By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — I write in response to explicit and implicit questions about why I vacillate between hope and pessimism. Answer: I see no contradiction between deeming it a privilege to live in Israel and being critical of much that goes on here, not least in the realm of politics. Hope isn’t the same as optimism and definitely not the opposite of pessimism. Hope speaks about what Israel can and should be; pessimism reflects the fear of what it might become. That’s behind my seemingly inconsistent reflections.
I believe that being a Zionist today is to be both hopeful and pessimistic. That’s why I’ve no time for so-called post-Zionists or anti-Zionists at the one end of the spectrum because of their unbridled pessimism and uncritical enthusiasts at the other end because of their unwarranted optimistic patriotism, even when I sometimes agree with some insights of both groups. Judaism without Israel will become a museum item and Jews a curiosity like the Amish – hence the hope. Judaism in the hands and minds of extremists will annihilate Israel in the guise of loving it – hence the pessimism.
I maintain that Zionism today demands affirmation of Israel as the state of all Jews but I oppose those who seek to destroy, diminish or expel others, notably Palestinians, in the name of love of Israel.
I share the opinion expressed in a recent blog in Ha’aretz by Rabbi Eric Yoffie telling defenders of Israel not to try to promote it with the argument that “the other side is worse.” There’s indeed much wrong in the Arab world in general and the Palestinian Authority in particular. But that’s no justification for elements in Israeli society that imitate them or absolve themselves and each other of responsibility because of them.
I urge, therefore, friends not to fall into the trap of ignoring or excusing wrongs in Israel by remembering only the wrongs committed by others. Others may indeed excuse their own shortcomings by blaming the Jews but it behooves us not to imitate them.
I hope that Jews today don’t see themselves as victims, because we’re not victims. Largely thanks to Israel Jews are regarded as equals by most nations. If they’re objective they’ll see the Jewish state as a leader in many important areas in thought and action. Israel could do even better, much better, if it knew how to sort out its politics.
I know that Israel’s successes haven’t endeared it to the rest of the world. Anti-Semitism is alive and thriving. However, not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic. We should go easy on the convenient “anti-Zionism equals anti-Semitism” mantra that tends to absolve us from looking at ourselves as others do. A Rabbinic teaching has it that the chastisements of lovers like the Prophets are better than the praises of foes like the Biblical Balaam. That’s why I’m cautious about evangelicals in their uncritical support of Israel: I fear that they love Jews and despise Judaism. I despair of Israeli ultra-nationalists and their supporters abroad who make common cause with Christian fundamentalists.
I fear that the above reflections may be read as pompous. Nevertheless I choose to put them before you as a kind of apologia for my seemingly inconsistent messages over the years. I confine myself to writing one-page fragments because I know that the whole picture is too complex and too many-sided to be contained in a coherent tract.
Thus despite the pessimism and in hope: Happy 2016!
*
Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Now living in Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com. Any comment below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and city and state of residence. (city and country for those outside the U.S.)