Rabbi Joshua Hammerman’s Opinion piece (“Liberal Judaism Lives,” July 22) was interesting, but one point personally disappoints me.
The rabbi mentioned an unconditional love for Israel and the right to criticize its policies. With all of the problems and challenges that Israelis have to live with, I am not sure that encouraging public (or private) criticism of its policies from within the family helps them. It may even help the other side.
Possibly Rabbi Hammerman’s congregants have a better understanding of all of the issues and challenges that Israelis face by presentations of the history and background of these problems and concerns.
I am personally concerned that the growing “right to criticize” Israel move stems from embarrassment, shame and an inclination towards eventual disengagement from Israel.
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