This past Tuesday, I participated in a conference call with J Street U. For anyone not familiar with this organization from the media or from your own campus, it used to be known as the Union of Progressive Zionists and is now the campus branch of J Street. The topic which prompted this conference call was an article in the Forward about the challenges that the more progressive Jewish and Israel–related organizations faced when or if using the term “pro-Israel.” The article used the example of a Jewish organization at Carleton College in Minnesota to talk about this larger trend, noting that its Jewish organization wanted to make Israeli students feel comfortable but did not want to alienate community members by presenting them with deep misgivings about the Jewish state. While the call with J Street U did not focus on this issue as much as I would have liked or expected, most of the other students on the call voiced a desire to redefine the term “pro–Israel” so that it encompasses many more ways of supporting Israel than its traditional definition allows. One person from Tufts talked about how groups as different as ZOA and J Street U fall under the same “Friends of Israel” umbrella, implying that on a more local level, the term sometimes has broad connotations. One person from Middlebury talked about his pride in being “pro–Israel” in the way J Street understands and uses the term, and challenged us all to spread consciousness on our campuses about the limitations and potential of this term.
Just like these students, I too want to retake the term “pro–Israel” so that it encompasses my beliefs in the right of Israel to exist, my love for Israel, but also my constructive criticism of its state practices. As a Jew, re–evaluating terms with which our community has traditionally constructed our worldview resonates with me deeply. One of the things that I find beautiful about Judaism is the dynamism of our Rabbinic tradition. Our Rabbis have never been afraid to challenge and recast how we understand our texts, either to make it more applicable to changing times or much more simply, to match new intellectual perceptions. I have deep respect for Judaism’s acceptance of this diversity of interpretations. Dissent from within the community should not deter us; after all, Shammai and Rabbi Hillel certainly did not agree with each other, and both of their viewpoints are valueable.
I challenge campus organizations across American to work toward expanding the term “pro–Israel” so that it describes all of us who love and support the State of Israel.
