PDF Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End by Daniel Gordis in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Gripping Call to ActionBy Theo RoseIn Gordis's rallying cry; "Saving Israel;" he exposes with a crisp tone the issues facing Israel today. It's better said that these are the issues facing the Jewish people. Time and again; humanity has emerged antagonistic against this biblically prime population. From the ashes of the Shoah (the holocaust) came Israel. Thus; after 2000 years of exile (which historically demonstrated itself as such); the Jews have autonomy on the stage of history once again.Fighting a seemingly endless war against its theocratic neighbors and increasingly against the international community as a whole; the problem is not with Iran; the UN; or with its 'indigenous' arabs as much as it rests within its own Jewish population: can Israel and the Jewish world unite in a way that acknowledges the necessity of a Jewish state? Can they over come the amnesia of today about why Israel is what it is and why it's Jewish character needs to remain central to its (still unwritten) constitution?Mired in the pressures of living up to a western liberal standard; they increasingly see no point in fighting a war with Arabs whose demands are totally unsound. While the religious sects of Israeli society opt out of military duty purely for religious reasons. Two withering ends of the population making the defense of the Jewish nation increasingly untenable.Can the void of Zionist thinkers and actors once occupied by Theodore Herzl; David Ben-Gurion; Golda Meir; and still others be filled in our generation? Can a new argument [for Zionism] be made so that it steels Israeli fortitude against its enemies? This is the real core of Israel's current existential crisis.If you care about these issues; it's well worth your time to read this book. Thank you Danny!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Daniel Gordis and Saving IsraelBy Sheila H. MclarenI have just finished reading this extraordinary; thoughtful and courageous book; and can add very little to the review by A. Arnovitz as I agree with all that he or she says. This must have been a painful book for Daniel Gordis to work on; to research and to write; because it could be much easier to behave like the proverbial ostrich.The first two chapters of this amazing work are spent discussing the purpose of Israel; its reasons for being. The next five chapters deal with the problems of Israel; few of which are to do with the Arabs' and most of the world's desire to destroy that tiny little democracy. The final five chapters are a reasoned discussion of possible solutions to those problems - and again; most of the solutions would seem to lie within Israeli society itself. This is a discussion; food for thought; and Gordis does not pretend to have any of the answers at his finger-tips. Indeed; his thought processes seem very much those of a Talmudic scholar. All Israelis; as a Jewish community; need to get to work; find the answers and work on them. Or; quite simply; this beautiful Jewish democracy will cease to exist; either suddenly and bloodily or gradually.And this is why; as A. Arnovitz writes; this book should be compulsory reading for every Jewish person who cares about Israel; and also for every Israeli citizen including the Rabbinate and politicians.I cannot recommend "Saving Israel" highly enough; even though for any Jewish person who loves Israel it is chilling; very frightening and even depressing to read.Sheila McLaren1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Thorough and BalancedBy groupworkerI so appreciate this book as I prepare for a trip to Israel. In fact; of everything I've read over the past year; Saving Israel feels the most comprehensive in the fewest pages. It is not like reading a textbook. I felt like Gordis was giving me a private lecture in my living room - straight talk; accessible language; and easy to grasp. I also felt that the issues - many complex - were presented in an extremely balanced way. I more fully appreciate passion for the differing views. I agree with another reviewer that this book should be required reading for those trying to understand the full picture of Israel's significance and challenges - high school or college students; those visiting Israel; politicians; Jewish leaders and just those who want to feel more informed.