Jewish author critical of Zionism Speaks in Grand Rapids

About 50 people attended an event yesterday co-hosted by the Christian Reform Church and Healing Children of Conflict. The event was a presentation by a Jewish writer and anti-Zionist, Mark Braverman. Braverman is the author of the book Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land and is part of a growing number of Jews who are critical of the State of Israel.

Braverman began his talk by sharing his own story, which is the story of a Jew who grew up with a Zionist narrative in a very traditional setting. Braverman says that he grew up in Philadelphia in a family that practiced conservative Judaism.

This type of theological Judaism is not only conservative it also embraces Zionism, according to Braverman, which is a more recent phenomenon. Braverman was taught that he was very fortunate because he has grown up in a time where the Jews have been redeemed based on the modern creation of the State of Israel.

Braverman also said that he grew up with this belief that all non-Jews were not to be trusted. Christians were seen as people who either wanted to convert you or kill you. However, when he went to Palestine in 2006 and saw what the Israeli occupation was doing it radically altered his worldview. When he heard the story of the Nakba, the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their own lands, it had a profound effect on him.

As he spent more time in Palestinian communities and saw the contrast between the Jewish areas and the Palestinian area he felt more at home amongst Palestinians. Then came the Israeli “separation” wall, which Braverman says is a death sentence for Israel, because it makes them more desperate and more like the historical oppressors.

However, what eventually turned him around in how he now sees the world was the time he spent with and the relationships he developed with Palestinians. He says that the Palestinians were completely open to discussing the difficult issues around the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, much more so that Israelis.

He then told the audience about the visits he would make to the Sabeel Center, where a Palestinian Christian liberation theology is discussed and practiced. He told everyone about a conversation he had with a Palestinian woman named Nora whose family used to have a house in West Jerusalem. Braverman asked her how she copes with living under occupation.

Nora said that she copes because she is a follower of Jesus. She believes in non-violent resistance and that this testimony for Braverman is what gave him direction as a Jew. He realized that the Judaic tradition, particularly the prophetic tradition, says that one has to speak truth to power and advocate for justice and peace.

Braverman said that in the last day of this particular visit he was with a Quaker tour and saw young Jewish people near to a major Jewish center of worship. He said to one of the Palestinians that this was him 40 years ago and that these kids would just as soon kill the Palestinians in the group. His Palestinian friend said that he knew that and Mark asked what do I do when I go home to my people? He was told to go back to the US and change that belief among Jews and Christians.

Now he speaks in churches throughout the country, many of which welcome his perspective on the issue of Israel/Palestine. He says that the resistance to his message is strong and Christians tend to fear being labeled anti-Semitic, but Braverman says we have to have the courage to challenge this attitude.

He then says that often this issue is framed as a religious war, between Jews and Muslims, but Bravermen says this is not true, it is a struggle for social justice. “Zionism is not Judaism. The state of Israel does not represent the Jewish people,” said Braverman.

Braverman says that there are plenty of Jews in Israel who do not support the policies of the State of Israel. He says some of them have communicated to him that they support the Boycott/divestment campaign, because they do not want to raise their children in a culture that is so toxic with hate.

The author said this is an important global issue because of how it impacts people’s perception of the US. He says that many people have told him they hate the US because of what they are doing to the Palestinians. It is about deconstructing the whole American narrative of supposedly bringing this Judeo-Christian form of democracy to the world.

Braverman ended his presentation by debunking some of the mainstream narratives about US policy towards Israel/Palestinian, which insists the conflict is about the security of Israel. Braverman says this is absolutely not true and what the policy is about is the US maintaining hegemony in the region, which is why they back Israel.

“The churches have a history of working on these changes,” said Braverman. He then gives the example of the US Civil Rights Movement and the global anti-Apartheid movement against South Africa, both of which included the faith community.

Braverman seemed optimistic that people in the US can change their views on Israel/Palestine and that we can build a movement that will result in a lasting and just people for both Israelis and Palestinians.