Penny Rosenwasser

What one reviewer, Karen Brodkin, author, said about this book sums it up:
“A wonderful, gutsy, and inspiring book. Penny Rosenwasser takes on the most explosive issues in American Jewish life today- racism and anti-Semitism, victimization and privilege, and Jewish politics around Israel and Palestine. And she does it with a generosity of spirit and a clear head. “

On a personal level the book challenged me to look at my experiences as an activist on behalf of issues around racism, sexism, and homophobia. I had to ask myself where is my Jewish voice, why am I filled with fear just thinking about Jewish and U.S. politics around Israel and Palestine? Why am I so conflicted balancing my values for peace, justice and fairness with my relationship to Israel as an American Jew?

The questions raised in the book were provocative, enlightening, and at times scary to consider. After all I was raised with the stories of our history of persecution and infused with the dreams of a Jewish state in Israel. But I am also confronted with the reality of the ongoing conflict, where Palestinian women, children, innocent civilians are being denied basic necessities, safety, often their lives in the name of Israeli self-defense. How do I respond to the need for fair solutions, equal right for all, Israelis and Palestinians? Can I be pro Israel’s right to exist but against current policies and practices that deny human rights to others?

Rosenwasser asks: is Jewish identity today founded on a history of victimization? Deep inside do many of us still feel powerless, and behave as if we are still victims, internalizing what has happened to our people over the centuries? Does this sense of powerlessness influence attitudes and decisions regarding the current conflicts?

And who benefits from the endless war, keeping a population on perpetual high alert? Do decision to choose military actions promote political goals while feeding the economy? Rosenwasser documents how war is turning a profit for the security military industries while serving political goals, both for Israel and the U.S.

She reminds us that whenever a Jewish or a Muslim mother loses her child to violence from an Israeli or Palestinian fighter, the loss and grief are the same. Perhaps our mantra should be: “not one more child shall die”.

Rosenwasser concludes the book on a hopeful note, focusing on creating a future with strategies for recovery from internalized Jewish oppression, addressing the complexity of being a Jew, and encouragement for choosing justice despite our fears.

It was not always an easy read, but it gripped me, challenged me to think about concepts that made me both uncomfortable and hopeful. I highly recommend this book to others. Read it and then let us dialogue together. It is thought provoking, emotion provoking and has caused me to face my fears in seeking justice.

- Harriet… (lisätietoja)