Personal Statement on Israel/Palestine

My connection to Israel is both deeply intellectual and profoundly emotional. My work teaching, leading, and writing about Jewish identity over many years has shaped a perspective that holds multiple truths at once: an unwavering commitment to the security and dignity of Jewish life, a firm rejection of terrorism, and a critical awareness of the complex historical and human realities experienced by Palestinian communities.

I believe Israel has a legitimate and enduring right to exist as a safe haven for Jews, a right rooted in Jewish history and in the reality that Jews have faced existential threats across the globe. I also believe that all civilians — Israeli and Palestinian alike — deserve safety, dignity, and opportunity in their daily lives. Hamas’ charter (like all jihadi groups), its attacks on civilians, and the ongoing use of terror tactics deeply wound my soul and affirm for me that terrorism must be rejected unequivocally. At the same time, my own education in Israel — including encounters with Palestinian citizens of Israel and long-term residents of the West Bank — has made clear that peace cannot be achieved without honestly acknowledging the grievances, aspirations, and hardships of Palestinian peoples.

I strive to approach this topic with nuance and compassion, resisting binary thinking and valuing deep, respectful dialogue between people across communities. I recognize the suffering on all sides, and I am committed to advancing ethical, people-centered approaches that uphold human rights and safety for everyone. I reject narratives that deny Jewish self-determination or that excuse violence against civilians, and I also reject rhetoric that erases Palestinian humanity or simplifies lived experience into slogans. I support efforts to build understanding through education, critical engagement with history, and sustained, principled conversation.

My values align with justice, integrity, historical honesty, accountability, and the sanctity of life, and I believe these values can guide constructive Jewish leadership in coalition with others — even where strategic and policy differences exist. I am committed to working with partners of good faith to reduce suffering, strengthen human dignity, and foster contexts in which lasting peace and security become more attainable for all.