editorial archive heading

Thoughts on Goldstone, Part Three: Hamas Reprisals Against Fatah, Israeli Technology, and the Lost Cause of Gaza

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

May 10, 2011

Much has been made of both the initial release of the Goldstone Report and of Justice Goldstone's recent attempts to backtrack on some of the more damming conclusions the report has to offer on Israel's conduct during the 2008 war in Gaza. In this third part of his editorial series on the Goldstone report, New Vilna Review publisher, Daniel E. Levenson, looks at the misleading and incomplete nature of its conclusions when it comes to Israeli intentions, Hamas-led violence aimed at Fatah supporters in Gaza and raises once again the idea that it is time for either Egypt or the UN to take responsibility for Gaza.

Goldstone’s Regrets: Part Two

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

April 16, 2011

In part two of an editorial series on the Goldstone Report, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson considers the ways in which this UN report is flawed, incomplete and shows signs of a significant anti-Israel bias. He examines how the report's focus on Israeli actions (using incomplete information) as well as the ways in which the author of the report is reluctant to blame Hamas for its role in the hostilities, led to the creation of a document which has proven useful for those who seek to blame Israel for both fueling the conflict and the death of all Palestinian civilians during the war.

Goldstone’s Regrets: Once Again, Peace is Bogged Down in a Morass of Hatred and Lies

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

April 9, 2011

Justice Richard Goldstone, the South African jurist who authored the Goldstone Report which detailed the findings of a UN commission tasked with investigating purported war crimes during the Gaza war of 2008, has recently retracted some of the nastier assertions he made about the conduct of the IDF during this campaign. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson considers how this retraction should be taken into account, both in light of the stalled peace process and a Palestinian drive to receive recognition for an independent state, at the United Nations this coming fall.

A Tale of Two Lives: Overcoming Oppression and Intolerance in the Middle East and North Africa

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

April 2, 2011

Respect for the rights of women, as well ethnic and religious minorities, is often lacking among the despotic regimes which control much of North Africa and the Middle East. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about a recent American Jewish Committee-American Islamic Congress event which brought together Jews and Muslims to hear the stories of two men, one a Libyan Jew, the other a Morrocan Berber, who were the victims of intolerance in the region within their own lives.

All Nations are “Linked” to their Own Best Interests

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 28, 2011

Over the last couple of months the Middle East and North Africa have seen significant upheaval and change - in some cases, such change has come in the form of peaceful marches and demonstrations, while in other places violent clashes have taken place. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about the dangers inherent in over-simplifying the important political, ethnic and religious factors which come into play when discussing these events.

Creating a Space for Learning and Dialogue, in Good Times and Bad

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 25, 2011

While most people tend to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when discussing the Middle East, there are many other problems in the region when it comes to respect for women and other religious and ethnic minorities (Christians, Bahai, etc.). In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson shares his thoughts on the importance of bringing stories to light about the brutal nature of many authoritarian regimes in the Arab world, and how groups like the American Jewish Committee and the American Islamic Congress are working together to encourage dialogue and understanding when it comes to confronting the perpetrators of human rights abuses in the region.

It’s Not Just Rockets Killing Jews: The Death of a Family

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 21, 2011

Last week a horrible act of terrorism was perpetrated in Israel, and seemingly few of the major outlets took notice. I am referring of course to the murder of an entire Jewish family – including a baby – by a terrorist in Israel. In this editorial, Daniel E. Levenson writes about the apparent lack of sympathy outside of Israel for the victims of this horrible crime.

Obama’s Legacy, In War and Peace

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 19, 2011

So-called "Great Powers" must often balance a wide array of concerns and interests around the globe, and the US is no exception. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson considers what President Obama's legacy in the Middle East may be, and wonders why there is the political will for forceful military intervention in the Libyan civil war, while the White House and US State Department seem to be perpetually unable to muster what is necessary for an equally robust diplomatic intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

From The Suez to Bahrain, Israel Must Remain Wary

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 16, 2011

As unrest continues to spread across the Middle East Israeli officials have remained largely quiet about the revolutions and uprisings taking place in neighboring Arab and North African states. This does not mean, however, that Israel has not been impacted by events, or remains somehow immune to the threats posed by regional instability. In this editorial, Daniel E. Levenson writes about how political upheaval as well as underlying Sunni-Shiite tensions ought to be factored into the equation when considering the position of Israel in this "new" Middle East.

Considering a More Robust Response to Events in Libya

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 10, 2011

With bloodshed continuing to spiral out of control in Libya and limited media access, it is hard to know exactly what is happening from day to day. One thing is for sure, though, and that is that the fighting has created a massive humanitarian crisis which needs to be addressed. In this editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about the options for military intervention and the importance of sending humanitarian aid.

Blurring the Lines Between History and Hate

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

March 3, 2011

The Israel-Palestinian conflict is a difficult and at times, seemingly intractable problem. Not only are there the internal politics and concerns of each side which must be taken into account, but there are also groups and individuals who are actively working to aggravate the problem, including the organizers of something called "Israel Apartheid Week" at Boston University. In this new editorial Daniel E. Levenson responds to this event, and questions how anyone can think that spreading hatred and lies will somehow help end the conflict.

Speaking Out Against Violence in Libya

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
February 22, 2011

With Libya teetering on the brink of revolution, if not outright civil war, there are disturbing reports coming out of this North African country of the Quadaffi regime using military aircraft against civilians. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about the absurdity of Libya sitting on the UN Human Rights Council, and notes the special responsibility that the Jewish community has to speak up about this kind of political repression and violence.

The Cautious and the Careless

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

February 21, 2011

With calls for political reform spreading from Tunisia to Egypt, Morroca, Yemen and beyond, there has been no shortage of observers and commentators weighing in on events. In this new editorial, Daniel E. Levenson writes about how commentators in the United States seem to fall into one of two camps: "The Careless," who have nothing but praise for protesters have taken to the streets, and "The Cautious," who are offering a much more sober assessment of events unfolding in the region. In this piece, the writer makes the case that while it would be nice if the positive predictions of the "careless" came to pass, we should also be very wary of their unqualified optimism and occasional blissful ignorance when it comes to both the past and the future of the Middle East.

Sharing the Building Blocks of Civil Society and Democracy, in the Middle East

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

February 18, 2011

Israel is currently the only democracy in the Middle East, which puts it in the unique position of potentially serving as a role model for civil society and democracy in other parts of the region. In this new editorial, Daniel E. Levenson writes about the potential for Israel and Jordan to form a new kind of partnership - one that could not only help bring peace and stability to the region, but perhaps make some progress in re-starting the stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Instability Can Open New Doors

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
February 16, 2011

Instability and change are spreading rapidly throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including most recently to Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. In this new editorial, Daniel E. Levenson considers the possibility of a new era of Egyptian-Israeli cooperation which might help to move Israeli-Palestinian peace talks forward, as well as the potential implications of unrest in Libya.

Democracy (with a side of Anti-Semitism?) in Egypt

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

February 11, 2011

It seems that the entire world (including many journalists) has been voicing a non-stop stream of effusive and unqualified praise and support for events taking place in Egypt, and now that President Mubarak has announced he is stepping down, that chorus of voices has only grown louder and more enthusiastic. I have written before that I agree that the removal from power of this brutal dictator would be a positive move for Egypt, but I have also been careful to note that one can never predict the outcome of any given historical event (let alone a revolution) and given the political and ideological history of the region, we should be cautious when it comes to supporting a political platform of “anyone but Mubarak.”

A Teachable Moment for Israel?

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
February 6, 2011

“Uncertainty” has once again become the watch word for the Middle East: With Hezbollah in power in Lebanon, the Egyptian government on the brink of collapse and protests taking place in other countries in the region, it is difficult to see what the political picture of the region may look like over the next few weeks, let alone in the coming months. Meanwhile, Israel and the United States have been looking on with varying degrees of trepidation, worried that a new, unfriendly regime may emerge in Egypt. While it is true that President Mubarak has maintained the peace treaty with Israel and cooperated with both that country and the US when it came to security matters, close observers of the region have known, and been saying for many years now, that when President Mubarak eventually goes it could be a very dangerous situation. Relying on the presence of President Mubarak, who is a brutal dictator, to maintain the status quo is both morally questionable as well as potentially disastrous in the long term, when it comes to matters of diplomacy and security.

The World Watches Egypt, but We Must Not Ignore Lebanon

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 30, 2011

I have written several piece lately about the unrest (revolution?) taking place in Egypt, and the potential threat it poses to the overall stability of the region, not to mention the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. I have also said that while I am squarely in favor of greater freedom and democracy in Egypt, that the entire world should be very concerned about a process which could lead to President Mubarak’s sudden resignation or removal from office, something that close observers of the Middle East have hinted could lead to the ascendency of the powerful terrorist group, the Muslim Brotherhood. But there is another less obvious danger, perhaps, in the Egyptian riots, which is that it is taking our attention away from equally troubling and potentially even more catastrophic change taking place in Lebanon.

All Eyes are on Egypt

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
January 28, 2011

There is little question that change is afoot in the Middle East, but then again this is really nothing new – there have been many periods of unease and even unrest in the past, starting with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in the closing days of World War I and continuing on through the twentieth century and into the first decade of the twenty first. In each generation there are moments of instability, some eventually lead back to the status quo ante, while others become transformative.Looking at the news coming out of Egypt right now, it is hard to tell which this will be, but one thing is for sure, and that is that Israel and the United States should be concerned about the riots taking place in Cairo and other parts of the country.

With a Wary Eye on Egypt and Lebanon, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Comes to the Fore Again

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 26, 2011

Once again the Middle East is at the top of the news cycle, and it’s for less-than-positive reasons. While there may be people who are excited about the spread of civil unrest in North Africa and the Middle East because they feel it may auger in a new era of stability under governments which will more accurately represent the needs and desires of their citizens, there is also good reason to be extremely concerned that events in Egypt and Lebanon may spiral even further out of control, threatening both US and Israeli interests.
Read More

Will Gaza Sink Further Under the Weight of Al-Queda?

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 18, 2011

The idea that Al-Queda might start to gain a foothold in the Gaza strip is disturbing for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it would indicate that Hamas has, at a minimum, given tacit approval to the group to operate from territory which it controls. Any close observer of the situation in Gaza knows that it is an unstable and dangerous place, from which armed assaults on Israel continue to originate – sometimes with the permission of Hamas, sometimes without – but while the majority of such groups are relatively known quantities that will more or less listen to Hamas directives, the same cannot be said with any degree of certitude when it comes to Al-Queda. And there is cause to be concerned that Al-Queda is making some inroads in the territory -in an article posted on the Haaretz website, it was noted that Al-Queda affiliated militants may have been involved in a recent attack near the Gaza-Israel border.

Expanding Opportunities, Encouraging Growth: JVS Looks to the Year Ahead

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALMJanuary 17, 2011

Jewish Vocational Services has been working with immigrants, refugees and job-seekers for over 70 years. While they have maintained a strong presence in the Boston Jewish community, they have also helped people from around the globe who are looking to build careers, improve their lives and learn new skills. In this new editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about the work of JVS and some of the projects and programs that the organization is currently working on.

Reuniting Body and Spirit: A Few Thoughts On Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 13, 2011

There have been many times when I have heard fellow Jews complain about a perceived dichotomy between “religion” and “Spirituality” in Judaism, and almost every time I try to make the case that this is in fact a false dichotomy, predicated on Western (Christian) ideas about spirituality and a basic lack of knowledge about the meaning behind Jewish practice. While I can understand why someone whose only connection to Judaism are unpleasant memories of Hebrew school and the occasional High Holiday service might comes to this conclusion, the truth is quite the opposite in my mind. In my own life it is this search to find meaning and connection in every Jewish activity in which I participate, from fasting on Yom Kippur to exploring the deeply important theological-historical roots of Chanukkah, that makes Judaism vibrant and meaningful for me.

After the Fires, Rebuilding the Forests

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
January 10, 2011

For those who have not spent time in Israel, I think it must be easy to imagine it as a mainly urban, strife-torn environment, in which various groups are always clashing. While there is no shortage of conflict in Israel, and there are cities, the truth is much more complex, and many parts of Israel are still quite wild and very beautiful. When people ask me which I prefer, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, I answer neither – I prefer the southern desert in the winter and the wild, green mountains of the north in summer. Southern Israel is one of the most amazing places I have ever been, with its red mountains, rocky cliffs and desert views as far as the eye can see. Some of my sharpest (and fondest) memories of Israel are of hiking in the Arava, feeling as though we were walking in an ancient landscape which had seen the countless feet of travelers, pilgrims and invading armies pass through before us.

New “Links” in a Broken Chain

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
January 10, 2011

I have written previously of the rather curious strategy the Obama Administration adopted in the fall of “Linkage,” whereby they attempted to draw a connection between the continued strife between Israel and the Palestinians, and the safety of US military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. As I have noted, I don’t buy this argument, principally because I think there are many other much more serious sources of potential threats, both proximate and distal, about which the US government should be concerned when it comes to the safety of troops, starting with powerful insurgency movements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moving just a little beyond the borders of these countries, and looking at the threat posed by instability in the broader region, it seems to me that problems in Pakistan, including the recent assassination of a progressive provincial governor by a radical Islamist, are more worrying than the apparent intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Nationalism (and Hate) on the Rise in Europe

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 8, 2011

The ghosts of extreme nationalism, and with them, intolerance and hate, are forces which Europe seems unable to vanquish. Combined with an increase in military strength and technology, such ideas caused bloodshed on an unprecedented scale throughout Europe in the twentieth century. Even after the lessons the world supposedly learned after each world war, these destructive forces reappeared, sowing death and destruction across the continent.

Trying to Connect the Dots Between J-Street and START

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 5, 2011

As the publisher of the New Vilna Review I get a lot of interesting messages in my email inbox, and this morning was no exception as I logged in and saw a message from J-Street. While on the surface I have tended to agree with J-Street’s over-arching stated goals and priorities – support for Israel and a two-state solution – I have to admit (as I have said directly to some of the J-Street staff and volunteers here in Boston) that I still don’t have a very thorough understanding of what the day-to-day goals are of the group. So when I received an email this morning which was sent out to their email list, and focused on encouraging recipients to thank Senator Scott Brown for his vote on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), an agreement which helps to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in US and Russian arsenals, I was slightly puzzled and somewhat intrigued.

New Year’s Resolutions in Jerusalem, Washington, and the West Bank

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

January 2, 2011

And so another year begins, and with it, renewed speculation about the prospects of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Recently, I came across a very short (translated) op-ed piece posted on the New York Times website, by Israeli author Ron Leshem, which I think expresses the general sense of frustration and fatigue that those working for peace within Israel have begun to feel over the last few years. In both Israel and the Diaspora. There is a palpable sense among Jews that since the pull-out from Gaza, the Second Lebanon War and Cast Lead all seem to have made Israel safer, without somehow moving the nation closer to peace, that the negotiation process is either intractably stuck or irreparably broken. In this piece by Mr. Leshem, he refers to the flotilla incident last spring, which, regardless of who was to blame for individual acts of violence, was immediately seized upon and held up (without qualification) as the ultimate example of Israeli barbarism. Of this incident, Mr. Leshem writes that, “The death of nine people on the Mavi Marmara was a calamity. But activists on board stabbed and shot the soldiers who sought to steer the ship to a port from which nonmilitary cargo could be trucked to Gaza.”

The New Vilna Review in 2011: Discussions, New Voices, A Book, and More

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 26, 2010

Looking ahead to the new (secular) year, I have been thinking quite a bit about how the work of the New Vilna Review can continue to grow and expand. One project I am very excited about is a series of brown-bag lunch discussions that I will be leading this spring at the Vilna Shul, located on Beacon Hill in Boston. People often ask if the New Vilna Review and the Vuilna Shul are connected somehow, which invariably leads to a discussion in which I explain that no, there is no official connection, but yes, I do know some of the people there and they are doing great work.

Beyond the Simplicity of Settlements, a Response to Ethan Bronner

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 23, 2010

In this editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson responds to a recent piece by Ethan Bronner of the New York Times, in which Mr. Bronner writes about the role of settlement building in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace process.

Israel’s New Consul-General Brings Energy and Ideas to Boston

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 17, 2010

In this editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about a recent conversation with the new Israeli Consul-General to New England, Shai Bazak. In this piece he writes about some of the goals Mr. Bazak hopes to achieve, and the strengths he brings to this position.

In The West Bank and Jerusalem, A Glacier Looms

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 14, 2010

In this editorial, New Vilna Review publisher Daniel E. Levenson writes about efforts to re-start proximity peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He looks specifically at the question of whether or not Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is capable of being an effective negotiator on behalf of his people, and the dangers that might arise if President Abbas were to simply quit his post.

One Step Forward, Three Months Back

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 13, 2010

Like a 19th century aristocrat slowly succumbing to Consumption in a novel, the Middle East peace process seems forever in the grip of glacial death throes, without ever quite expiring. I suppose we should be happy that the peace process seems not have met its final end, but that being said, sitting by its sickbed is no great joy either.

Pinksy and Machover Bring Shadow and Light to NCAC Event

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 9, 2010

I should admit up front that I have very little personal experience when it comes to the opera – when I was 10 my family took a trip to Cooperstown, New York to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and sometime during that trip we all went to a performance of something or other at the Glimmerglass Opera, which was located nearby. I think I liked it, but other than that, the opera and I have not had occasion to cross paths. Still, I found myself sitting fairly entranced in a theater earlier this week as I watched two short video clips from the opening performance of a new opera which will be coming to Boston in the spring, entitled “Death and the Powers: The Robot’s Opera,” by MIT Professor and musician Tod Machover, with a libretto written by nationally-acclaimed poet, Professor Robert Pinsky. From what the creators said and what I saw, the opera focuses on the egomaniacal dream of a dying millionaire who seeks to gain electronic immortality as his physical body is dying. Since I enjoy brooding meditations on the nature of mortality as well as almost anything involving sci-fi, I was intrigued right away.

The Latest Spoilers in the Peace Process: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 8, 2010

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complicated mess, and it is never a good sign when new actors try to become involved, especially when they have had little involvement with the process in the past. So it was with no small degree of concern that I read an article on the Haaretz website about the decision by three South American countries – Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina – to grant recognition to an independent Palestinian state which does not exist. This story would be laughable, if it did not have such disastrous implications within the world of international relations. There are several reasons why these decisions is problematic, not the least of which is that they add another layer of potential confusion and chaos to a process which is bogged down at best and moribund at worst.

Standing Up to China (and its 19 Accomplices)

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 7, 2010

The decision by China to not allow this year’s Nobel Peace prize laureate to travel to Stockholm to accept this honor is disappointing, but not surprising. After all, China is an ascendant power trying to balance its growing economy with unwavering dedication to the Communist/Nationalist principles which are the foundation of political thought in the country. I would like instead to focus on an even more troubling issue than China’s unwillingness to not allow this brave individual to accept an honor he most surely deserves, which is the decision by 19 other nations, as was reported on the New York Times, to also boycott the ceremonies. It will likely come as no shock that this rogue’s gallery includes such human rights luminaries as Russia, Iran and Egypt, but I have to admit I did find the presence of the Philippines, a traditional US ally, on the list, to be a bit puzzling.

Saving Lives by Thinking (and Acting) at Every Level

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

December 5, 2010

While I am a disciple of neither Pangloss (a delusional fool whose creator was a vicious Anti-Semite) nor Pollyanna (whose saccharine treacle makes me nauseous) – I will admit I have seen a few glimmers of hope in the Middle East and beyond this past week. Usually the news out of the Middle East is anything but happy, and this past week there was yet again another tragedy: the fires raging through northern Israel, threatening the homes and lives of Jew and Arab alike. But I still see some signs of hope amidst such destruction, and some of them have come from very unexpected places.

Nations, Organizations Rally to Fight Fires in Israel

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
December 3, 2010

The fires raging in northern Israel have brought death and destruction to a land that is already far too familiar with the pain of loss. While the Israeli fire service is working hard to battle the flames, it is noteworthy that help has also come from a variety of other sources, both within and beyond the Jewish community. It has been particularly encouraging to read about the aid Israel has received from neighboring countries, including Jordan, Greece and Turkey, as well as the United States, and I think it shows the level of basic human decency that exists within most governments when it comes to humanitarian disasters. Seeing this level of cooperation makes me wonder if there is not a place for a more organized, permanent, regional disaster response and relief organization, composed of countries in the Near East and Mediterranean. Such an organization, which could have a core membership of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Greece and Italy could also help improve diplomatic and military relations, through the relationships that would naturally evolve within the framework of this regional humanitarian effort.
Read More

What’s Worse than Unpredictability in Turkey? Irresponsibility

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

November 28, 2010

Watching the reshuffling of power on the global scene these days can be a dizzying experience – there is no shortage of turmoil spanning regions and at times it seems, entire continents. Europe is in the middle of a precarious economic balancing act, tensions are running high between North Korea and South Korea (as well as the United States, Japan and undoubtedly to some degree, China) and in the Middle East Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran continue their efforts to destabilize the region. Since my own work is primarily concerned with the Middle East, I would like to turn my attention to a nation which remains a troubling wild card: Turkey. Although some of the furor that arose between Israel and Turkey following the flotilla incident seems to have died down, there remains a serious diplomatic chill between these two nations. And this lack of a warm relationship is reason to worry.

Thanksgivings, Past and Future

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

November 20, 2010

As we move into the week of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, I can’t help but think about how this is one holiday which seems to cut across a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds, uniting what is otherwise a largely varied and disparate society around a common theme of feasting and family. Of course I am aware of the history of this holiday and hold no illusions about the bloody nature of European conquest in the Americas, but I think that Thanksgiving has value in this context too – providing an opportunity for us, as Americans, to think about this complicated legacy and to acknowledge that more often than not, that there was a disturbing level of brutality that took place which has until recently been mostly absent from history books.

Young Jewish Leadership Council Helps to Fuel Dialogue and Growth in Boston

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

November 10, 2010

Over the last eight or so years I have had the pleasure of being involved with a wide variety of different Jewish organizations in greater Boston and one of the things which often seemed to come up in discussions among the lay leadership and professionals at these organizations is a desire for better communication between the many different Jewish organizations, communities and groups in the area. While I have seen a few different efforts to make this happen (the best example of this being, perhaps, the annual Community Leadership Institute which was organized by CJP and has now been incorporated into programming) overall it seems like maintaining on-going communication between the various groups is a difficult thing to do. Even though it is difficult to maintain a high level of communication between groups, I think we are fortunate that leaders (both professional and volunteer) in the Boston Jewish community do see this as important. We are also fortunate that some of these leaders have taken it upon themselves to create a group as part of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, known as the Young Jewish Leadership Council, or “YJLC", a group that meets on a regular basis and provides opportunities not only for young Jewish leaders to meet one another and make connections, but to share and discuss ways to build leadership skills by discussing real challenges that organizations are facing.
Read More

While America Watches the Mid-Terms, Palestinian Politics Falls Apart

by Daniel E. Levenson

November 2, 2010

While the majority of Americans are no doubt focused on the mid-term elections this week and how the outcomes will influence state and national government, there is another political movement underway in the Middle East which we should not ignore. I am referring, of course, to the various modes of political maneuvering taking place among the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza, which could have profound implications not only for Israel but for US interests in the region as well.

AJC Takes the Lead in Denouncing Bishop's Hateful Words

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

October 25, 2010

The American Jewish Committee is to be applauded for their decision to denounce remarks made by Greek Melkite Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros, who had the gall to suggest that the Jewish people do not have a special relationship to the land of Israel because such a relationship was nullified by the existence of Jesus. I would like to say I am shocked by this kind of ignorance and subtle Anti-Semitism, but I’m not – as much as the Catholic Church would like to officially claim that it no longer harbors Anti-Semitic sentiments within its thought and theology, I was born more than a decade after the Vatican changed its policies and I have heard practicing Catholics espouse the kinds of ideas which are supposedly no longer sanctioned by the church when it comes to Jews and Judaism. In my mind, this is yet another example of such thought and I would argue that the idea that Christianity somehow nullified or superseded Judaism and the relationship between the Jewish people, God and the Land of Israel, is Anti-Semitic and profoundly ignorant.

German Museum Offers a New Look at Hitler’s Most Important Ally: the German People

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

October 20, 2010

A recent decision by a German museum to create an exhibition focusing on Hitler and the support he received from the German people should be greeted with cautious optimism by the rest of the world. I use the qualifier “cautious” because there is always a danger, given the social climate in Europe at the moment, that anything drawing attention to Hitler and the Nazis might be hijacked by right-wing ultra-nationalist elements in Europe who have been agitating against (and in some cases, actually physically attacking) foreigners and minorities, groups which of course constituted the majority of Hitler’s victims.

Media Bias and the Middle East

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

October 10, 2010

In this week's editorial New Vilna Review Editor Daniel E. Levenson looks at issues of media bias when it comes to reporting on issues and events in both the Middle East and specifically within Israel.

Optimism and Realpolitik in the Middle East

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

October 2, 2010

When the idea of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians was first announced over the summer I felt a tiny twinge of hope, but mostly, based on my following of events in the Middle East over the previous few years, I thought that the level of optimism in the rhetoric coming from both the White House and the State Department seemed unwarranted. Then, in early September, as the first stage of the talks limped along, it became painfully clear to me that my skepticism was well-warranted: on the Israeli side Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political base looked increasingly shakey while he seemed unwilling or unable to extend a moratorium on settlement building, and on the Palestinian side Fatah appeared politically weak and Hamas' acts of terrorism in the West Bank seemed to confirm the idea that the Palestinian Authority was not acting with the full mandate of the Palestinian people. Not to mention the fact that Hamas, which is adamantly opposed to peace talks with Israel and rules Gaza with an iron hand, showed the world that it preferred instead to murder Israeli civilians as a form of political expression as opposed to negotiations.

Decisions, Choices and Questions

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
September 28, 2010

In a recent post on the Jewish Boston website I wrote about how I see Judaism as a religion of distinctions, one which asks its members to not only decide between one thing and another, but challenges us to look more deeply into the important questions we face in our own lives, and to be willing to do so in a nuanced way. Lately I have also been thinking a lot about choices, and how the choices we make in life end up determining the paths we walk. Sometimes we are not even aware that we are making important choices, and it is only in retrospect that we realize that we have done something that will have a significant impact in our lives.

The New Vilna Review Wants YOU!

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

September 20, 2010

A few weeks ago we sent out a survey to see what our readers were interested in and what they would like to see more of on the New Vilna Review website, and one of the topics that respondents were interested in was learning more about world Jewry. I am happy to report that I am working on something right now relating to the Jews of Cuba and am actively on the lookout for stories relating to different communities, especially those outside of North America and Israel.

Proposed Conversion Bill Is a Problem For All Jews

By Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

September 13, 2010

In both Israel and the Diaspora there are a wide variety of ways that people choose to express their sense of Jewish identity. I was reminded of this recently while talking to a friend who explained that in his own life, he feels a stronger connection to the history and traditions of Judaism than to acts of religious observance. I think it is important to acknowledge that everyone has their own way of connecting, and to create space for people to do so within the Jewish community – this was one of the main reasons I started the New Vilna Review, and it is a guiding principle that I keep in mind each day as I work on finding new ways to expand and improve this publication.

Opening A Prayer Book

by Daniel E. Levenson
September 8, 2010

I own a lot of books, and consequently, I have a lot of bookshelves. There is one shelf in particular beside my desk, though, that holds about a dozen or so volumes that I consult on a regular basis for my work on the New Vilna Review, as well as my own writing and teaching. A few of the books are basic reference works – a modern Hebrew dictionary, Marcus Jastrow’s Rabbinic Hebrew dictionary, a copy of the classic Brown-Driver-Briggs Biblical Hebrew dictionary – and some are more contemporary: Dr. Michael Oren’s work on the Six-Day War, Tom Friedman’s “From Beirut to Jerusalem.” I also have a few copies of the Tanakh, and then I like to keep a few books on the subject of prayer handy. The dictionaries are there for practical purposes, the works of history provide quick reference when it comes to context if I am writing about the Middle East, and for me the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, is my ultimate source book, but the books on prayer are something else.

The Legacy of Emancipation Lingers On

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

August 30, 2010

Since the New Vilna Review is a publication devoted to exploring modern Jewish identity in arts, culture, politics and theology, I thought this week I would take a look back in time at some previous conceptions of Jewish identity, to explore the connection between the Enlightenment and modern Jewish life. For the modern Jew there are numerous sources to draw on when it comes to constructing an identity, and numerous ways to express that identity, both religiously and culturally, but at the heart of the formation of this identity, there is in essence, I would argue, a struggle.

AJC and AIC Organize an Interfaith Celebration, Conversation

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

August 24, 2010

So often we tend to think of the intersection of religious values and ideas in contexts in which they clash. What comes to mind are the myriad ways that various strains of religious extremism have driven conflict, strife and misunderstanding, we think of deep divides in theology and belief, and we think of the lives lost and culture destroyed in the name of God. But there are times and places in which common religious values, such as the importance of helping those in need, can rise above religious and cultural differences. One good example of this is a recent joint effort by the American Jewish Committee and the American Islamic Congress here in Boston to raise funds to help flood victims in Pakistan, many of whom have lost all of their worldly possessions (including vital crops and beasts of burden) who are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

A Project Only the Far-Left Could Love

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

August 18, 2010

The recent announcement by a group of Irish intellectuals and artists that they will boycott Israel is yet another sign, in my mind, of the growing influence of the far-left in Europe. While some of them may have ostensibly good intentions (perhaps they are ignorant of the realities of life in the Middle East and want to make a statement about human rights) I would argue they are in fact doing the opposite: Instead of working to foster cultural understanding and open doors between Europe and Israel they are closing off such possibilities. If they were really concerned about the state of affairs between Israel and the Palestinians, they would go to Israel and organize peace-related artistic and cultural projects that would bring people together. By organizing a boycott they are showing the world that they are not so much in favor of a better life for Palestinians as they are dedicated to undermining the legitimacy of Israel.

The (Positive) Power of Words in Jewish Tradition

by Daniel E. Levenson

August 10, 2010

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the power of words. Given that I spend a good part of my day reading and writing this is perhaps not so surprising, but yesterday as I read about the joint Hezbollah-Lebanese Foreign Ministry press conference in which the Iranian Foreign Minister blamed Israel for the border incident between the IDF and Lebanese forces, this notion came back to me again. And then, as I was preparing to teach the first of three adult education sessions this week on the topic of creation and environmental responsibility, I was reminded once more of the power which words are accorded in Jewish tradition. Words not only played a vital role in the creation of the world, as the Torah tells us, but within the Mishnah and Talmud we see reference time and again to the underlying power that words possess.

Will Better Borders Prevent War?

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
August 3, 2010

The border between Israel and Lebanon has long been a contentious place and despite periods of peace between these two nations, it is unfortunately not terribly surprising when a violent incident occurs there. I have been close to the border several times myself, the first time was in the summer of 2005 on a Federation trip from Boston. We spent the day hiking in and around the Jordan River, ate dinner and stayed at a beautiful kibbutz and found out the next day that only a few miles away terrorists had made a cross-border raid, and the Israeli Air Force had responded by bombing the area. When I spent the summer of 2006 in Israel I did not go up to the border because there was a war raging there. In 2009 I was up north again, and this time I stood on a mountaintop and looked down into Lebanon with binoculars and saw the flag of Hezbollah waving in a Lebanese village perhaps a few miles away.

An Impending Split? The Ultra-Orthodox and Everyone Else

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

July 27, 2010

Over the past few months things have been heating up in the Israel political and judicial system over the question of who is a Jew, and in a larger sense, who gets to make that decision. Apparently this is such a big story that even the New York Times has devoted digital ink to it, with reporter Ethan Bronner noting in a piece on the NY Times website that: “The more liberal forms of Jewish practice advocated by the Reform and Conservative movements, with which most American Jews are affiliated, have never taken root here. Israel has left liturgy in the hands of the Orthodox, with most Israeli Jews leading almost completely secular lives, seeking out rabbis only at birth, marriage and death.”

Thoughts on Creative Writing, Jewish Community and BCI

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

July 22, 2010

For the past three and a half weeks I have been out in the desert where I had a chance to do some thinking, writing, teaching and learning. I have always found inspiration in arid places, whether hiking in the Negev in southern Israel or exploring the American southwest. This time I was lucky enough to spend some time getting to know a new desert environment while teaching a creative writing workshop at the Marylin and Sigi Ziering Brandeis Collegiate Institute in southern California. BCI, as it is popularly known, is a program that brings Jewish young adults from communities around the world to spend 26 days together to explore Jewish ideas, strengthen their sense of Jewish identity and learn about themselves through participation in daily arts workshops.

A Deepening Divide Between Haredim and the Jewish Community

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

June 16, 2010

One of the things that really stood out when I was living in Jerusalem last year was the degree to which the Hardei, or ultra-Orthodox, community seems to be separate from other Jews and the rest of Israeli society. We see traces of this here in the United States as well, as ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities are often relatively closed-off, keeping them separate not only from the rest of American society, but from other Jews as well. While there have always been differences, regardless of where Jews have lived, in terms of degree and manner of observance, I can’t help but feel that in the last 15-20 years these differences are becoming more prominent, and consequently, more problematic.
Read More

In the Face of Global Eco-Threats, JNF and Others Lead the Way

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

June 9, 2010

It should be clear to anyone who pays attention to the news that the world is currently facing a serious crisis when it comes to the state of our natural environment. A dependence on fossil fuels, a myopic view of land use and conservation, and a willingness to place profits ahead of long-term sustainability have left us with a planet that is in serious peril. While the United States drags its feet on alternative energy technology and seems relatively laid-back when it comes to finding alternatives to mining coal (which has had a tremendously negative impact on the American landscape) or offshore drilling for oil (we all know how that has turned out lately) there is an impressive array of groups and individuals working to become global leaders in environmental protection in the Middle East from whom the rest of the world could learn a thing or two. And not only are they helping to solve key environmental problems, but they are often doing so across political, ethnic and religious lines.

Is it Time to Let Go of Gaza?

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

June 1, 2010

When President Obama announced a renewed effort at making peace between Israel and the Palestinians earlier this Spring, I felt a mix of emotions - curiosity as to what this process might look like, fear that pushing both Israel and the Palestinians too far too fast might have a long-term detrimental impact on negotiations, and hope that after so many years of fighting both sides had finally reached a point where painful but necessary compromises could be made. As the proximity talks began and progressed, they seemed to be going well (from what one could see from the outside) and in the last week there were also noticeable improvements in US-Israeli relations at various levels, including between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. When I went to bed on Sunday night I had just finished writing a blog post for the Jewish Boston site about the threat that Hezbollah continues to pose to both Israel and Lebanon and the implications of this for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. When I got up on Monday morning I was shocked to read about the incident which took place in international waters off the coast of Israel between those trying to run the blockade of Gaza and the Israeli navy.

An Award Well-Deserved for Jeff Robbins

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM
May 26, 2010

As I was driving home last night, from the American Jewish Committee’s Human Rights Award Dinner, I was listening to the BBC in the car. After a few minutes a report came on about an Israeli air strike that was carried out earlier in the day in response to a Palestinian bomb and mortar attack from Gaza. As I listened to the news, I couldn’t help but think of what Jeff Robbins, the lawyer, writer and long-term human rights advocate who was honored at the dinner, said about the cycle of violence in the Middle East, the ways in which terrorist groups help to fuel the conflict and the myopic view that the rest of the world seems to take when it is innocent Israelis, who are dying at the hands of terrorists, while doing nothing more than going about the ordinary tasks of everyday life.

A Symbol of Unity in Fractious Times

by Daniel E, Levenson, ALM

May 20, 2010

One of the things that makes the Massachusetts Synagogue Council unique is that it consistently brings together Jews of different denominational affiliations to not only talk about issues of common concern, but to engage in learning and celebration with one another. In these difficult and fractious times within the American Jewish community, when we so often find ourselves at odds over Israel, forms of ritual observance and the nuances of Jewish cultural identity, it’s encouraging to see that there are people here in Boston who are actively working to bring the Jewish people together.

Toward a More Inclusive View of Development in the Middle East

by Daniel E. Levenson

As I was perusing the internet this afternoon I came across a piece on the Brookings Institution website that caught my attention because it had to do with socioeconomic development in the Middle East. I have long felt that economic cooperation, and specifically cooperation on projects that will help build up the infrastructure of civil society, is an area that holds great promise to help bring about the eventual normalization of relations between Israel and her Muslim neighbors. To create a real and lasting peace, it will not be enough to get the two sides to stop shooting (literally and figuratively) at each other. We have seen such a solution in place between Israel and both Egypt and Jordan, and while it is certainly a significant improvement over the relationships that existed in say, 1966, it is by no means a warm peace, or one which has brought great advantages to the citizens of either Israel or these two Arab nations, aside from the cessation of open hostilities.

A Nuclear Necessity?

by Daniel E. Levenson

May 4, 2010

As discussions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have been underway at the United Nations, the question of whether or not Israel should have nuclear weapons has been raised repeatedly by Arab leaders over the past couple of days. In a recent Associated Press article posted on the Haaretz website, it was noted that Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh expressed concern over the fact that Israel is not a signatory to the treaty, and said that “…Israel\'s failure to sign the NPT and allow international monitoring of its nuclear program renders the NPT a source of instability in the Middle East.” In the same article, it was noted that Egypt is also pushing for discussions of a “nuclear free” Middle East.

Crossing the Line between Criticism and Anti-Semitism

by Daniel E. Levenson

May 2, 2010

The line between criticism of the State of Israel for its actions vis-à-vis the conflict with the Palestinians, and Anti-Semitism, has always seemed a fine line to me, but it is a line in my mind nonetheless. There are times though when it is clear that someone is using criticism of Israel as cover for saying hateful things about Jews, and when Haaretz recently reported on comments by Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle about the State of Israel, I felt as though this line was being crossed quite clearly. After apparent anti-Israel remarks in a comedy sketch on the BBC, the network issued an apology, which prompted Mr. Boyle to call Israel a “terrorist state” and to compare the situation in the Middle East to South African Apartheid. Before he goes on another ignorant verbal rampage, it would do Mr. Boyle well, I would suggest, to take a look at a history book or two and learn something about what has actually been going on in Israel/Palestine in the last one hundred years. I have always been very vocal in my belief in a two-state solution, but I also know that it was the Arab nations (led by the Saudis) who vehemently rejected any kind of a peaceful partition in the period immediately after World War II. Instead they opted for a series of low-intensity conflicts, as well as more than one attempt at outright invasion, in order to bring about a resolution which they would have deemed acceptable. Even after the Six Day War, which shifted the balance of power somewhat, Israel found itself besieged by the PLO and other terrorist groups bent on bringing down the only democratic state in the region.

A Stroll Down J Street

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 30, 2010

Initially I was curious about J Street because I had heard them touted as an organization designed to balance out the generally right-leaning AIPAC, but from what I saw at a recent event I attended, there is more substance to this organization than simply acting as a foil for another politically-oriented Jewish group. Street seems to be trying to do something very difficult, but noble nonetheless, which is to promote the idea of peace through the creation of a Palestinian state, without threatening the existence of Israel as a Jewish, democratic and sovereign nation.

A Look Into The Origins of Lag B’omer

by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM

April 28, 2010

Although many Jews may think of the late spring as a time when not much is happening in the Jewish year, we are in fact about to celebrate Lag B’omer, a holiday with who roots are a bit obscure, but one which is still freighted with meaning.

Is It Wise to Push for Peace?

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 27, 2010

Last week I wrote an editorial responding to Ambassador Indyk's piece in the New York Times in which he analyzed the current state of US-Israel relations and the ways that Prime Minister Netanyahu might be able to help alleviate some of the stress on this important relationship. For all of the talk, however, in the media about the importance of finding a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict for American national security, I have to admit that I am somewhat puzzled as to exactly what the relationship is between the two, and why it is necessarily more urgent to force both Israelis and Palestinians to accept a solution right now. Yes, the United States is fighting two wars in the region (and conducting covert operations, most likely, in an area that extends beyond the officially defined theatre of war) but the details of how the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is affecting American men and women in uniform seems rather murky to me. From what I can tell, the real immediate threat to American military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq comes in the form of Islamic fundamentalists, IED's and having to conduct security operations in very unstable, unfriendly places every day. It does not come from Hamas or Hezbollah, from what I have read or heard from people I consider knowledgeable about the current situation in the region.

A New Direction for the Jewish Agency?

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 24, 2010

I find it interesting that Natan Sharansky, the current chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), is shifting the main focus of the organization from that of encouraging Jews from around the world to make aliyah, to that of strengthening Jewish identity and education. When I lived in Israel last year I did some volunteer work for the Jewish Agency, and specifically for the education department so I tend to keep an eye out for stories relating to education and JAFI.

In Reply To Ambassador Indyk

by Daniel E. Levenson

Earlier this week former United States Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, published an editorial in the New York Times in which he considered the currently strained relationship between Israel and the United States. While I have great respect for Ambassador Indyk, there are several points on which I feel I must disagree with him.

Lend a Helping Hand This Spring

by Daniel E. Levenson

April 20, 2010

It is my firmly held belief that in order for people to become truly engaged in environmental concerns they need to find ways to connect to nature beyond recycling and buying eco-friendly brands. These are important, of course, but I feel that if we are going to save our planet from self-inflicted doom, that we need to take the time to become better acquainted with the natural world and find ways to become actively involved in conservation efforts right in our own backyards. This is actually a lot easier to do than you might think, and with a number of wonderful resources available on the internet, it’s fairly easy to find out how everyone – kids, adults, seniors – can lend a helping hand.

A Watched Pot That Keeps On Boiling

April 17, 2010

by Daniel E. Levenson

Although President Obama no doubt has the best interests of the United States at heart in his most recent efforts to try and broker a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to a larger extent, a desire to create a more peaceful world on the whole, I worry about what the unintended side effects might be of such efforts. I have long stated that a just and equitable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict needs to be found, one that guarantees beyond any shadow of a doubt the security of Israel and at the same time offers the Palestinian people a chance to create a viable state of their own. To achieve such a thing would be no mean feat. In fact, to achieve anything even remotely resembling a normalized peace would constitute something of a miracle in my opinion.

Some Words for the Earth

April 15, 2010

by Daniel E. Levenson

There is no question in my mind that whatever someone’s religion or ethnicity happens to be, we all have a stake in keeping our planet healthy. There might be many people who are short-sighted when it comes to these issues, but at the end of the day, they themselves are no less dependent upon the natural world for clean air, water and food. Protecting the natural environment is something I have always felt strongly about, and although for the majority of people living in the West, our connection to the land has been altered dramatically since the industrial revolution, there are still important core ideas about the sanctity of creation and nature that can be found within a wide variety of religious and cultural traditions, and Judaism is no exception.

Looking at Hate

April 13, 2010

by Daniel E. Levenson

One of the things I that I often have trouble adjusting to, after spending time in Israel, is the degree to which so many American Jews seem complacent about Anti-Semitism and threats to Jewish communities around the world. While I would never suggest that we should go back to the bad old days when Jews were kept out of universities because of quotas or suffered outright discrimination, I also can’t help wondering sometimes if here in America the Jewish community has grown too comfortable. While Anti-Semitism may not be blatantly obvious on a daily basis in places like Boston, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, the fact remains that even within the United States there are neo-Nazi and racist organizations that seek to blame the Jewish people for the ills of the world. Furthermore, there is still a strong undercurrent of latent Anti-Semitism (as well as racism) in places like Boston, which people are too often unwilling to address.

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.

A Western Front with Hezbollah?

April 14, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM - For many years now the border with Egypt has been a point of concern for Israel’s security establishment with attacks on tourists in places like Sharm-el-Shekh and the smuggling of weapons and terrorists through the Sinai and Gaza, the relative lack of adequate security along this border has been apparent. Egypt has also had its share of trouble by virtue of an insecure border with Gaza, with Hamas encouraging the digging of tunnels and smuggling between Gaza and Egypt, an endeavor that has taken lives and has had a destabilizing effect on the border. Egypt is undoubtedly in an uncomfortable place when it comes to dealing with this latest incident, in which Hezbollah apparently dispatched operatives to Egypt in order to attack Israeli tourists as well as Egyptian infrastructure. As Haaretz reported recently on their website, Hezbollah terrorists were in Egypt preparing to carry out attacks in revenge for the killing of terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyeh, and according to an Egyptian newspaper had “ … surveilled tourist sites in Taba, Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh and tracked Israeli ships passing through the Suez Canal.”

A New Image for Israel and America

April 8, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM -There are those around the world who view recent political change in Washington and Jerusalem as an opportunity to raise questions about the close relationship between Israel and the United States. In both countries there are those who are uncomfortable with the strong ties between Israel and America, and have as their agenda the loosening of these ties, and in extreme cases, the severing of them. I acknowledge there are times when the national interests of these two great (but not perfect) democracies are not in perfect harmony with each other, but despite the occasions on which interests appear to diverge, I would argue that many of our core values, as well as long-term strategic goals in the Middle East and around the world, are in line with one another.

Another Day, Another Challenge

March 23, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – When I turned on my computer the other day and read about the attempted car bombing in Haifa, I have to admit I was not all that surprised. Disturbed, upset, concerned, slightly worried about my own safety – yes, but surprised, not really. While it may be very easy for an American living in west Jerusalem to walk around with a certain degree of blissful ignorance of the realities of the region simply by avoiding newspapers and cable TV, the sad truth of the situation here in Israel is that there are still a very large number of individuals, organizations and even other states which would like nothing better than to kill every Jew living here and bring an end to the state of Israel.

A Program for Future Leaders from Around the World, in Israel

March 11, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

Leadership within the Jewish community, both in Israel and in the Diaspora is something which I am keenly interested in, so when I saw the flyer advertising the MASA Building Future Leaders seminar, I was intrigued. The idea of the seminar, from what I experienced, was really twofold: the first part involved bringing in different speakers ranging from former Chairman of the Israeli Defense Forces, and present member of the Israeli Knesset, Moshe Ya’alon to Merav Ben-Ari, founder of a center for at-risk youth called “Derech Ha Etgar” in the Israeli cities of Natanya and Herzillyah, as well as field trips to Har Hertzel, where most of Israel’s former prime ministers are buried and the Begin Center, which celebrates the life of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin.

A Walk in the Desert

by Daniel E. Levenson

January 28, 2009

JERUSALEM- Leaving Jerusalem the bus rolls along the highway, moving quickly from a green and gray patchwork of roadways and walled gardens to the desert, where the earth takes on tones of brown and beige, mountains loom purple in the distant haze and the only man-made structures we pass are Bedouin shanties set in among the hills, flimsy shelters of corrugated metal and scavenged wood, with livestock pens and fire pits behind them. Herds of sheep and goats, an odd camel or two, make their way down a hillside along with men on horseback as they move from pasture to pasture in the sparse landscape, looking for what little sustenance these rocky hills can offer. A female antelope browses in an open field. At the trailhead we leave the bus, stepping out into cool morning air, the northern edge of the Dead Sea is visible in the distance, and on the shore beyond it, the nation of Jordan.

Getting Egypt to Lend a Hand

by Daniel E. Levenson

January 12, 2009

JERUSALEM - Here in Jerusalem the moon is out, the air is cool and the mood is hard to gauge. Although things feel normal on the street during the day, and shops and restaurants have customers, there is an underlying awareness that these are not normal times. Most people seem upset at the civilian deaths in Gaza, but at the same time, it is incomprehensible that any nation-state would continue to tolerate indiscriminate rocket attacks aimed at civilian population centers. And so the fighting goes on.

2006 and 2009, A Comparison

January 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

I am still a few days away from leaving for Israel, but as I sit here in suburban America watching the news reports on television and reading articles online, I can’t help but compare the situation in Israel in the summer of 2006 with what is happening there now. When I was there in 2005 the process of disengagement was about to begin, and there were very visible protests happening in the country. I admit that it was difficult for me to watch the news about disengagement, and to see images of Israeli police officers having to drag defiant settlers from homes, synagogues and community centers that they had literally risked their lives to create. At the same time, I genuinely thought that perhaps if Israel could withdraw completely from Gaza, that such an action might offer a new platform or angle for movement on the peace process.

More Trouble in Gaza

December 30, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

Looking at the latest news reports out of Gaza it is hard not to feel pessimistic about the potential for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Or to put it more precisely, between the Palestinians in Gaza and Israel. The fact is that Israel finds itself in a particularly difficult situation in which there seems to exist, at times, the possibility of a real and lasting peace between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the Jewish State, while simultaneously facing a serious threat from Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Confronting Terror in India

November 27, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

As I am writing this, the TV is on behind me, and I am listening to news of the horrific terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, where terrorists have murdered over a hundred people, injured hundreds more, and continue to hold an unknown number hostage. The loss of even one human life in sectarian violence is deeply disturbing, but this assault on so many places and so many people, with attackers reportedly firing randomly at people in restaurants and hotel lobbies, is particularly upsetting. We can only hope that those who are still being held hostage will be released safely, and that the Indian authorities will be able to bring the situation to a swift and peaceful resolution.

The Work of the Jewish National Fund

November 12, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

I have to admit that until recently, when I thought of the Jewish National Fund, I thought mainly of trees. I did have a vague sense that they might work on other issues as well, but if anyone had asked me what the JNF did, my first answer would certainly have involved planting trees in Israel. In fact, the JNF does that and a whole lot more, and at a recent event I had a chance to learn a little about some other JNF initiatives as well as to hear former United States ambassador to Israel, and current director of the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution, Martin Indyk, discuss his views on the future of the Middle East peace process under the incoming Obama administration.

A Season to Remember Those in Need

October 12, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

On Yom Kippur we spend the day fasting and praying, considering past transgressions and looking ahead to the future. For me, this day also reminds me that there are people in the world, indeed within our own towns and cities, who are in need of our help. For some of these people, a day spent in hunger is not a spiritual challenge (at least not in the same sense) but a painful reality, which is why many synagogues collect bags of food to donate to food pantries during the High Holiday season. During these difficult economic times, I think it is especially important to be aware of our good fortune and not forget those who are struggling.

Returning to a Better World

October 10, 2008
by Daniel E. Levenson

Yom Kippur is a day on which we stand alone before God at a kind of crossroads – behind us lie all of the experiences of the previous year, both good and bad, while ahead of us is an unknown path, the coming year, the future. It is also a day which brings Jews together, to offer prayers of repentance and express our deeply held desire to be inscribed for another year in the book of life. As with any other form of ritual or observance, I find that I have many more questions than answers - What is the purpose of Yom Kippur, I’ve often asked myself, why do we need to spend a day, once a year, fasting and considering past transgressions? What is it about setting aside this time that can make a difference in my own life and community?

Thoughts on Justice

September 6, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

In Pirkei Avot there is a curious passage in which Hillel is walking along and sees a skull floating on the water. He addresses the skull in an even stranger manner, saying “Because you drowned others, they drowned you; and those who drowned you will be drowned eventually.” This comes between two sections in which Hillel is quoted on seemingly different matters, relating to leadership, education and the value of avoiding excess materialism. Leaving aside, for now, the location of this passage, which seems strange in and of itself given that the topics which surround it seem to have little to do directly with justice or death, I’d like to take a minute to look at what the editors of Pirkei Avot might be trying to tell us here.

A Third Temple?

July 9, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

I have always been curious about the role of the idea of the temple in a modern Jewish context. Clearly we derive many of our customs and religious practices from the days when the temples stood, both from actual practices conducted in the temple service, and from the larger Jewish culture that existed at the time, so I was particularly interested to read an article in Haaretz about a group of people who are not only eagerly anticipating the building of a third temple, but are hard at work creating (or recreating) all of the physical trappings of priestly culture, from incense burners to custom tailored robes for those who claim familial descent from the kohanim.

Redeeming the Captives

July 3, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

In the summer of 2006 Hezbollah launched a violent assault from Lebanon, killing several Israeli soldiers and kidnapping two others during a border incursion that sparked Israel’s most recent war of self defense. The capture of these two young men, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev was international news and a clear sign that Israel could not trust either the Lebanese government or the small group of UN observers charged with keeping the peace along its northern border, to prevent hostile actions by Hezbollah.

Choosing Our Communities

June 25, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

What makes a community is something we think about a lot here at the New Vilna Review. It is a question that goes back to Revelation and beyond, when Moses, as the leader of an often unhappy group of former slaves, embarked on a 40-year sojourn in the desert. We see these challenges virtually everywhere in the narrative of the Israelites wandering – they are constantly complaining, pointing out how much easier things had been in Egypt and at times directly challenging the authority of Moses and of God. When it comes to prayer, we know that we traditionally need a group of 10 – a minyan – to constitute a “community.” I had always wondered where this number had come from and was happily surprised to notice a footnote in the Chumash I was perusing this past Shabbat. It mentioned that one of the roots of the designation of 10 individuals as constituting a minyan comes from Parsha Shelach, in which god calls the 10 spies who return from scouting the land (and lie about it) a “ wicked community.”

Boston’s Jewish Past

June 18, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

Many people have asked me in the last few months how I came up with the name for this online Jewish publication. It’s a good question, and I have in fact had a few people who wanted to know more about us simply because the word “Vilna” is in our name, and it piqued their interest because they had relatives in Vilna (or in a few cases, had actually come from Vilna themselves). The idea for the name “New Vilna Review” came to me while I was reading a biography of Abraham Joshua Heschel, and in this volume, the Jewish world of pre-World War Two Vilna was described in vivid detail as a vibrant landscape of Jewish learning and culture, with groups ranging from socialist Zionists to traditional orthodox rabbis and their followers. When the Nazis came to Vilna, however, most of this was completely destroyed.

A Responsibility to Act

June 9, 2008

by Daniel E. Levenson

The images in the film are graphic and disturbing: dead bodies, burned-out villages, a child wandering aimlessly. They are images of the Darfur region of Sudan, where a genocide is taking place. I recently saw these images when I attended a screening of the film “Sand and Sorrow,” co-sponsored by the New England office of the Anti Defamation League and American Jewish World Service. AJWS president Ruth Messinger was in attendance at the event, which was held on June 5th at Cloud Place in Boston. Ms. Messinger introduced the film and then answered questions afterwards about the situation in Darfur and the steps AJWS is taking to try and help bring peace to the troubled region. “The film is provocative,” Ms. Messinger said, “but not as provocative as what is happening on the ground.”

Dear readers,
Please note that as of Tuesday, July 14th the New Vilna Review is on hiatus
for the summer. We are are not currently accepting submissions or publishing
new content.
-The Editors

New Vilna Review Insulated Travel Mug

This 16 oz. travel mug features an original design by local New England artist Sarah Pelletier. These mugs make great gifts for friends, family, colleagues or treat yourself and know you are helping to support Jewish arts and culture.

Cost:$15.95
S&H: $2.00