While the book discussion group is open to all, it is strongly urged that participants familiarize themselves with this literature in advance of the discussion sessions. Reading materials for the first session will be available at the Temple House front desk by Friday, Oct 5th or contact David Greenberg: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The “New Historians”, a loosely grouped school of Israeli historiography, have re-examined the founding assumptions of Zionism and the history of the modern Jewish state. Much of their work is based on de-classified Israeli government papers. In this lecture series and reading group, we will examine some of the major works of this literary and academic movement.

Tonight Rabbi Dan Bronstein will introduce the field of historiography and suggest some special issues affecting the writing of contemporary Israeli history. Reading materials for the first session will be available at the Temple House front desk by Friday, Oct 5th or contact David Greenberg: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On October 28, 2007, Congregation Beth Elohim welcomes prominent Israeli journalist Gershom Gorenberg, author of the acclaimed book The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements, 1967-1977. The reading group will discuss The Accidental Empire in its December 2007 session.

In February, 2008, the reading group will also discuss the work of Tom Segev, Israel’s leading contemporary historian, and Benny Morris, considered by many to be the founder of the “New Historians”. We will take a look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a different angle with a discussion of Rashid Khalidi’s most recent work, The Iron Cage in May, 2008.

Free of Charge