I am a member of a social action committee at a Reform synagogue. In the past, I would have comfortably described my synagogue as progressive. One of our rabbis is a gay woman, living with her partner and their child. On most social and economic issues, I am very comfortable with the views of most of the members. Our social action committee has done some excellent work, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Today we hosted the annual Jewish United Fundraiser. And it was a very discouraging experience. The speaker, a former editor of the (right wing) Jerusalem Post, talked about the devastation done in the north of Israel due to the war with Hez'bollah. He spoke of the threat of Iran, and his belief that only military action of some degree would prevent Iran from destroying Israel should they obtain nuclear weapons. He emphasized how important it was for American Jews to influence public opinion so that the White House and Congress remained "pro-Israel".
It was like being in a cartoon written by the more extreme members of the End the Occupation movement. Jimmy Carter and his new book were bashed, Binyamin Netanyahu was mentioned as perhaps the only "solution" to the current leadership problem. The "success" of the separation wall was lauded. There was no mention of the origins of Hez'bollah (born of the Sharon pushed invasion of Lebanon in '82) nor, for that matter, of the origins of the current Iranian problem (born of the 1953 overthrow of the secular nationalist elected government of Iran by the CIA). Hegemony - the neo-con line - was clearly presented as the solution - and most of the congregants present seemed to accept this.
These are - as I said - progressive people, for the most part. But there is a "circle the wagons" movement going on in even progressive synagogues and I am at a loss as to how to combat it. I am aware of movements such as Tikkun, but they do not seem to be gaining much traction. I'm a dual citizen, and am accustomed by now of being horrified by the actions of both my governments. But today was different. Today I saw people who care deeply about the poor in this and other nations, who support choice and gay rights and economic justice and national health care and unions sound like members of Little Green Footballs on the subject of Israel.
What should I do? How can honest dialogue be fostered? I have been invited to attend an event at a local college with the Israeli Consul General. He will be speaking to the students and faculty (and members of the public), and there is concern that he may face "hostile" questioning. I would love to ask a question that would provoke discussion without hostility but both sides seem intent on maintaining absolutist views, on clinging to myths instead of facts and current realities. I am also a member of several peace and justice organizations, groups that are growing increasingly anti-Israel - even anti-semitic. The schism is growing, even in the progressive community (as is evident on Daily Kos whenever the issue of Israel/Palestine comes up).
It was, as I said, a most discouraging day.....