The Rift In Israel

The subject matter of this book, first published in 1971, is not less relevant, though less familiar, than the military adventures of Israel. For the book deals with the spiritual tensions that underlie and go far to explain the conduct of the country, standing as it does at the heart of some of the world’s most dangerous political conflicts. The superpowers confront at its borders. So do the ‘modern’ West and the force of Arab nationalism. It is the focus, too, of anti-Semitism, with its potential threat to the future of all Jews and of world peace. The questions here examined are rooted in the nature of Judaism and in the two distinct urges – religious and nationalist – that created Israel. Within its tiny territory some of mankind’s most urgent spiritual problems appear at their most intense. What do men live for: for themselves, their country, higher values? How these tensions are resolved will affect both the conduct of Israel, with its effects on the fortunes of all nations, and the thoughts of men everywhere about their own and their countries’ deeper problems. One section of the book deals with the institutions and policies of Israel as expressions of its inner spirit: the kibbutz, the army, the ingathering of exiles, the attitudes to Arabs within and beyond the frontiers, relations with world Jewry. Two final chapters describe and analyse the perennial problem of Jewish identity, seen in the light of the actions of a modern state.

The Jordan Rift Valley, stretching from the Red Sea to Lebanon, was ripped open millions of years ago by vast forces within the earth. This geological object has also been a part of human history ever since early humans used it as a path in their journey out of Africa. And for a quarter of a century it has been part of the biography of Israeli writer Haim Watzman. In the autumn of 2004, as his country was riven by a fierce debate over its borders, Watzman took a two-week journey up the valley. Along the way he met scientists who try to understand the rift through the evidence lying on its surface--an archaeologist who reconstructs the fallen altars of a long-forgotten people, a zoologist whose study of bird societies has produced a theory of why organisms cooperate, and a geologist who thinks that the valley will some day be an ocean. He encountered people whose life and work on the shores of the Dead Sea and Jordan River have led them to dream of paradise and to seem to build Gardens of Eden on earth--a booster for a chemical factory, the director of a tourist site, and an aging socialist farmer who curates a museum of idols. And he discovered that the geography’s instability is mirrored in the volatility of the tales that people tell about the Sea of Galilee. As an observant Jew who has written extensively about science and scholarship, Watzman tries to understand the valley in all its complexity--its physical facts, its role in human history and his own life, and the myths it has engendered. He realizes that human beings can never see the rift in isolation. "It is the stories that men and women have told to explain what they see and what they do as a result that create the rift as we see it,” he writes. "As hard as we try to comprehend the landscape itself, it is humanity that we find. Watzman’s poetic evocation of the scientific and the human is a unique chronicle of a quest for knowledge. Finalist, Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, 2008.

From National Jewish Book Award Winner and author of Israel, a bold reevaluation of the tensions between American and Israeli Jews that reimagines the past, present, and future of Jewish life Relations between the American Jewish community and Israel are at an all-time nadir. Since Israel’s founding seventy years ago, particularly as memory of the Holocaust and of Israel’s early vulnerability has receded, the divide has grown only wider. Most explanations pin the blame on Israel’s handling of its conflict with the Palestinians, Israel’s attitude toward non-Orthodox Judaism, and Israel’s dismissive attitude toward American Jews in general. In short, the cause for the rupture is not what Israel is; it’s what Israel does. These explanations tell only half the story. We Stand Divided examines the history of the troubled relationship, showing that from the outset, the founders of what are now the world’s two largest Jewish communities were responding to different threats and opportunities, and had very different ideas of how to guarantee a Jewish future. With an even hand, Daniel Gordis takes us beyond the headlines and explains how Israel and America have fundamentally different ideas about issues ranging from democracy and history to religion and identity. He argues that as a first step to healing the breach, the two communities must acknowledge and discuss their profound differences and moral commitments. Only then can they forge a path forward, together.

Israel is a small country located in the Middle East that has a rich and complex history. It was founded in 1948 after the United Nations approved the partition of Palestine, which resulted in the establishment of two states: Israel and Palestine. Israel is a parliamentary democracy and its government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The country is led by a prime minister who is elected by the Knesset, which is the Israeli parliament. Israel is known for its diverse population, which includes Jews, Arabs, Druze, Christians, and other minorities. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel, and the country also has a strong cultural scene with a thriving film industry, music scene, and literature. Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, and it is a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims as it contains important religious sites such as the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock. Israel also has a strong economy with high-tech industries, tourism, and agriculture being major drivers. However, the country also faces challenges such as ongoing conflicts with Palestinians, regional instability, and social issues related to the diverse population.

Presents an overview of modern-day Israel, covering its landscape and climate, government, economy, education, health, and transportation systems, tourism industry, and religious institutions.

The State of Israel is an unlikely powerhouse in a troubled region. Since 1948, Israel has retained its status as a democratic state without interruption. An investor-friendly environment and skilled workforce have led to a thriving economy, whilst the Israel Defense Forces are one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Yet Israel is also blighted by a plethora of foreign, domestic and security challenges, some of which threaten the very fabric of the state. The cost of living continues to soar; political corruption appears endemic and the conflict with the Palestinians divides domestic opinion and sours Israeli foreign relations. Thus, contemporary Israel remains perplexing, resisting any straightforward categorizations or generalizations. This book provides a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary analysis of the external and internal threats, opportunities and issues facing contemporary Israel. The book comprises sixteen chapters written by recognized authorities in the field of Israeli Studies. Together, the chapters offer a detailed overview of Israel while separately they provide stand-alone coverage of specific topics under discussion. Part I examines the Israeli Political System, such as the Knesset, political parties and extra-parliamentary politics; Part II addresses issues in Israeli society, including the Israeli economy, the divides between Jews and Arabs, religious and secular Israelis and the struggle for gender equality; and Part III focuses on security, geopolitical and foreign policy challenges, looking at relations between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora, Israeli foreign policy, borders and settlements and regional security threats. By filling an important gap in the study of contemporary Israel, this book is of interest to multiple audiences, most notably students and scholars of Israeli politics, the Middle East and comparative politics.