Letter From the Editor

There are mounds of snow outside my window in Washington, DC, as I write, and as far as my eye can see everything is white. The snow will vanish in a few weeks when spring arrives. But the nation and its capital are likely to remain metaphorically frozen.
Our government seems iced over by political polarization. True, there are genuine disagreements on key principles, and robust debate is key to a healthy democracy, but today far too many politicians seem more concerned about embarrassing opponents than working with them. It’s the old zero sum game: One can’t “win” if the other guy doesn’t “lose.” To admit the legitimacy of an opponent’s view—much less compromise—is seen as a display of weakness.

This same icy polarization has seeped into the American Jewish community, already rife with bitter rivalries and arguments. One of the most divisive issues is the appropriateness of allowing outsiders to see just how divided we are, in particular when it comes to the discussion of whether we should openly criticize Israel’s policies. Smack in the middle of this verbal tempest is J Street, the new-kid-on-the-block Israel lobby founded in 2008 that calls itself “the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.”

Thanks to the media brouhaha over J Street, most of us have at least heard of this latecomer to the Washington political scene. But despite all the coverage, testimonials and tirades, many people I meet don’t know what to think about it. They’re not clear about what J Street does, and are even less clear about whether they should love it or hate it. Nor do they know much about its founding director and leader, Jeremy Ben-Ami.

I have found this to be true among some movers and shakers, and it is certainly true for the vast majority of American Jews who don’t follow Jewish organizational politics. That’s why in this issue, Moment takes a comprehensive look at how J Street came into being with an in-depth portrait of Ben-Ami, the son of an Irgun member and heretofore relative unknown outside Democratic Party and liberal policy circles. Whether you consider yourself left, right, somewhere in the middle, way off the spectrum or none-of-the-above, we hope Moment senior editor Mandy Katz’s profile will help demystify both the man and his movement.

We didn’t plan it this way, but Israel is bursting out of nearly every story in this issue. California crime reporter Emilie Raguso tags along with two Israeli cops on a Tel Aviv graveyard shift. Hold onto your seats for a car chase, a reported explosion at a gay club, a street fight and the story of a missing man, whose case later gripped the country. It’s a night that reveals the dark side, with silver linings, of Israel’s liveliest city.

From Jerusalem, correspondent Dina Kraft sends a dispatch on a lighter note: She introduces us to the Israeli Arab who each year buys all of the country’s leavened bread products on the eve of Passover, only to find that the deal conveniently falls through when the holiday is over. In honor of Passover—which begins March 30—Rabbi Harold S. White fellow Sarah Breger takes a look at fine art Haggadahs, from the legendary Sarajevo Haggadah to some highly innovative modern creations from Jerusalem to New Orleans. And don’t miss the Passover crossword puzzle, created by David J. Kahn, Moment’s puzzle master.

Be sure to check out our expanded Books section, with reviews by Samuel Freedman, Judith Viorst, Katharine Weber and Michael R. Marrus. Speaking Volumes is by Peter Manseau, author of Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter, and pays tribute to the stories of Bernard Malamud. You’ll also find an interview with historian Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States. Shortly before his death, he spoke with Moment about his self-described radical views on American history and why he believed a one-state solution was ideal for both Arabs and Israelis.

Speaking of writing, we are accepting entries for the 2010 Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest, and this year’s Moment Magazine Memoir Contest. And thanks to all of you who sent us entries for our first cartoon caption contest. .

Stay tuned for our May/June 35th anniversary commemorative edition, which will be full of surprises. If you want your family, friends, synagogue, school, workplace or any organization important to you to partake in this celebration of independent Jewish journalism, subscribe now! This way, they won’t miss a word of our 35th year. Happy Passover!