Editorial

Israel and Egypt at the Sea

by Daniel E. Levenson

One of the difficult issues the Jewish people have always faced is how we relate to the other nations and religions of the world. Within Judaism itself there is often a struggle between the particularistic (we have a special relationship with God, and we are his chosen people) and the universal (the God we worship is the same God who created everything and is worshipped by other people in different ways). This question of how Jews and non-Jews interact is one that has been with us since Avraham first heard the call and set out on his journey to the land that God promised him.

Avoiding a Technical Trap in the Middle East

by Daniel E. Levenson
January 26, 2010

Lately I have been spending my evenings travelling back through time. The vehicle for my journeys has been Michael B. Oren’s book Six Days of War, which chronicles the events of the June 1967 war between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations. I have read this book before, but as I pay attention to the news coming out of Israel and consider, once again, what prospects there may be for peace between Israel and the Palestinians in the coming year, I find myself looking into the past in an attempt to refresh my memory about the tangled web of political intrigue and military mayhem which is responsible for so much of the present state of affairs in the region.

Expanding the Options

by Daniel E. Levenson

June 15, 2009

JERUSALEM- When it comes to Jewish learning in this city, there is certainly no shortage of programs and opportunities, with options running from full-time learning at a yeshiva to weekly shiurim and one-time lectures. Jerusalem is a city alive with the love of learning Jewish texts, but the fact of the matter is that the majority of these opportunities are organized by or affiliated with Orthodox Jewish institutions, which may be unappealing or even off-putting for Jews who affiliate with a more liberal stream of Judaism. Since I arrived in Israel in early January of this year, I have been looking for places that  offer learning opportunities in a less-Orthodox environment, which is why I was excited to recently discover the Anita Saltz International Education Center, located in the center for the World Union for Progressive Judaism, here in Jerusalem.

Taking Responsibility for Our Own Security

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM– The recent revelation that a group of men who were angry about the war in Afghanistan were plotting to attack both a United States military target as well as two New York synagogues is, sadly, not that surprising.  While it may be difficult to logically trace the connection between   the war in Afghanistan to a decision by terrorists to target synagogues, if we put it in a larger context of a conflict between not just radical Islam and the west, but of the Jewish people and Islamic fundamentalism, a disturbing picture emerges of angry American radical Muslims intent on striking out at the people they see as their enemies, namely, the Western world and Jews.  I have written before about the need for greater vigilance and security at Jewish institutions in the United States, but when I read about this incident in the news, it brought the point home even more that we need to be responsible for our own security.

Saving Sharks to Save the Planet

by Daniel E. Levenson

May 23, 2009

JERUSALEM- There is something truly magnificent and divine about being away from the noise and pollution (both environmental and spiritual) of man-made or altered environments. For me, it is these quiet moments in the woods or on the water, whether with friends or by myself, when I feel the deepest sense of connection to the rhythms of the universe, and to the energy that animates our world. This is just one of the many reasons it saddens me to see the rampant and thoughtless destruction of the natural world that goes on every day all around us. While we can all see the negative impact of rapid development and the loss of open space taking place close to home, there are other environmental problems which are just as serious, but because they are taking place largely out of sight of most people, they go easily ignored.

In Africa, Some See Israel as a Beacon of Hope

by Daniel E. Levenson

May 9, 2009

JERUSALEM - They are men, women and children, fleeing violence and persecution in Darfur, Sudan and Eritrea, desperate to find a safe place where they can lead lives of dignity and peace, where they will not be subject to torture, death and imprisonment over political or ethnic rivalries. A place where they can rebuild their shattered lives with the hope of returning to their own homeland one day. For many of these African refugees, the place they are desperately trying to reach is the State of Israel, and I believe that as Jews we have a moral obligation to help these people and do whatever is within our power to bring attention to this serious problem. This issue deserves not only our careful consideration, but careful action as well.

Remembering

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 28, 2009

JERUSALEM- On this day, April 28, 2009, the nation of Israel is pausing to remember all those who have fallen in defense of this land. Whether they were killed in 1948 or 2006, whether in uniform on the front lines, or while riding a bus to school in Tel Aviv, throughout this country the memory of those who have been lost is being honored. I find it particularly interesting, and moving, that the victims of terror attacks are also remembered on this day. For most Americans, whose lives are untouched by war or terror attack, Memorial Day is a day off from work, a day to have a barbecue and relax. In Israel, Yom Hazikaron is a very different day. The security fence may have made things safer, but everyone in this country is still, sadly, vulnerable to attack at any time, which means that the police and army must constantly be on alert, ready to respond to the actions of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Saying No to Torture

April 25, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM- There are many things about the recent revelation that the United States government, under the leadership of former President George W. Bush, used torture, that I find upsetting. Chief among them is the misguided notion that we could somehow preach to the rest of the world about respect for human life in the media and public statements, while so blatantly violating these principles ourselves behind closed doors. Let me be clear here, I am in no way suggesting that we go easy on terrorists – I hold no illusions about the incredibly dangerous nature of the world in which we live today – but I do want to state unequivocally that from every perspective - morally, politically and tactically, that using torture on suspected terrorists runs counter to the interests of the United States and our allies around the world.

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