
And here is a long superficial conversation that Terry Gross had with Hollywood figures Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg the other day on National Public Radio. I know, they’re commercial comedy guys, they’re not political. But the weird thing about the conversation is that Jewish identity comes up repeatedly and somewhat tediously. Like, aren’t we clever. I’ll avoid quoting; it will just give me heartburn. Just as Jewish identity came up a lot in Gross’s conversation last week with Mitch Hurwitz, producer of “Arrested Development.” In both cases, Gross avoided the politics of Jewish identity entirely.
There was a time when politics was front and center in Jewish identity. But today the subject is too loaded; Jewishness just seems to be a signifier for gigantic success and supporting Israel.
And so– let’s talk about England.
“One of the new mantras in the Jewish community is, Don’t bring up Israel, the subject is so polarizing that it will poison any social situation. The young ones are likely to talk about the Nakba, the middle-aged ones are praising J Street, and the older ones are having a cardiac. ”
As someone who spends a good deal of time in the “Jewish community,” I think this sentiment is untrue. We discuss Israel plenty. And “young people” are not likely to talk about Nakba. That’s wishful thinking. They’re likely to be aware of it, but that’s a little different.
If there has been a change, it is that Israel is discussed less because there is less to discuss. Jews from the center-right to the left generally agree on what the solution should be (two states), and those on the right oppose negotiations. We have other priorities these days.
“I have certainly noticed this in my life. At social gatherings, even liberal NY social gatherings, there is a tacit contract that no one will bring up The Subject, lest everyone get their feelings hurt. ”
I’m curious which gatherings these are. Do you generally discuss foreign policy at your liberal NY gatherings? I don’t.
” But the weird thing about the conversation is that Jewish identity comes up repeatedly and somewhat tediously.”
Did you ever think that maybe it’s just you, because you’re always listening for it?
Can I ask whether it is ever OK to bring up Jewish identity on NPR? What should the conversation be, exactly?
“There was a time when politics was front and center in Jewish identity. But today the subject is too loaded; Jewishness just seems to be a signifier for gigantic success and supporting Israel. ”
Except when it’s just a stereotype, like it is on the Big Bang Theory (somewhat benign) or much more invidiously, on the new Bravo show, Long Island Princesses.
“And so– let’s talk about England.”
hold your horses there one moment. if i was a part of a Jewish community and wanted to play it safe by not bringing up israel as part of the conversation i would definitely not bring up England.
Hussein-McMahon Correspondence 1915 an excahange of letters between the Arabs and the British alluding to Arab indepency in the region if they revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
which was totally ignore by the Balfour agreement 1917 which you could say initiated the whole mess in the Middle East.
then we have the The British Mandate for Palestine lets not go there.
no, no, no not England how about life on Mars seemingly there is no Jews or Palestinians up there, yet!
tribal community is all good and grand but it’s also necessary to be able to communicate with other groups and be able to answer the awkward questions that will be posed. how else can we be a part of something bigger than our immediate surroundings.
Let’s don’t talk about Israel…….
With the amount of the obsession and ediction here regarding Israel , no way, you can’t, no one here can.
Ask yourself the question ?
It’s a form of blackmail, in the name of good manners. Silence always works for the status quo.
How do you feel about the Roman empire, by the way? Do you sympathize with Boudicca’s uprising?
the longer the conversation is avoided the more fractious and ugly it will be when it finally happens (and in all likelihood in a crisis situation not amenable to the most thoughtful discussion and outcome) … you’ve certainly done your part, Phil, but the wider community is prolonging the inevitable deal for land and a Palestinian state with full rights