Episode 36: The State of Democracy in Israel and the U.S.
Description
Like many progressive Jews living outside Israel, Marc Overbeck watched the most recent Israeli election returns with mounting concern regarding the future of a democratic Israel. He feared the incoming government – described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history – could turn the country into something unrecognizable. For example, one of Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition partners, Itamar Ben Gvir, has said Arabs should be expelled from Israel. Overbeck, a Reconstructionist leader who has worked in government in two countries, sat down to write his thoughts. What came out was an impassioned defense of the longed-for ideal of Israel as a Jewish state and democracy and defender of human rights for all. He raises up two idealistic thinkers: Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, and Theodor Herzl, catalyst of modern political Zionism. He also offers an impassioned defense of the idea of democratic government as a force for good.
Theme song, “Ilu Finu” by Rabbi Miriam Margles. Her album This is the Day is available for purchase at CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Marc Overbeck.
Links:
- Read the Evolve essay, "Kaplan, Herzl and the Current State of Israeli and American Politics"
- Rabbi Deborah Waxman: The Situation in Hebron is Oppressive
- 'They are joining me. I'm not joining them': Netanyahu defends far-right allies
- 'Old New Land' by Theodor Herzl
- Amos Elon's famous Herzl biography
- 'Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community' by Robert Putnam
United States
