Yakov M. Rabkin, “What Is Modern Israel?” (U. Chicago/Pluto Press, 2016)
New Books in Middle Eastern Studies
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The Role of Israel in the World's Jewry
I think the centrality of Israel has become main point of Jewish identities around the world with the exception of ultra-orthodox groups who are not affected practically. A Jew can be considered a good Jew if he supports Israel all the while transgressing all the core commandments. In mainstream Jewish communities here in North America that I observe, you can transgress all the commandments provided you support Israel and give a check to Israeli charities. It's a new Judaism, a new Judaism that has become largely a political identity. The traditional Jewish identity based on religious commandments has become secondary or tertiary or has disappeared altogether.
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