A recognition that we are in Judaism 3.0 would turn the Israel-basher into a Jew-basher, and thus he would be deterred.
Reprint from the The Jerusalem post, april 12, 2024
Every few centuries, there is an attempt to eradicate Judaism: In the 15th century via the Inquisition, in the 20th century through the Holocaust, and in the 21st century with Israel-bashing and anti-Zionism.
In each of those assaults, some Jews have tried to create an artificial separation between “good Jews” and “bad Jews.” In the 1490s, many Jews believed that converting to Christianity would spare them, making them “good Jews.” They were wrong – it only placed them under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition.
In the late 19th century a new form of opposition to Judaism emerged, with a new term: antisemitism. Jews were accused of dehumanizing Europeans, poisoning the wells of humanity, and were treated as pariahs. Some Jews believed that the spike in antisemitism was not against them, the “good Jews,” but against the badly behaving Jewish immigrants from Russia or as one person explained to Herzl – against the liberals – not against the Jews as a nation. Herzl understood that the Jewish question went deeper, and he offered a solution in his 1896 book, The Jewish state – a modern solution to the Jewish question.
Some 45 years later, the Nazis presented a different solution to the Jewish question.
Good Jew vs bad Jew
Today, in the current assault on Judaism, through the prism of Zionism, we once again see Jews who seem to believe that the solution is through separating “good Jew” from “bad Jew.” This perhaps was best depicted in Sen. Chuck Schumer’s speech.
Schumer said it clearly: “The Jewish state is a pariah opposed by the rest of the world.” He echoed the accusations of Israel-bashers and anti-Zionists, which are similar to the accusations heard in Europe a century ago and in Persia 2,500 years ago during the events of the Book of Esther.
But there was a footnote: Schumer did not slander all Jews – only those Jews in Israel. Per Schumer, it is not the Jewish nation that is a pariah, only the Jewish state – a charge he repeated twice in his speech.
Schumer also implied that Jews in Israel are bigots, defining bigots as “those who oppose the idea of a Palestinian state” – the vast majority of Israeli Jews on the Left and Right alike.
The Jewish Question of the 1930s has resurfaced, now in the form of the ”Jewish State question.” As then, some Jews are attempting to solve it using the “good Jew” vs “bad Jew” distinction.
Schumer’s slander followed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s charge that Jews in Israel dehumanize Palestinians and his insinuation that Israeli Jews, once again, poison the wells: “The greatest poison in our common well is dehumanization.”
Would this “bad Jews” in Israel vs “good Jews” in America distinction work? Not likely. This is because the world does not make this intra-Jewish distinction – only Jews do. The world did not make the distinction between Russian Jewish immigrants and proper German Jews in the 20th century, nor between “Israelites” and “Juifs” in France in the 19th century – those were only internal Jewish nuances.
Schumer made it worse by calling for the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new elections in Israel. This only solidified the allegedly bigotry of the Jewish state, since Netanyahu’s would-be challengers equally support the war effort, oppose the idea of rewarding Hamas’s Oct. 7 actions with a Palestinian state, and are appalled by the incitive, anti-Jewish rhetoric voiced by Schumer and Blinken. (Thomas Friedman of The New York Times is not a candidate for prime minister of Israel. But even if he were, he would likely only get a few hundred votes. Incidentally, those few hundred Israelis are the primary touch-point with Israel for much of the New York milieu, and indeed, those Israelis are more sympathetic to the idea of a Palestinian state).
Let’s be clear: Schumer and Blinken are long-standing friends of Israel, who have admirably served their country, the United States, for decades. Israelis will forever be grateful for the steadfast support of President Biden and Sec. Blinken at the onset of the war, as well as for their continued support in ways we know and ways we do not know.
But their rhetoric fuels our era’s existential threat to Judaism.
As discussed in this column, the potent part of the threat is not the vocal pro-Palestinian demonstrators waving “From the river to the sea” banners, since they do not have the destruction mechanism. The lethal threat comes from “Israel-bashers-lite,” those in positions of power, who are influenced by the Israel-bashers and act upon it (See “Understanding the depth of Israel-bashing – One night in Basel,” The Jerusalem Post, September 24, 2022).
Herzl pinpointed this aspect when he defended accusations that he exaggerated the threat to the Jews from their friends:: “Even if we were as near to the hearts of princes as are their other subjects, they could not protect us. They would only feel popular hatred by showing us too much favor.”
Indeed, for Schumer, one of America’s most astute politicians, to make a legacy-changing decision from being what he called “the guardian of Israel” to being broadly viewed by Israelis on Left and Right as someone who rose up to assault Israel in its time of need, could be indicative of something much bigger and more dangerous.
Netanyahu repeatedly argues that 80% of Americans support Israel. Schumer’s legacy-switch decision might be emblematic of undercurrents in the other direction. After years of incitement in the media and social media; by international organizations; and now even on the Senate floor, the Jewish nation in the 2020s is facing an existential threat that is significantly greater than that of the 1930s.
And yet, Judaism has a secret weapon for fending off this unprecedented ideological assault coming from the West: antisemitism itself.
Paradigm shift
Unlike in previous rounds, in our era’s assault, it is taboo to say, “I hate Jews.” Therefore one needs to direct opposition to Jews through the Jewish state (“I only hate the ‘bad Jews’”).
Once there is a global recognition that Judaism has transformed and Zionism is now its anchor (Judaism 3.0), that false facade gets shattered. A recognition that we are in Judaism 3.0 would turn the Israel-basher into a Jew-basher, and therefore he would be deterred.
Mostly, it would dispel the prevailing ludicrousy in America of ostensibly showing zero tolerance for traditional antisemitism (the existential threat to Judaism in the 20th century), while shining a big green light on Israel-bashing (the existential threat to Judaism in the 21st century).
Recognition is already happening around the world. Yet, the Biden administration failed to acknowledge it when it crafted its antisemitism-combating strategy. It decided to focus on the threat that Judaism faced in the past century while ignoring the contemporary threat. This is akin to crafting a strategy to combat antisemitism in 1930s Germany by showing zero tolerance for statements supporting the Romans’ burning of the Jewish Temple while giving a green light to accusations of German Jews dehumanizing Europeans and polluting the wells of humanity.
The “Jewish question is back.” It has a simple solution: Judaism 3.0.
The writer is author of Judaism 3.0: Judaism’s Transformation to Zionism (Judaism-Zionism.com). For his geopolitical article: EuropeAndJerusalem.com.
Read the first pages of Judaism 3.0: Judaism 3.0 – Summary
(Preview available for a limited time on Europe and Jerusalem)
Related video: A shift in America’s counter-terrorism strategy (Washington Times’ Bold & Blunt, March 26, 2024)
This article first appeared in the April 12, 2004 Jerusalem Post (click for the PDF):
Related articles:
Recognizing a Palestinian state could destabilize the Middle East and Europe (Washington Times, February 23, 2024)
Tough Choices in Munich 130 years apart – Blinken and Herzl (Jerusalem Post, February 23, 2024)
Related video: Israeli soldiers are not dying for the State of Palestine (Washington Times video-cast, February 15, 2024)
The Big Picture: Gol Kalev argues that Judaism is going through a historic transformation and Zionism is becoming the anchor of Judaism (Judaism 3.0).
Therefore, age-old opposition to Judaism is now expressed through anti-Zionism and Israel-bashing
Read summary of the Judaism 3.0 Thesis: Zionism is the anchor of Judaism
Watch the recent Judaism 3.0 discussion: Anti-Zionism as the new Anti-Semitism
Judaism is under assault through the port of Zionism
Related: A revolutionary approach to countering Israel-bashing unveiled at the Judaism 3.0 book launch:
Watch more of Gol Kalev’s strategic analysis:
including
The unintended conversation: Two-state solution in Europe?
A shift in America’s counter-terrorism strategy
Another Oslo? Another withdrawal? Israelis united not to make the same mistakes
The Media is an actor in this war:
Related Article: The Day After: The ideological assault on Israel
The Jerusalem Post, January 5, 2023
Abstract: Israel must take into account new interrelated geopolitical realities that will likely emerge from the war.
Post-two-state solution: The Gaza war put a decisive end to the two-state solution. This is not due to Hamas’s attack nor to its 72% support rate among Palestinians. It is also not due to Israeli and Palestinian rejection of the template. The two-state solution died due to Western reaction to Oct. 7.
The two-state solution was based on the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state with various restrictions to accommodate Israel’s security needs, such as Israel controlling the Palestinian state’s airspace and border crossings.
The UN, the media, and Western politicians killed the two-state solution when they placed Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks in the context of the occupation of Gaza. They indoctrinated the world that Gaza was under occupation, in spite of the fact that Israel fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005. If Gaza was under occupation, then certainly the future state of Palestine would be under occupation:
There would be Israeli military presence, settlement blocks, and ample restrictions. Hence, global public opinion would utterly reject the idea of an “occupied” state of Palestine, which is the cornerstone of the two-state solution: Full Article
Scroll down for videos connecting Judaism 3.0 frameworks to today’s situation
Related: The ideological assault that fuels Hamas physical assault
Related: Anti-Zionism is a threat to Global Stability
Anti-Zionism – the contemporary path to eradicate Judaism (Sept. 13, 2023)
Jerusalem Post Special Magazine: Are we in Judaism 3.0?:
Gol Kalev shows how anti-Zionism has turned into an existential threat to Judaism, in a Jerusalem Post article series (2022)
The implications of Judaism 3.0:
This generation’s existential threat to Judaism
Applying Herzl’s thinking to counter Israel-bashing
Occuptionalism: The new form of Colonialism is hijacking the Palestinian cause
Occupationalism is enabled by the Jerusalem-based “Conflict Industry,” known for its lavish parties, insularity, high turnover and its own social hierarchy
European blood libels continue, but now there is a solution
Recognizing that we are in Judaism 3.0 would address existential threats to Judaism, but it would also provide Jewish clarity that would advance humanity
Judaism 3.0: Turning threats to Judaism into enablers of its survival
Like antisemitism in Herzl’s time, today’s Israel-bashing and assimilation of American Jewry also have hidden assets in them
Passover to Shavuot and the American-European divide
How the transition affects today’s geopolitics, the flaws of democracies and the emerging rift: Americanism vs. Europeanism
Threat to Judaism through friends, influenced by Israel-bashing movement
Applying Herzl’s thinking, the threat to Judaism might come through our friends. Such Israel-bashing-light was showcased in the Basel Zionism celebrations in 2022
A broad recognition of Judaism 3.0 would release the Arabs of the Middle-east from debilitating European dogmas that have occupied their true character for the last 100 years
See in Link: Applying Judaism 3.0 to the countering Israel-Bashing
See also The Jerusaelm Report 2022 New Year Magazine: Judaism’s transformation to Zionism – Countering the Israel-bashing movement
Recognizing that Judaism has transformed would rob the Israel-bashers of their starting point: The premise that Judaism is merely a religion.
Summary of above articles:
Gol Kalev shows how Israel-bashing is today’s existential threat to Judaism, having both a populous dogmatic retail component – Occupationalism, and institutional destruction mechanisms that deploy modern-day blood-libels. In such circumstances, Hasbara (Israeli PR) is futile. Yet, a broad global recognition that Judaism has transformed to Judaism 3.0, and Zionism is now its anchor, would dramatically mitigate the threat.
Related. Jerusalem Post Magazine Cover-articles by Gol Kalev:: EUROPE & JERUSALEM
The resurfacing of European Colonialism
Hijacking the Palestinian cause
European opposition to the Jewish state
Time for a new European peace conference
Europe should benefit from Herzl’s vision
For inquiries/comments: info@europeandjerusalem.com
Judaism 3.0 launch: Revolutionary approach to coutnering Israel-bashing
Watch Gol discuss his new book in an i24 interview
Applying the frameworks of Theodor Herzl to today
Judaism 3.0 event: Applying Herzl to today’s strategic issues
Watch Gol Kalev address to the Jerusalem Leaders Summit
Related article: anti-Zionism is anti—humanity
Praise for Judaism 3.0
“A courageous thesis that must be part of any serious discussion of the future of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Michael Oren, historian, former ambassador of Israel to the United States
“Gol Kalev does not just know Theodor Herzl – he lives and breathes Theodor Herzl…This book should trigger the conversation the Jewish community needs about Israel, Zionism, Judaism and Identity. Bravo!”
Professor Gil Troy, author – The Zionist Ideas
ייA remarkable ideas book that is about much more than the state of Judaism…One of the most important books about Judaism, Zionism and global trends of our times.”
Catherine Carlton, former Mayor of Menlo Park, Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur
“This book should play an important role in the discussions about the future of world Jewry and its relations with Israel.”
Natan Sharansky, former Chairman of The Jewish Agency, former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
“Gol Kalev’s book has the merit to transform the very essence of the State of Israel to becoming an objective expression of Jewish identity“
Dr. Georges Yitzhak Weisz, author – Theodor Herzl: A New Reading
“This book has sparked as much conversation as it has because the premise is so interesting, so counter-intuitive and demand of us that we think many thing anew. That is perhaps the greatest gift a book can give.”
Dr. Daniel Gordis, author – We Stand Divided
“Fresh new thinking about the relationship between Judaism and Israel. Kalev picks up where Herzl left off…A must read for people of all religious and political backgrounds who want to get a deeper understanding of the state of Zionism and Judaism today.”
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem
About the Author: Gol Kalev is a former Wall Street investment banker who has been researching Herzl and Zionism. Growing up in Tel Aviv and serving in the Israeli army, he then lived in New York and now resides in Jerusalem. He also spent time in various European cities and has traveled through both the American and European countryside, learning about contrasting world-views.
He has been chairman of The AIFL Think Tank since 2011 (now the Judaism 3.0 think tank), which explores the state of Zionism and Judaism, and has been writing analysis articles about Zionism, Europe, global affairs and long-term geopolitical shifts for the Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Report, Israel Hayom, The Daily Wire, The Media Line, Newsweek and Foreign Policy.
He has been praised for his unique understanding of Judaism by people throughout the political and religious spectrum. In this book, he delivers the state of Judaism as he sees it: Zionism as the anchor of Judaism.
Visit the Judaism 3.0 website: Judaism-Zionism.com
Mazo publishing is offering organizations and companies who wish to purchase 100 copies or more, a special edition of Judaism 3.0 with a dedication page. For information:
Europe and Jerusalem 