Category Archives: Zionism

Balancing Act

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

My home town of Fresno, California has a tiny Jewish community. The metropolitan area of about a million people, in almost the geographical center of the state, has only about 1000 Jewish families. There are three congregations: a Reform temple … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Zionism | 1 Comment

“Strangers,” in Israel and America

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

We had a guest from America in our shul this week who discussed the week’s portion, lech lecha. She focused on the question of the treatment of the ger, the person who is a non-Jew in Eretz Yisrael and (variously) … Continue reading →

Posted in American society, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Society, The Jewish people, Zionism | 2 Comments

Kahane was Both Right and Wrong

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

Last week I wrote a post entitled “Kahane was Right.” Apparently, the name “Kahane” has great power. One publication republished my article, and then tried to post it on its Facebook page, only to have it blocked, presumably because saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Zionism | 1 Comment

Batya Ungar-Sargon Meets Amon Göth

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

Batya Ungar-Sargon, Opinion Editor of the Forward, is shocked, hurt, and very angry after coming face to face with antisemitism at Bard College. Invited to participate in several panels, she was informed that one of them – on  “Racism and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, American Jews, Media, Zionism | 1 Comment

A Welcoming Host for the Virus of Antisemitism

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

In the US, there is a Jewish Voice for Peace, an If Not Now, a J Street, an Open Hillel, and a Tzedek Chicago – and probably a hundred other Jewish organizations with the same general objective. All would deny … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, American Jews, Jew Hatred, Post-Zionism, Zionism | 1 Comment

Reflections on Tribal and National Loyalty

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

Recently I saw a Facebook post by Ryan Bellerose. Ryan is an Indian of the Metis tribe who lives in Canada, an activist for indigenous (aboriginal) peoples – all of them, including the Jewish people. He wrote: I side with … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, The UN, Zionism | 1 Comment

Are there “Arab Jews?”

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

I’m not a terminology freak. Sometimes you have to use words or phrases whose connotations are ideologically impure, so that people will understand you. But I draw the line at “West Bank,” “Israel-Palestine,” and “Arab Jew.” I don’t think I … Continue reading →

Posted in Information war, Israeli Society, Zionism | 2 Comments

Unlearning the Lessons of the Diaspora

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

If you won’t eliminate the Diaspora – the Diaspora will eliminate you. – Ze’ev Jabotinsky, 1936 For Jewish individuals and communities, life in the Diaspora can be fraught. They must be vigilant for attacks from all sides. Even today, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Jew Hatred, Zionism | 2 Comments