Speaking Out of Place

Against “Jewish Innocence”: A Conversation with Peter Beinart on his new book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.

Jan 28, 2025

Peter Beinart, a professor and political commentator, explores his thought-provoking new book on Jewish identity post-Gaza destruction. He argues that Jews need to reimagine their narratives, moving away from a sense of innocence toward a nuanced understanding of their ethical responsibilities. The conversation delves into the complexities of privilege, the dynamics of the ceasefire, and the need for compassionate dialogue with Palestinian experiences. Beinart also highlights the transformative role of universities in fostering deep engagement with difficult topics surrounding Israeli-Palestinian relations.

38:05

Episode guests

Peter Beinart

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Quick takeaways

Peter Beinart emphasizes the need for Jews to reshape their narrative surrounding the Israeli state, recognizing that legitimacy stems from ethical actions rather than inherent value.

The discussion highlights the consequences of exceptionalism among Jews regarding Israel, which often leads to a lack of empathy for Palestinian experiences and rights.

Deep dives

The Need for a New Narrative

The discussion centers on the urgent need for Jews to reconstruct their narrative surrounding the Israeli state and its actions in Gaza. The current storyline, which portrays Israel as innocent amidst the suffering of Palestinians, is critiqued for allowing complacency in the face of ongoing violence. Peter Beynard argues that this narrative encourages a dismissive attitude toward the destruction witnessed in Gaza, as many Jews justify state actions to ensure their safety. He suggests that such rationalizations resemble the historical patterns of other groups who have perpetuated violence against perceived threats in pursuit of security.

Intro

2min

Reimagining Jewish Narratives in the Context of Gaza

26min

Navigating the Ceasefire: Humanitarian Hopes and Political Realities

3min

Engaging in Compassionate Dialogue: Bridging Perspectives

2min

Universities as Spaces for Intellectual Discomfort and Growth

2min

Challenging Definitions and Finding Hope in Movements of Change

3min

Today on Speaking Out of Place we sit down with Peter Beinart to discuss his new book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza. We ask what led him to write this intense, and intensely provocative book, which declares that Jews “need a new story” other than the current one, in which, Beinart argues, Jews see themselves as innocent with regard to the genocide in Gaza. I ask Peter to fully unpack this claim, among others:

“Many Jews treat a Jewish state the way the Bible feared Jewish monarchs would treat themselves: as a higher power, beholden to no external standard. Again and again, we are ordered to accept a Jewish state’s ‘right to exist.’ But the language is perverse. In Jewish tradition, states have no inherent value. States are not created in the image of God; human beings are. States are mere instruments… The legitimacy of a Jewish state—like the holiness of the Jewish people—is conditional on how it behaves. It is subject to law, not a law in and of itself.”

PETER BEINART is professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He is also editor at large of Jewish Currents, a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, an MSNBC political commentator, and a nonresident fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is the author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, and writes the Beinart Notebook newsletter on Substack.com. He lives in New York with his family.

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Speaking Out of Place

Against “Jewish Innocence”: A Conversation with Peter Beinart on his new book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Need for a New Narrative

The Legitimacy of the State

Exceptionalism and Dehumanization

Hope Amidst Struggles for Justice

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts