Study Guide

The following are some questions to help guide you and your reading group through each chapter of Embracing Israel/Palestine. Please do add your own questions!

Chapter One: People of the Land

How do you feel about the role played by both Christians and people on the Left in generating hatred of Jews?
What are some of the ways that Jews responded to European anti-Semitism? How might you have responded if you were in their place?
One of the sections in this chapter is titled “Palestinian Reality: A Land With a People.” Why do you think Rabbi Lerner chose this title?

Chapter Two: Zionism Comes to the Land

In what sense was Zionism an affirmation that “Jewish is beautiful”?
Why does Rabbi Lerner argue that Jews coming to Palestine was not a colonial phenomenon? Do you agree with his argument? Why or why not?
If you were an early Zionist in Palestine, how might you have felt? What might have been your fears, dreams, ambitions, and views of Palestinian Arabs?
If you were a Palestinian Arab in Palestine during this same period, how might you have felt? What might have been your fears, dreams, and ambitions, and views of Zionists?
What was the significance of the Balfour declaration for Jews? For Palestinians?

Chapter Three: The Emergence of a Jewish State

What are some examples of terrorist acts committed by both sides? Do you think this violence could have been prevented?
How did the Holocaust change the way Jews thought about Zionism? How did it change how they thought about violence and self-defense?
Why did Palestinians reject the 1947 partition plan? How do you think they might have been convinced to embrace it?

Chapter Four: After the 1948 War—Palestinian Refugees & The Conflict Continues

What is “Al-Nakba?” How does this single event continue to color the lives of Palestinians around the world?
How did Arab leaders enable the spread of anti-Semitism?
In what ways are Palestinian citizens of Israel—those who remained in Israel and did not become refugees—still discriminated against?
What happened in 1967 and 1973, and how did this influence the emergence of an ultra-right-wing Likud government in 1977?

Chapter Five: The Oslo Accords and Beyond

What do you think were some of the strengths of the Oslo Accords? What were some of the weaknesses?
Why, in Rabbi Lerner’s opinion, did the Oslo Accords fail? Why did the “settler right” win the hidden civil war in Israel?
If you were in the place of Yitzak Rabin or Shimon Peres, what peace-promoting message would you send to Palestinians? To left-wing Israelis? To right-wing Israelis? To the international community? What sorts of rhetoric would you avoid?

Chapter Six: Camp David, the Second Intifada, Hamas, and the PA

In what ways was Ehud Barak’s “generous offer” not generous?
Why do you think Ariel Sharon entered the Temple Mount? What is Rabbi Lerner’s view of this incident?
What does Rabbi Lerner identify as the “two flaws” in the Road Map for Peace? How, in his view, did these flaws doom negotiations?
How might Palestinians view the withdrawal from Gaza? How might Israelis view the withdrawal?
In what ways do you think the Goldstone report was fair or unfair to Israel? In what ways was it fair or unfair to Hamas?
How do you feel when you view the map of West Bank settlements on page 235?
Do you know anyone who’s afraid to speak out against Israel for fear of being labeled as anti-Semitic? What might you say to such a person?

Chapter Seven: Healing the Traumas of Both Peoples

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and how does it affect Israeli consciousness?
What is “splitting”? Do you or anyone you know use this defense mechanism to protect yourself?
Rabbi Lerner argues that the Israeli fear of being a freier is connected to widespread PTSD in Israeli society. How so?
Do you agree with Rabbi Lerner that imposed solutions to the conflict will backfire? Why or why not?

Chapter Eight: Terms of a Sustainable & Just Peace Agreement

What do you think of Tikkun’s proposal for two states at peace?
What do you think of the “two states with overlapping electorate” solution?
What do you think of the “one-state solution”?
What do you think of the “no-state solution”?

Chapter Nine: Strategies For Achieving Peace

Which of the peace-promoting strategies advocated by Rabbi Lerner most resonates with you? Why?
Rabbi Lerner supports boycotts of companies that produce Israeli settlement products or products that directly support the Occupation of Palestine. However, he does not support a general boycott of Israel. What might his critics on the Right say about his position? How about his critics on the Left?
Some might argue that a Global Marshall Plan is too idealistic and unrealistic. Do you agree? If not, how might you respond to this argument?

Chapter Ten: The Spiritual Path Forward: Embracing The Left Hand Of God