In his Between the Lines column, “Alienation From Israel Hitting Liberal Seminaries” (May 6), Gary Rosenblatt quotes Daniel Gordis as claiming that many future Conservative and Reform rabbis want Israel to live up to its ideals, but that his generation just wants Israel to survive. If this is an accurate quote, how sad. Obviously survival is always paramount. But survival and acting morally are not mutually exclusive.
For example, one can argue that Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank is not only immoral but is detrimental for its long-term survival. The same can be said for Israel’s political corruption, religious coercion and the growing economic inequality. Is it not the Prophets who insisted that Israel cannot survive if it acts unethically?
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