As the Israel-Hamas War entered its 8^th month at the beginning of May 2024, I wrote and posted 5 blogs (titles and links below) to help clarify the political and moral issues raised in this war, arguably the most serious threat to the State of Israel and Jewish people since Israel’s 1948 War of Independence.

I invite you to read again the 5 blogs listed below and share them with those in your family and amongst your friends who may gain a measure of insight and perspective about what Israel and the Jewish people are facing today.

The first item is particularly apt for college-age students who will return to their campuses in the fall and for young liberal American Jews under the age of 35 who have confronted anti-Israel sentiment, anti-Zionism and antisemitism in the workplace and in social media. According to polls, this younger American liberal Jewish demographic is the most alienated from Israel and organized American Jewish life as a consequence of the entrenched power of Israel’s most right-wing, extremist, ultra-Orthodox, and racist governing coalition in its 76-year history, the lack of a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Israel-Hamas war. The majority of younger American liberal Jews, however, despite the extremist right-wing politics of the Israeli government and the war still remain supporters of Israel and have drawn closer to the Jewish people and state, as polls also indicate.

I wrote the first blog at the top of the list below in preparation for meeting with thoughtful graduating high school students in my synagogue who were confused and torn about Israel’s government, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, West Bank Jewish settler violence against Palestinian shepherds and farmers, the harsh military occupation of the West Bank, the internal tensions between secular and ultra-Orthodox and extremist settler Israelis, and the war. Following hours of discussion, I urged them to carry those talking points with them to their campuses as a means of girding themselves against irrational and hate-filled fellow students who don’t really understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and who naively gravitated to support demonstrators who are anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, or antisemitic. The other four blogs discuss, as the titles indicate, some of the core issues raised by Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israelis on October 7 and the ensuing war.

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the safe return of the hostages.

Talking Points for College Students Concerning Palestinian Protests – 31 Friday May 2024  

Despite an increasingly divided Israel at war, the State of Israel is still worth celebrating – 16 Thursday May 2024  

How BDS is Part of the Problem – 09 Thursday May 2024   

“There is No Warrant to Israel ‘Genocide’ Claim” – 01 Wednesday May 2024  

Confronting Antisemitism on College Campuses – 28 Sunday Apr 2024