Product Description

Personal and Passionate Reflections on the Land and Its People

"The Mediterranean landscape, the exuberance of the Israelis, the way politics is a matter of life and death there–all these things beguiled me."
–Erica Jong, author

"What does Israel mean to me? Courage. The Israelis have more courage in their pinky finger than I have in my whole life."
–Tovah Feldshuh, actress

"It is an unparalleled story of tenacity and determination, of courage and renewal. And it is ultimately a metaphor for the triumph and enduring hope over the temptation of despair."
–David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee

"I have no desire to be like everyone else. Something in me wants the entry of the Jewish people into world politics to be judged by the highest conceivable measure. Indeed, that may be what is both so inspiring and confounding about the existence of Israel."
–Rabbi Lawrence Kushner?

"Israel isn′t a symbol. Israel is the practical manifestation of hope, freedom, and self–determination."
–Larry King, television host

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #667231 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Review
Harvard law professor Dershowitz is out to defend Israel again—this time, with a little help from his friends. In this volume, some 80 writers, scholars and journalists, many of them prominent figures, most of them Jewish, contribute short pieces about the meaning of Israel in their lives. The breadth of authors is impressive, from Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota and the Rev. Pat Robertson to the actresses Natalie Portman (Jewish, born in Israel) and Christina Applegate (not Jewish, visited Israel). As might be expected, many of the pieces emphasize the writer′s emotional connection to the Jewish state. Some are prone to hyperbole (former Cabinet member William Bennett counts himself "among the millions of Americans who see America′s fate and Israel′s fate as one"), while others are overly sentimental. But to Dershowitz′s credit, the collection includes selections from more nuanced and critical thinkers. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts points out the importance of Israel as a haven for Palestinian gays and lesbians, while noting that Israel has a way to go in ridding itself of homophobia. Some authors oppose Israel′s existence or, like Israeli politician Shulamit Aloni and American Jewish activist Michael Lerner, are critical of Israeli policy in the West Bank, in essays that may expand the readership for this collection beyond the usual pro–Israel suspects. (July) (Publishers Weekly, May 8, 2006)

Review
"...to Dershowitz′s credit, the collection includes selections from more nuanced and critical thinkers." (Publishers Weekly, May 8, 2006)

Synopsis
Personal and Passionate Reflections on the Land and Its People: 'The Mediterranean landscape, the exuberance of the Israelis, the way politics is a matter of life and death there - all these things beguiled me' - Erica Jong, author. 'What does Israel mean to me? Courage. The Israelis have more courage in their pinky finger than I have in my whole life' - Tovah Feldshuh, actress.'It is an unparalleled story of tenacity and determination, of courage and renewal. And it is ultimately a metaphor for the triumph and enduring hope over the temptation of despair' - David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee. 'I have no desire to be like everyone else. Something in me wants the entry of the Jewish people into world politics to be judged by the highest conceivable measure. Indeed, that may be what is both so inspiring and confounding about the existence of Israel' - Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. 'Israel isn't a symbol. Israel is the practical manifestation of hope, freedom, and self-determination' - Larry King, television host.

Customer Reviews

"Israel has become a symbol of the world's wilingness to let the Jewish people live",
What does Israel mean to me?
Israel is a tiny country, numbering six million souls, and only a tiny fraction of the Middle East.
It attracts more attention than any other country in the world, with the possible exception of the USA.
Many of us love Israel for the justice and truth it represents, for the land and heritage, and for the strength and vibrancy of it's people.
Others hate it with a venom and passion unequalled, since Hitler's hatred of Israel's Jewish forebears.
For me the essence of the conflict around Israel is a very simple one.
Most of the Arabs and Moslems (with the backing of the international left and some of the world's far right) want to drive the Jews of Israel into the sea. The Jews of Israel are determined not to be driven into the sea.
Hence an irreconcilable conflict.
For me Israel is the phoenix that rose out of the ashes of the Holocaust, and the continuation of the Jewish life and civilization that was so brutally destroyed in Europe by the Nazis and by the Arabs when the Jews of the Middle East and North Africa were savagely expelled from these lands and fled to Israel with nothing other than the clothes on their backs.
For me Israel is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, and a symbol of righteousness, I believe that those who hate and mean harm to Israel are evil at heart, and hate Israel because Israel represents good and decency.
For me Israel is represented by it's beautiful, vibrant and inquisitive children, who represent the future. Looking at them I am reminded that children just like these were murdered in Europe in their millions sixty years ago, and a large portion of the world would like to see them murdered again.
It is up to all decent people around the world to fight against this ghastly spectre, and ensure that Israel survives safe, strong and free.

This book is edited by Alan Dershowitz, author of several previous volumes putting Israel's case to the world, and puts the perspectives together of 80 figures, writers, politicians, educationalists, performers and spiritual leaders.
Most of the pieces left me inspired, while a few like those of Richard Ben Cramer and Paul Buhle , are a reiteration of leftwing prejudices among certain sections of diaspora Jewry, against Israel.

I could not begin to summarize all of the points made by the contributors to this amazing volume.
But a few of the thoughts and observations that struck me include the observations by Professor Dershowitz in his introduction about the low level of academic discourse on most university campuses today, on the topic of the Middle East, reflecting a kneejerk hatred and prejudice against Israel and it's people, and an uncritical support for her most implacable and ruthless enemies.
This is echoed by Avner Even-Zohar's summary of the hatred directed at Israel and Jews at San Fransisco State University.

Magazine editor Yosef I Abramowitz refers to the world's hypocrisy against Israel, the "Jew in the thorn of the side of civilization", as an uncomfortable mirror for the world's hypocrisy.
Award winning children's author David Adler is struck by the humanity of Israel's people, a theme we return to again and again in the book by almost all who have been to Israel.
Actress Christina Applegate contributes a beautiful poem about Israel written by her mother, Nancy Priddy.
Others, like David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee note how the Holocaust may not have happened had Israel been around before World War II, or at least how millions of Jews would have been saved.
National president of the Zionist Organization of America, Morton Klein, notes that "Israel is the answer to Auschwitz. Jewish statehood is the answer to Jewish powerlesness".
Chaiman of the United States Memorial Museum Fred S Zeidman reminds us that "The Holocaust represent all that was brutally taken from us. The rebirth of Jewish life that followed, especially with Israel's creation represents the humanity and faith survivors miraculously reclaimed from it's ashes".

Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of '"When Bad Things Happen to Good People".
reminds us that "...in the wake of the Holocaust, Israel has become a symbol of the world's wilingness to let the Jewish people live, not just as individuals but as a recognized legitimate corporate entity. It is unfair and outrageous that we have to justify our right to exist, but alas, that is the case."

Author Anne Roiphe reminds us that "in Israel people are beset by the same doubts, drugs, insomia, biterness, lovelesness, joblesness and fear of death that exist everywhere and will continue to do so until the end of time".

Beautiful Israeli born actress, Natalie Portman, describes how Israel describes that Israel is where she was born, ate her first popsicle, and used a proper toilet for the first time.
She describes Israel as "Where I was born;Where my insides refuse to abandon".

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach notes how no other country, has ever behaved as ethically towards the civillian population of an enemy nation, in wartime as Israel has.
Israel, in a fight for her survival against a ruthless enemy that targets her women and children, and aims at the destuction of every Jew in Israel, always does all in it's power to avoid harming Arab civillians.
Compare this to the Allied bombing of Dresden during World War II, or the horrific atomic destruction by the USA of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
And worldwide bestselling mystery writer Jonathan Kellerman exposes the lie that tries to delink Zionism from Judaism and anti-Zionism from Jew hatred reminding us that "any attempt to split Israel from Judaism is either deliberate racist mischief or the product of sheer ignorance" and concludes by declaring to the world that "I am A Jew. Israel is a a part of me, and I am a part of Israel".

While Evanglelical Christian leader Pat Robertson exhorts Israel to be strong and resists world pressure for her dismantlement.

Many of the essays in this volume resonated with me, and helped me to further define my love for Israel and my determination to stand by her against her countless and malicious enemies.