Israeli author A.B. Yehoshua insults American Jewry

[mbczion]

Author A.B. Yehoshua vexes US Jews



Maariv-Yedioth : During a forum on the future of the Jewish people, renowned Israeli author A. B. Yehoshua emphasized his Israeli identity as superior in importance to his Judaism, spurring discomfort and awkwardness among his audience. “My identity is Israeli,” Yehoshua told participants in a Washington symposium marking a century since the establishment of the American Jewish Committee. The author added the Jewish religion does not play a role for him and said the territory and language is what creates his identity as an Israeli. During the forum held in the United States Library of Congress building, the Israeli author purported that the past 100 years were a failure in terms of the development of the Jewish people. He argued that one’s identity is crafted by his environment and the land he lives in. A Jewish Israeli is not the same thing as a Jewish Frenchman ; every Jew has an identity linked to the territory he lives in, Yehoshua said. Whoever sits in Israel and daily makes dozens of fateful and relevant decisions for the continued existence of the Jews, he is the one ensuring continuity, he added.

Comments?

[physics]

This is actually what I referred to in my post about Israeli & diaspora relations. I think that his comments are somewhat true.

Some people say that Israelis are closer to Arabs and foreign workers in Israel than to diaspora Jews. However, sharing a territory and language does not exactly create strong bonds. Jewish bond is beyond this, it's more special.

[physics]

Consider African-Americans and whites in U.S.A., they share land and language, but there is a large cultural gap, and surely each group has it's own identity.

[MGB8]

A common point of view, and also a reflection of the famous Israeli arrogance. At the same time, an irresponsible statement that essentially "disowns" half of his extended family. Good luck without diaspora Jews, Israel...

Idiots.

[Mediocrates]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...247880,00.html


I thought some of the readers comments appended to the article were better than the article.

[mbczion]

A common point of view, and also a reflection of the famous Israeli arrogance. At the same time, an irresponsible statement that essentially "disowns" half of his extended family. Good luck without diaspora Jews, Israel...

Idiots.

While I agree with you that A.B. Yehoshua has a warped view, it would not be fair to pin his view on all Israelis. Many Israelis (including most secular) feel an affinity with Jews the world over. It's just that Yehoshua is a high-profile Israeli author and, like all big-wig Israelis (whether authors, actors, musicians, politicians, etc.) what they say is often put under a microscope and blanketly attributed to ALL Israelis.

[physics]

First of all, the comments of high-status Israelis doesn't reflect the opinions of all Israelis.

[mbczion]

First of all, the comments of high-status Israelis doesn't reflect the opinions of all Israelis.

Exactly what I was saying....