Discover what Jewish people in America have
to say about Israel—
their voices have never mattered more than they do now.
their voices have never mattered more than they do now.
As anti-Israel sentiment spreads around
the world—from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to
former President Jimmy Carter—it has never been more
important for American Jews to share their feelings and
thoughts about Israel, and foster a connection to Israel in the
next generation of Jewish and Christian adults.
This inspirational book features the
insights of top scholars, business leaders, professionals,
politicians, authors, artists, and community and religious
leaders covering the entire denominational spectrum of Jewish
life in America today—and offers an exciting glimpse into
the history of Zionism in America with statements from Jews who
saw the movement come to life. Presenting a diversity of views,
it will encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to think
about what Israel means to them and, in particular, help young
adults jump start their own lasting, personal relationship with
Israel.
Contributors include:
Marc D. Angel • Bradley Shavit
Artson • Samuel Bak • Sharon Brous
• Nina Beth Cardin • Shoshana S. Cardin
• Steven M. Cohen • Elliot N. Dorff
• David Ellenson • Russ Feingold
• Sylvia Barack Fishman • Abraham H. Foxman
• Debbie Friedman • Jane Friedman
• Niles Elliot Goldstein • Harold Grinspoon
• Nat Hentoff • Dov Hikind
• Peter Himmelman • Esther Jungreis
• Karyn D. Kedar • Danny Maseng
• Shulamit Reinharz • Thane Rosenbaum
• Jonathan D. Sarna • Debbie Wasserman
Schultz • Lynn Schusterman • Rami M.
Shapiro • Danny Siegel • Aryeh Lev Stollman
• David A. Teutsch • Stephen Joel
Trachtenberg • Gordon Tucker • Henry A.
Waxman • David Wolpe • And many more
…
“Offers a multitude of views ... gives both Jews and Christians a remarkable insight into this important subject.”
—American Library Association’s Booklist
“A useful tool for … those seeking to define their own relationship with Israel.”
—Jewish Book World
“Bravo to Rabbi Salkin for gathering
these impressive personal testimonies. They serve an urgent and
vital purpose—reminding us of the nearly
four-thousand-year bond between the Jewish People and Israel,
and educating us on Israel’s enduring meaning for
American Jewry.”
—David A.
Harris, executive director,
American Jewish Committee
“A touching, emotional, funny
book.… Every essay touches a nerve in every American Jew
who loves Israel. I highly recommend this book as a personal
joy to read and to give as a gift to those who ask, ‘Why
should I care about Israel?’”
—June
Walker, chairperson, Conference of
Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations
Major American Jewish Organizations
“The shared ahavat Yisrael (love
for the Land and the People of Israel) uniting the incredible
diversity of voices in this important anthology redefines
‘Pro-Israel.’”
—Rabbi
Arik W. Ascherman, executive
director, Rabbis for Human Rights
“Rabbi Salkin and Jewish Lights did
it again! Thank you for this inspiring gift for Israel’s
60th! A must for lovers and dreamers of Zion around the world
… and a great resource for anyone who explores a
contemporary engagement with Israel.”
—Rabbi
Uri Regev, president, World Union
for Progressive Judaism
“A powerful collection of personal
testimonies … Christians who care about Christian-Jewish
relations need to read this collection in order to understand
the inescapable importance of Israel in that relationship. It
also helps us understand why church statements and actions
against Israel are so painful to Jewish friends.”
—David
Blewett, national director,
National Christian Leadership
Conference for Israel (NCLCI)
Conference for Israel (NCLCI)
“Here are voices from all over the
community, from all ages, from all kinds of Jews. Together they
show us the how and the why of our profound connection to
Israel. This book answers the questions, why do we care so much
and why should the fate of this tiny country affect us in
America so deeply? The answers are personal and communal and
revealing. This is an important book for all those interested
in the Jewish people and their incredible story.”
—Anne
Roiphe, novelist, journalist and
author of 13 books
“In this sixtieth year of
Israel’s independence, it is incumbent on American Jewry
to take a step back to reflect on the meaning of Israel’s
existence in our own lives. Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin has done us an
immense favor in bringing together such a wide spectrum of
writers and thinkers to ponder this question.”
—Rabbi
Robert R. Golub, executive
director, MERCAZ USA,
the Zionist arm of the Conservative Movement
the Zionist arm of the Conservative Movement
“As Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
wrote—‘wherever I travel I go to Israel.’ For
me and millions of other Jews—as well as
Christians—Israel, both spiritually and existentially, is
at the very core of our identities. Wherever we go in life,
Israel is on our minds, in our hearts and shaping our ethos. A Dream of Zion does
a wonderful job in bringing together a rich variety of paths
through which we encounter and relate to Israel, her struggle
for peace and security, and the meaning it has for our lives.
If you love Israel—both the nation and state—and it
vibrates the strings of your neshama, this book is a must read.”
—Rabbi
Yechiel Eckstein, president,
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
“A Dream of Zion is exactly that—filled with miracles and
triumph, the joy of coming home, and at the same time,
aspiration and hope, that Israel can become the land flowing
with justice and righteousness. Sixty years of love can be
found on page after page, a worthy testament to the vitality of
the dream and of the reality.”
—David M.
Elcott, PhD, executive director,
Israel Policy Forum
“Explores the connection to Israel
from many varied perspectives that reflect on the historical,
religious, and contemporary underpinnings of this special and
unique relationship. You will identify with some, disagree with
others, but you are certain to be stimulated to thoughtful
reflection on this central aspect of Jewish life.”
—Malcolm
Hoenlein, executive vice chairman,
Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations
of Major American Jewish Organizations
“In this compelling volume one hears
the multiplicity of views and emotions American Jews have for
Israel. It demonstrates that there is no single American Jewish
perspective of Israel. At this time when there are so many
misconceptions about American Jewish attitudes towards Israel
this book will serve an important purpose.”
—Deborah
E. Lipstadt, PhD, Dorot Professor
of Modern Jewish and
Holocaust Studies, Emory University
Holocaust Studies, Emory University
