The New Israel: Peacemaking and Liberalization argues that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process will be expedited by increased economic liberalization. Israel has undergone dramatic economic change in the 1990s, shifting from a strongly protectionist, state-centered economy to a more international, neoliberal one. The book maintains that these fundamental changes have in turn transformed Israeli society as a whole, resulting in a significant moderation of attitudes toward the Palestinian people and Palestinian nationalism. The New Israel contains contributions from both established Israeli sociologists and promising young scholars. The New Israel: Peacemaking and Liberalization is an insightful commentary on one of the most crucial international issues of our time.
The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the world’s most polarizing confrontations. Its current phase, Israel’s “temporary” occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, turned a half century old in June 2017. In these timely and provocative essays, Gershon Shafir asks three questions—What is the occupation, why has it lasted so long, and how has it transformed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? His cogent answers illuminate how we got here, what here is, and where we are likely to go. Shafir expertly demonstrates that at its fiftieth year, the occupation is riven with paradoxes, legal inconsistencies, and conflicting interests that weaken the occupiers’ hold and leave the occupation itself vulnerable to challenge.
Gershon Shafir challenges the heroic myths about the foundation of the State of Israel by investigating the struggle to control land and labor during the early Zionist enterprise. He argues that it was not the imported Zionist ideas that were responsible for the character of the Israeli state, but the particular conditions of the local conflict between the European "settlers" and the Palestinian Arab population.
In this empirical and theoretical study of nationalism, ethnicity, and immigration, the author compares the reception of large numbers of immigrants in Catalonia, the Basque country, Latvia, and Estonia--developed regions that possess distinct cultures and nationalist movements.
A multidisciplinary assessment of issues surrounding citizenship. Beyond its emotional resonance and cultural ramifications, citizenship provides the legal and social framework for individual autonomy and political democracy. Recently, the question of citizenship has gained renewed attention in response to major trends worldwide -- democratization in Eastern Europe, a rise in ethnic and national conflict, and an increase in global migration. In this multidisciplinary volume, leading scholars offer analyses of the debates surrounding these changes while interrogating traditional views of citizenship. The Citizenship Debates begins with an introduction followed by a number of essays, organized for optimal classroom use, addressing the recent revision of the idea of citizenship through a neoliberal viewpoint, succeeded by critiques from communitarian, social-democratic, nationalist, feminist, and multiculturalist perspectives.
The authors of Searching for God: Study Partners Explore Contemporary Jewish Texts introduce "self-directed hevruta," a novel twist on the traditional Jewish path of in-depth learning with a study partner. Together, they choose the most challenging topic of all, searching for God, and explore five contemporary Jewish texts that present several approaches: mysticism, rationalism, nontraditional Judaism, metaphors from science, and character development. These spiritual seekers are lay-people. Joan Burstyn is an historian and poet; Gershon Vincow is a scientist and community leader. They study, discuss, teach each other, and draw conclusions. The result of this study partnership is a transformative learning experience about Judaism and the search for God. "This touching and inspiring account of the commitment of two friends to study texts and share their insights with each other on behalf of their own, and each other's connection to holiness could well be titled Thinking as a Spiritual Path. Celebrating intellect as an instrument of prayer, this book will serve as a template for seekers across religious traditions who long for a spiritual practice that satisfies their minds as it gladdens their hearts." -Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life. "This book successfully probes the most basic questions anyone should ask: What do I mean when I use the word 'God'? And how does the answer affect the way I live?" -Edward D. Zinbarg, board member, Jewish Theological Seminary Rabbinical School; author of Faith, Morals and Money: What the World's Religions Tell Us about Ethics in the Marketplace.
A personal and philosophical meditation on the Hebrew Bible, its stories, and its sages. In this volume, Gershon Rubin attempts to draw the secrets of the antediluvian world into the modern day. Through the lens of a lifetime of spiritual learning, he explores the ancient saga of creation, Adam and Eve, and the generations to come after. As Rubin states by way of introduction to The Hebrew Saga, “My first name, Gershon, is similar to the Greek word geron (old man). Thus through my ‘geronoscope,’ I view the over-four-thousand-year-long written history of the Hebrew nation, which resulted in the origination of this my world-view, or world outlook.”
How do we understand suffering? In this sensitive, profound book, the author, who himself underwent countless yissurim and challenges, shows us twenty-four 'blessings' that a person derives from misfortune. Along with its forceful message, this book also offers the reader a much-needed measure of comfort to help him cope with difficulties.
The New Israel: Peacemaking and Liberalization argues that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process will be expedited by increased economic liberalization. Israel has undergone dramatic economic change in the 1990s, shifting from a strongly protectionist, state-centered economy to a more international, neoliberal one. The book maintains that these fundamental changes have in turn transformed Israeli society as a whole, resulting in a significant moderation of attitudes toward the Palestinian people and Palestinian nationalism. The New Israel contains contributions from both established Israeli sociologists and promising young scholars. The New Israel: Peacemaking and Liberalization is an insightful commentary on one of the most crucial international issues of our time.
In this empirical and theoretical study of nationalism, ethnicity, and immigration, the author compares the reception of large numbers of immigrants in Catalonia, the Basque country, Latvia, and Estonia--developed regions that possess distinct cultures and nationalist movements.
This wonderful volume illuminates the human dimensions of the complex and often painful history of modern Palestine/Israel by vividly relating the life stories of a variety of individuals and exploring how their experiences have been profoundly shaped by the recurrent struggles over this land. It highlights the importance of human agency in shaping history, but also the impact of historical events and processes on individuals’ life choices. This book is not only a valuable resource for teaching but is also of great value to anyone interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and in the perspectives and destinies of those who have lived in its shadows."—Zachary Lockman, New York University. "This book is a welcome and essential addition to the extensive literature on the conflict in Israel/Palestine that tends to overlook the individual and their personal experiences. It is through these personal stories that one best appreciates the complex realities of this land. Each of the powerful narratives chosen by the contributors to this valuable volume is like a microcosmos that teaches us about the diverse realities in Israel and Palestine as a whole. This is a refreshing and original contribution to a field of inquiry that is craving for such a novel approach."—Ilan Pappé, author of The Rise and Fall of a Palestinian Dynasty
The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the world’s most polarizing confrontations. Its current phase, Israel’s “temporary” occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, turned a half century old in June 2017. In these timely and provocative essays, Gershon Shafir asks three questions—What is the occupation, why has it lasted so long, and how has it transformed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? His cogent answers illuminate how we got here, what here is, and where we are likely to go. Shafir expertly demonstrates that at its fiftieth year, the occupation is riven with paradoxes, legal inconsistencies, and conflicting interests that weaken the occupiers’ hold and leave the occupation itself vulnerable to challenge.
Coachman 176 pages Rabbi Baruch travels in the disguise of a Coachman driving his horse and wagon across the countryside in order to further his spiritual understanding. In these stories, he gives blessings, sees the spiritual greatness of simple people, and illuminates the path for those who have strayed. In other stories, we meet unusual personalities like the master blacksmith Israel of Burgas and the English nobleman who secretly converts to Judaism. Reunion 156 pages This volume introduces "Rabbi Baruch and his disciples," stories of a Chasidic Rebbe of old who was a beacon of light in troubled times. A profound thought is hidden in each of these short tales. "From Days Bygone" entwines the famous historical events with human drama, including the exciting account of a brave group of boys who resisted the Roman conquerors of Israel. Silver Rings 168 pages Three young brothers flee the Spanish Inquisition, their hopes for the future symbolized by three silver rings. In another century, on the shores of Lake Tiberias, the would-be world conqueror, Napoleon, meets the future Chasidic master, Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, and receives an important piece of advice.
This increase in learning the Torah concerned with Moshiach and Redemption... is the 'straightforward path' to actually cause the revelation and coming of Moshiach and Redemption" -- the Rebbe (Tazriah -- Metzorah 5751)
Evolving Nationalism examines how the idea of Israel as a nation-state has developed within Zionist and Israeli discourse over the past eight decades. Nadav G. Shelef focuses on the changing ways in which the main nationalist movements answered three distinct questions in their private and public ideological articulations between 1925 and 2005: Where is the "Land of Israel"? Who ought to be Israeli? What should the Zionist national mission be? Framed within broader debates about how and why changes in foundational definitions of the nation occur, Shelef's analysis centers on the mechanisms of ideological change and then subjects them to empirical scrutiny. He thus moves beyond the common but problematic assumptions that such transformations must be either a rare, rational adaptation to traumatic shock or a relatively constant product of manipulation by power-hungry elites. He finds that nationalist movements, including radical and religious fundamentalist ones, can and do change cardinal components of their ideological beliefs in both moderating and radicalizing directions. These changes have more to do with the unguided consequences of engagement in day-to-day politics than with strategic reaction to new realities, the use of force, or the changing incentives of leaders. Engaging with some of the most contentious debates about the nature of Israeli nationalism and the geographic, religious, and ethnic definition of the state of Israel, Shelef has made signal contributions to our understanding of Middle East politics and of the ideological underpinnings of nationalism itself.
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