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Steven T. Rosenthal
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Irreconcilable Differences?: The Waning of the American Jewish Love Affair with Israel (Brandeis Series in American Jewish History, Culture, and Life) Hardcover – February 1, 2001

by Steven T. Rosenthal (Author)
3.0 3.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
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From the birth of Israel in 1948 to the mid-1970s, American Jews and Jewish organizations were virtually unanimous in their support of the Jewish state. The unification of American Jews around Israel, the creation of hugely successful mechanisms for financial and political support, and the nearly absolute prohibition of public Jewish criticism of Israel were among the most noteworthy achievements of organized American Jewry during the 60s and 70s. But by the 1990s, all this had changed. Sharp disagreements over religious legitimacy, Palestinian political aspirations, and the peace process had reached the center of the Jewish establishment, which felt increasingly uninhibited in publicly airing its dissatisfaction with Israeli policies. Steven T. Rosenthal offers the first full-scale examination of the nature and development of the American Jewish response to Israel. He traces the rise of community consensus and its subsequent dissolution in the face of a series of critical confrontations between American Jews and the Jewish state. In lively prose, he reviews the crises and missteps that transformed this relationship from one of uncritical "Israelotry" to disenchantment and distress. The invasion of Lebanon, the Pollard spy case, the "Who is a Jew?" controversy, and the Palestinian Intifada have shattered American Jewish unanimity, but, as Rosenthal notes, dissolution stems as well from a half century of internal changes and the evolution of Jewish identity in both Israeli and American society. As Israel's heroic age fades into history, he argues, Israel has become less and less important to American Jews, who are increasingly obsessed with home-grown crises such as the skyrocketing rates of intermarriage. Meanwhile Israel itself has, in many ways, outgrown its need for American Jewish paternalism.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Brandeis University Press
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0874518970
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0874518979
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Each of the ten chapters in Rosenthal's (history, Univ. of Hartford; The Politics of Dependency) study touch on key issues, such as the Pollard affair, the intifada, and the "Who Is a Jew?" controversy, in the relationship between American Jews and Israel. The author examines the evolution of the relationship over the decades, arguing that the unquestioning support American Jews once had for Israel has eroded and that crucial tensions exist today. Israel, now a modern power rather than a fledging nation, is no longer dependent upon the unblinking support of American Jews, who are consumed with immediate concerns (such as the issues raised by the high degree of intermarriage) at home. Many readers might nevertheless argue that the American Jewish community still plays a powerful role, however, and its support, while evolving, remains essential. This clearly written, if controversial, book, will best be appreciated by informed readers who have background knowledge of the subject. Recommended for libraries with strong Jewish studies collections. Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This work is notable first and foremost because it introduces a fresh and much-needed social perspective into a field that is overrun with political and historical analyses, and secondly because the author has labored so effectively to present a balanced story. At once a studied academic investigation and a highly accessible contribution to popular debate, Rosenthal's account treads a careful path through a polemical minefield." --Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brandeis University Press; 1st edition (February 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0874518970
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0874518979
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.0 3.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings

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Steven T. Rosenthal

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Customer reviews

3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5
2 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JMJBullock
1.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2001
Great timing too! Definitely being critical of Israel during a time of crisis is needed! Because the world has definitely dropped the ball with criticism of Isreal! What a hero you are picking up the slack here! Also we know the real difference between real publishers and fake publishers. What was the print run? 300? That would be much too many i'm sure for you to hand out to all your friends and relatives (signed too?) before the rest of them disappear on some remainder table at the far end of the galaxy. Way to go mr. rosenthal! a real contribution. Also give jews enough credit that we DO question israeli policies (especially now)- we just don't feel the need to bring additional heat on OUR ONE PLACE in the world by speaking publically against it. And keep your trap shut if you have no first hand experience. Thanks.
6 people found this helpful
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Chris Macdonald Dennis
5.0 out of 5 stars Important book
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2006
This bok is important because it destroys the myth that all Jews agree on Israel--we don't!
3 people found this helpful
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