A Reform rabbi's 50-year perspective on the hyphen that separates anti-Zionism from antisemitism
By
Jeffrey Salkin
Pulled from the oven just right. Trustworthy, fact-dense, deeply satisfying.
Summary
A Reform rabbi reflects on 50 years in the Jewish professional world, examining the distinction between anti-Zionism (political opposition to Israel) and antizionism (a hate movement targeting Jews). The article argues that the presence or absence of a hyphen in the term marks the difference between legitimate political debate and antisemitic hate, drawing on personal experience from ordination at Temple Emanuel to contemporary issues facing Reform Judaism.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledOne small hyphen makes all the difference between a principled debate and a hate movement.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in New York City, exactly 45 years ago this week, when I stood on the ornate bimah inside Temple Emanuel and was ordained as a Reform rabbi.
In the course of my 50 years within the Jewish professional world, I have participated in the largest and deepest issues that have confronted Reform Judaism.
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