Final Project: Anti-Zionism and Judaism

I made changes to my project idea from my initial project idea post. My current project explores anti-Zionism within the Jewish community in comparison to anti-Semitic anti-Zionism. I am looking at documentation at the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati in addition to the sources outlined at the end of this outline. Generally, I am interested in the question of how can we create space in contemporary Jewish communities for the critical discussion of Zionism. In part, an understanding of the history of Jewish critique of Zionism is needed in order for this to happen.

Final Project Outline

Jennifer E.

I.               Introduction to the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati

a.     Anti-Semitic Collection

                                               i.     1954-1964

                                              ii.     nature of the collection

                                            iii.     types of documents included

                                            iv.     types of stereotypes about Jews and hatred voiced about Jews

II.             Characteristics of Anti-Semitic Anti-Zionism, 1954-64

a.     as described by American anti-Semitic writers 1954-64

b.     Ways in which anti-Zionism relates to other hatred of the Jews and stereotypes evidenced in this body of writing.

III.           Characteristics of Jewish critiques of Zionism (not Anti-Semitic)

a.     Anti-Zionism and Reform Judaism, 1897-1915

b.     Elmer Berger and the American Council for Judaism

                                               i.     Records at the American Jewish Archives, 1937-1968

                  c. Religious-based critiques of Zionism within the Jewish Community (3 Oaths in the Talmud)

d. Contemporary Examples

IV.            Are contemporary critiques of Israeli policies within Jewish communities anti-Zionist or Post-Zionist? What is the difference?

a.     “anti” vs. “post”

b.     Trend of labeling Jews who criticize Israeli policies as “self hating Jews” and “anti-Zionists” and as not “religious”

V.              The future of critical dialogue in Jewish Communities

a.     Can there be a place for critical dialogue about Israeli policies within Jewish communities without calling into question the authenticity or loyalty of ones Jewish identity?

References:

American Jewish Archives, Anti-Semitism Collection, 1954-1964, Cincinnati (various sources, TBD).

American Jewish Archives, American Council for Judaism Records, 1937-1968, Cincinnati (various sources, TBD).

Brownfeld, A. (2009). Attempts to silence critics of Israeli policis as “self-hating

Jews” a failing strategy. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, 28(8), pp.

53-54.

Butler, J. (2012). Parting ways: Jewishness and the critique of Zionism. New York:

Columbia University Press.

Corrigan, E. (2009). Is anti-Zionism anti-Semitic? Jewish critics speak. Middle East

Policy,16(4), pp. 146-159.

Don-Yehiya, E. (2012). Orthodox and other American Jews and their attitude to the

state of Israel. Israel Studies, 17(2), pp. 120-128.  

Fishman, D. (1998). Reform Judaism and the anti-Zionist persuasive campaign,

1897-1915, Communication Quarterly, 46(4), pp. 375-395.

Friesel, E. (2011). On the complexities of the modern Jewish identity: Contemporary

Jews against Israel. Israel Affairs, 17(4), pp. 504-519.

Klug, B. (2004). The myth of the new anti-Semitism: Reflections on anti-Semitism,

anti-Zionism and the importance of making distinctions. The Nation,

February 2, 2004.

Lapkin, T. (2005). The strange mythology of anti-Zionism. Quadrant, 49(12), pp. 21-

27.

Mendes, P. (2009). The strange phenomenon of Jewish anti-Zionism: Is it a

contradiction in term? The Australian Experience. Midstream, 55(3), p. 10.

Mendes, P. (2008). The strange phenomenon of Jewish anti-Zionism: Self-hating

Jews or protectors of universalistic principles? Australian Journal of Jewish

Studies, 22, pp. 96-132.

Myers, D. (2006). Can there be a principled anti-Zionism? On the nexus between

anti-historicism and anti-Zionism in modern Jewish thought. The Journal of

Israeli History, 25(1), pp. 33-50.

Prior, M. (2005). Comment: A disaster for dialogue: Anti-Zionism, anti-Semitisim,

and racism, Holy Land Studies, 4(1), 87-91.

Ross, J. (2011). Rabbi Outcast: Elmer Berger and American Jewish anti-Zionism.

Washington D.C.: Potomac Books.

Shapira, A. (2006). Israeli perceptions of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. The

Journal of Israeli History, 25(1), pp. 245-266.

Shatz, A., ed. (2004). Prophets outcast: A century of dissident Jewish writing about

Zionism and Israel. New York: Nation Books.

Volkov, S. (2006). Readjusting cultural codes: Reflections on anti-Semitism and anti-

Zionism. The Journal of Israeli History, 25(1), pp. 51-62.