The goal of this manual is to design new ways to discuss Israel, focusing on basic religious themes. The Middle East is often seen as a confusing array of political, economic, military strategy, and religion. Amidst this confusion, religious themes are an important element in shaping American attitudes toward Israel, and this volume helps prepare leadership to engage in an interreligious dialogue about Israel and the Middle East.
This manual attempts to move the process along with an “on-the-job-training“ approach to aid leadership in developing a personal approach to Israel dialogue that emphasizes religious themes.
- The Introduction is by Rabbi A. James Rudin, Senior Interreligious Affairs Director with the American Jewish Committee.
- The chapters on the Land, Zionism, Borders, and Holocaust reflect and develop these themes for further dialogue, serving as reference material for discussions.
- Study questions provide an opportunity to review the material and develop a personal approach to the issues.
- The highlights of each chapter describe its contents, outline its goals and assign “homework” for further study.
- The final section of the manual is devoted to exercises which simulate dialogue and provide practice for future dialogue discussions.
“Israel is a complex reality. It has roots in the Jewish land tradition in the Bible, it is the Jewish national homeland, and some 20% of the population is non-Jewish. This volume succinctly looks at these varied aspects of the reality of Israel. It provides an excellent foundation for dialogues between Christians and Jews about its many faces and why many Jews outside Israel regard it as essential to their self-understanding.”
~ Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Ph.D Professor Emeritus at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and honorary life President, International Council of Christians & Jews
“Deborah Levine gives us a rare achievement. Dialogue on Israel with Christians and Jews provides a framework to discuss Israel without hyperbole, vitriol, or escape into uninformed history, politics, or eschatology. This book is clearly presented and is an invaluable aid to teaching and leading discussions with people who really want to understand Israel. I have used it for decades, and classes always want to return to it. It is an important working resource in my ministry as a pastor in different denominations.”
~ Bill Bond, M. Div.
“The most meaningful meetings in Torah are panim el panim, “face to face,” fully engaged and responsive to the one with whom we are in dialogue. This booklet lays the groundwork for understanding, and meaningful conversation about important, yet sensitive topics, differing views on God, religious purpose, and the dynamic meaning of Israel as a people, land, and modern state. Deborah Levine objectively lays out facts on sensitive issues and describes competing opinions with simplicity and clarity. With defined objectives and guiding questions, she has created a useful tool for personal or group study, and most importantly an invitation for people of all backgrounds to meet “face to face.”
~ Rabbi Craig Lewis, Mizpah Congregation, Chattanooga, TN
Photo by Anton Mislawsky on Unsplash
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