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. Several copies of each of the works examined in this series will be available to members in the office.

On May 11 the New Israeli Historians Reading Group takes a look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a different angle with a discussion of Rashid Khalidi’s most recent work, The Iron Cage

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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.

Rabbi Dan Bronstein kicked off the series on October 14, 2007 with an overview of various trends in Zionist historical writing. Recommended reading for this session included excerpts from The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Israeli Textbooks 1948-2000, by Professor Elie Podeh of Hebrew University, along with additional material.

Last October, Congregation Beth Elohim welcomed 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 discussed The Accidental Empire at its December session.

In February the reading group discussed the work of Tom Segev, Israel’s leading contemporary historian, and Benny Morris, considered by many to be the founder of the “New Historians”.

Please watch the CBE website and the weekly Advisory for more details about the reading list and discussion leaders.

For more information, please contact David Greenberg at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Free of Charge