I'm sure you're right. I think its important to remember though that the nuances that mark secular nationalism in Israel are hard to see, for many, from abroad. The religious issue, irrespective of its seriousness, is simply easier to stigmatize, particularly from a progressive American point of view.
Interesting point about Shabtai Zvi. I wrote my undergraduate thesis largely on Scholem, so I will give that some thought.
Best, Joel
On Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 4:59 AM, Itamar Turner-Trauring (aka Shtull-Trauring) <itamar at itamarst.org> wrote:
> I just finished the book, and it is indeed pretty good. Two thoughts:
>
> 1. In so far as the book is a comment on Israeli culture, it is is an
> inaccurate commentary. Israel's political issues are exacerbated by
> religion, but the main factor is (secular) nationalism.
>
> 2. I am reminded of of Sabbatai Zevi:
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbetai_Tzvi>. Gershom Scholem's
> biography is well worth the read (and IIRC will also help you understand
> the one or two references to Kabbalah in Gravity's Rainbow).
>
> On Thu, 2009-10-15 at 19:38 +0200, joel schalit wrote:
> > I agree with your wife's reading of the book, Marv, though I would also
> say
> > that Chabon uses their book stand-ins as a way of giving voice to
> evolving
> > political differences between American and Israeli Jews.
> >
> > Joel
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 4:56 PM, Marv Gandall <marvgandall at videotron.ca
> >wrote:
> >
> > > My wife read it. Also enjoyed it a lot. She also saw it as a vehicle
> for
> > > Michael Chabon to contrast the former vibrant progressive
> Yiddish-speaking
> > > culture of Eastern Europe with Israel's increasingly right-wing
> culture.
>
>
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-- joel schalit editor, Zeek author, Israel vs. Utopia skype: jschalit email: jschalit at gmail.com web: www.joelschalit.com