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In My Jewish State: How I was trained in pro-Israel advocacy and learned to talk back to my culture, find my own humanity, and fight for peace
Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman was raised and socialized into religious Zionism, and moved to Israel as a young mother where she devoted herself to Orthodox Judaism, education, and fighting for Israel. Until she landed in a pro-Israeli advocacy job and discovered some dark underpinnings of the ideology that she had dedicated her life to. And then everything started to unravel.
After years of seeking out the truth about the world in which she lives, Dr. Sztokman made some drastic changes in her life, becoming active in advancing shared society, peace, and a different vision for the entire region.
In this volume, Dr. Sztokman uses her professional of an rhetorical analysis cultivated from years of anthropological research, and unpacks the language and ideas that drive the pro-Israel advocacy movement and are used to justify cruel actions and attitudes. In the process, she makes some drastic personal changes, shifts her own Jewish identity, and advocates for a different vision of what it means to live in a Jewish state.
“A searingly brave look at Israel today and at what the area between the river and the sea can be, if only we can imagine a future defined by equality for everyone. Sztokman is the best kind of one who is not willing to give up on freedom, justice and compassion.”
- Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science at Carleton University, and author of Borders and A Memoir
"Riveting! Elana Sztokman is an excellent writer, clear and illuminating. This book helped me understand my own feelings about the conflict and make some order out of everything we see and hear about it."
- Reva Mann, author of The Rabbi's Daughter
“Mahatma Gandhi ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’ Dr. Elana Sztokman's book In My Jewish State is certainly worthy of this phrase. In a world and more specifically a region fraught with conflict, it is vital to read Elana's personal journey and she takes us through her own recognition that conflict is created by two (or more) parties, and that reconciliation leading to peace starts with true and meaningful dialogue between people.”
- Ethan Kushner, Chair, American Democrats in Israel
"While acknowledging the horror of that day for the innocent Israelis murdered, Sztokman builds a strong case for seeing October 7th as a pivot point to obtain a lasting peace. Sztokman’s book bares her compassionate Jewish soul as a social activist, organizer and author. She analyses and refutes the many misleading social media memes she kept seeing starting the day after October 7th, and finally, she offers a cogent argument for a peaceful solution to the seemingly unsolvable Israel-Palestine nightmare. Sztokman's combination of honesty, compassion and incisiveness is remarkable."
- Sandra Laub, Playwright/performer of her one-woman/many-voices play about October 7 "Picking Up An American Jew Wakes To A Nightmare."
After years of seeking out the truth about the world in which she lives, Dr. Sztokman made some drastic changes in her life, becoming active in advancing shared society, peace, and a different vision for the entire region.
In this volume, Dr. Sztokman uses her professional of an rhetorical analysis cultivated from years of anthropological research, and unpacks the language and ideas that drive the pro-Israel advocacy movement and are used to justify cruel actions and attitudes. In the process, she makes some drastic personal changes, shifts her own Jewish identity, and advocates for a different vision of what it means to live in a Jewish state.
“A searingly brave look at Israel today and at what the area between the river and the sea can be, if only we can imagine a future defined by equality for everyone. Sztokman is the best kind of one who is not willing to give up on freedom, justice and compassion.”
- Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science at Carleton University, and author of Borders and A Memoir
"Riveting! Elana Sztokman is an excellent writer, clear and illuminating. This book helped me understand my own feelings about the conflict and make some order out of everything we see and hear about it."
- Reva Mann, author of The Rabbi's Daughter
“Mahatma Gandhi ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’ Dr. Elana Sztokman's book In My Jewish State is certainly worthy of this phrase. In a world and more specifically a region fraught with conflict, it is vital to read Elana's personal journey and she takes us through her own recognition that conflict is created by two (or more) parties, and that reconciliation leading to peace starts with true and meaningful dialogue between people.”
- Ethan Kushner, Chair, American Democrats in Israel
"While acknowledging the horror of that day for the innocent Israelis murdered, Sztokman builds a strong case for seeing October 7th as a pivot point to obtain a lasting peace. Sztokman’s book bares her compassionate Jewish soul as a social activist, organizer and author. She analyses and refutes the many misleading social media memes she kept seeing starting the day after October 7th, and finally, she offers a cogent argument for a peaceful solution to the seemingly unsolvable Israel-Palestine nightmare. Sztokman's combination of honesty, compassion and incisiveness is remarkable."
- Sandra Laub, Playwright/performer of her one-woman/many-voices play about October 7 "Picking Up An American Jew Wakes To A Nightmare."
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2025
October 2023 mraked a turning point for me and how I relate to Israel and the middle east. In fact I think it goes for many Jews and non Jews alike. Many of us felt that the Israeli -Palestinian conflict was one of mutual blame to both sides . I condemned the settlers as well as Hamas. A conflict requires two sides. Israel might do a land grab o make it really tough for Palestinians to move around Gaza or Israel. This of course would raise frustration, hence the rise of terror. I felt that in some instances the Palestinians were right to resist . The suicide bombing and other attacks against civilians were not act of resistance but pure terror aimed at murdering as many Jews as possible. My view has shifted after the brutal attacks of 10/7 and how the hostages were treated to viewing the Palestinians as the main cause of the conflict.
This authoress would staunchly disagree with me, which is not a bad thing. In fact it might be a good thing. I you ever want to find the solution to a problem you need multiple points of view. She is more entitled o her opinion than I am of mine as she has livd though it all first person. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York in the chassidic neighborhood. Brought up a nice religious girl she attended Chinuch where in her teacher named Tomer ran a class on Israel and Zionism. According to her he parroted the company line saying that the state of Israel was all good and the arabs were bad and how it was justified for the Jews or Zionists were entitled to the whole land. they needed it as a safe haven for Jews.
My upbringing was different. Raised in the permissive climes of So Cal. I was raised eating cheeseburgers, bacon and shrimp dinners. My only Jewish education was Hebrew School thre times a wek which did not leave me with a good impression. I did not fully become Jewish until 10 years after my Bar mitzvah. It was there that I was introduced to Israeli education or should say propoganda. Tagar programs and other programs funded by Israel in the Jewish agency often had the feeling that they were trying to make you g impressionable Jews into mouth pieces for Israel. For some it worked and others it did not.
Israel's possession of the land is justified on some major arguments. The first argument states that jews are inherently good and can do no wrong. Whenever Jews hear about a crime o the news sometimes the reaction is . No way could a Jew do something lke that. Of course we are astonished when a jew does commit a crime. Sometimes we are guilty of helping cover it up or lookin the other way. The other argument is that Palestinians are ba people who are out to destroy the jewish people. Of course there is good an bad in everyone. After witnessing October 7 and the joyous reaction of every Gazan I begin to wonder. Anytime Israel is criticized it is chalked up to antisemitism. Let us be frank. Sometimes criticism is justified and other times not. Jews have been one of the most persecuted if not the most in all of history. Cetain levels of mistrust and paranoia can be expected from a group that has gone though so much.
the premise of Zionism is the Jews must live in the historical land of Israel and must have the majority. This is based on our fear of persecution and while it may not be balanced tht is what persecution does to you. This could lead to racism and trying to dehumanze the other. The argument goes that it was a land without a people and the Jews were a people without a land. Perfect marriage, save fo the fact tha people were livin there. When Jews first started settling the land it belonged to the Ottoman empire. Neither Zionist nor Palestinian owned it . The province of Palestine was Ottoman territory.
Like many Jews Elana has had a journey unpacking her religious upbringing and realizing the pain her people have caused others by settling the land and dispossessing Palestinians. In fat her view like many on the Israeli left view it not as a conflict but rather Palestinians resisting a brutl occupation. She has children in the IDF. She is proud of there service and dedication to the people of Israel as the army instills many positive values. At the same time she decries the way the IDF is forced to treat Palestinians in an inhumane fashion. She also decries the way the government wantonly uses teh soldiers for political ends without safeguarding there welfare.
While I do not share this author's view at the moment. I still feel it is an important work. It is a book that talks back to the culture that the author was raised in. Yes it is important to question your culture an analyze where it is right or wrong. Israel has a lot of work to do, as do other countries. Women need more empowerment, there is racism in Israel and it is not against just Arabs but also against other Jews. The right wong and the left wing are at each others throats. The country s divided and Netanyahu miht be the biggest dividing factor.
Elana's unpacking has caused her to reach out to other organizations where in Palestinians and Israelis try to help eah other and share there pain. It teaches how to dialogue and hold space for the other one ho is on a different side. Such wok is important. After all this conflict is said and done we will be returning to the negotiating table and we will be talking and empathizing with the other. Then this work will be of much more importance.
This authoress would staunchly disagree with me, which is not a bad thing. In fact it might be a good thing. I you ever want to find the solution to a problem you need multiple points of view. She is more entitled o her opinion than I am of mine as she has livd though it all first person. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York in the chassidic neighborhood. Brought up a nice religious girl she attended Chinuch where in her teacher named Tomer ran a class on Israel and Zionism. According to her he parroted the company line saying that the state of Israel was all good and the arabs were bad and how it was justified for the Jews or Zionists were entitled to the whole land. they needed it as a safe haven for Jews.
My upbringing was different. Raised in the permissive climes of So Cal. I was raised eating cheeseburgers, bacon and shrimp dinners. My only Jewish education was Hebrew School thre times a wek which did not leave me with a good impression. I did not fully become Jewish until 10 years after my Bar mitzvah. It was there that I was introduced to Israeli education or should say propoganda. Tagar programs and other programs funded by Israel in the Jewish agency often had the feeling that they were trying to make you g impressionable Jews into mouth pieces for Israel. For some it worked and others it did not.
Israel's possession of the land is justified on some major arguments. The first argument states that jews are inherently good and can do no wrong. Whenever Jews hear about a crime o the news sometimes the reaction is . No way could a Jew do something lke that. Of course we are astonished when a jew does commit a crime. Sometimes we are guilty of helping cover it up or lookin the other way. The other argument is that Palestinians are ba people who are out to destroy the jewish people. Of course there is good an bad in everyone. After witnessing October 7 and the joyous reaction of every Gazan I begin to wonder. Anytime Israel is criticized it is chalked up to antisemitism. Let us be frank. Sometimes criticism is justified and other times not. Jews have been one of the most persecuted if not the most in all of history. Cetain levels of mistrust and paranoia can be expected from a group that has gone though so much.
the premise of Zionism is the Jews must live in the historical land of Israel and must have the majority. This is based on our fear of persecution and while it may not be balanced tht is what persecution does to you. This could lead to racism and trying to dehumanze the other. The argument goes that it was a land without a people and the Jews were a people without a land. Perfect marriage, save fo the fact tha people were livin there. When Jews first started settling the land it belonged to the Ottoman empire. Neither Zionist nor Palestinian owned it . The province of Palestine was Ottoman territory.
Like many Jews Elana has had a journey unpacking her religious upbringing and realizing the pain her people have caused others by settling the land and dispossessing Palestinians. In fat her view like many on the Israeli left view it not as a conflict but rather Palestinians resisting a brutl occupation. She has children in the IDF. She is proud of there service and dedication to the people of Israel as the army instills many positive values. At the same time she decries the way the IDF is forced to treat Palestinians in an inhumane fashion. She also decries the way the government wantonly uses teh soldiers for political ends without safeguarding there welfare.
While I do not share this author's view at the moment. I still feel it is an important work. It is a book that talks back to the culture that the author was raised in. Yes it is important to question your culture an analyze where it is right or wrong. Israel has a lot of work to do, as do other countries. Women need more empowerment, there is racism in Israel and it is not against just Arabs but also against other Jews. The right wong and the left wing are at each others throats. The country s divided and Netanyahu miht be the biggest dividing factor.
Elana's unpacking has caused her to reach out to other organizations where in Palestinians and Israelis try to help eah other and share there pain. It teaches how to dialogue and hold space for the other one ho is on a different side. Such wok is important. After all this conflict is said and done we will be returning to the negotiating table and we will be talking and empathizing with the other. Then this work will be of much more importance.
December 31, 2024
I received an ARC to read from the author.
I thought this was a great book. I'm an American Jew, and what happens in Israel is of utmost interest to me. October 7th affected both Israeli Jews AND U.S. Jews. This war has affected EVERY non-Israeli Jew,as well. We are all affected by this war. Cases of antisemitism have risen worldwide, It doesn't matter to the world whether you are a Jew who agrees with the Israeli government, or if you don't. The world lumps us together. I consider myself a Zionist...but how I define it. I believe Israel has a right to exist, in peace, and without Hamas rockets and kidnappings,and the right to morally defend the country. I also believe in a two-state solution. I am horrified by what maniac Bibi is doing. Many Jews are. This book, written by a former Orthodox Jew who once lived in the U.S. but now lives in Israel as a non-Orthodox Jew. It details how she feels to live this...she, and her family, as well as friends. She does not blindly defend Israel and Bibi. She is also horrified by how the Palestinians are being treated. I, too, was brainwashed that the IDF was the "most moral army" in the world, but, for some time now have realized this is not true. I am of the mindset of the author, and I think she has done a fabulous job on this book. I highly recommend it...to everyone...both Jewish, and those who are not Jewish.
I thought this was a great book. I'm an American Jew, and what happens in Israel is of utmost interest to me. October 7th affected both Israeli Jews AND U.S. Jews. This war has affected EVERY non-Israeli Jew,as well. We are all affected by this war. Cases of antisemitism have risen worldwide, It doesn't matter to the world whether you are a Jew who agrees with the Israeli government, or if you don't. The world lumps us together. I consider myself a Zionist...but how I define it. I believe Israel has a right to exist, in peace, and without Hamas rockets and kidnappings,and the right to morally defend the country. I also believe in a two-state solution. I am horrified by what maniac Bibi is doing. Many Jews are. This book, written by a former Orthodox Jew who once lived in the U.S. but now lives in Israel as a non-Orthodox Jew. It details how she feels to live this...she, and her family, as well as friends. She does not blindly defend Israel and Bibi. She is also horrified by how the Palestinians are being treated. I, too, was brainwashed that the IDF was the "most moral army" in the world, but, for some time now have realized this is not true. I am of the mindset of the author, and I think she has done a fabulous job on this book. I highly recommend it...to everyone...both Jewish, and those who are not Jewish.
February 12, 2025
I loved this book! I very very seldom give books 5 stars because five stars feels like it’s perfect and nothing is really perfect. Usually, my highest rating is four stars and that’s for a book I really love. But I needed to make an exception this time because this book was so very good.
Why was it so good? It was very readable in a way that non-fiction books are not always readable. I felt like I was reading a story that a friend wrote. It was extremely informative, even though much of what the author wrote. I already knew it Fleshed out a lot of things that I didn’t have the details to know so completely as she described. It is a very important book in this day and age as far as the Middle East as we need some balance, and we need some solutions of how to achieve peace in the region and this book really helps with that.
Although it’s not a book that everyone would want to read, especially those on the right side of the political spectrum, it is a book that I wish everyone would read. I say that knowing that someone who is very right wing would read it and feel that it was not something that they liked, but even so perhaps one of those people could find a kernel of something in this book that they could hold onto and it might make them realize the value in Elana‘s words.
Thank you, Elana for one of the best books. I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t put it down. And I am now bringing it to my daughter in Israel for her to enjoy it as I promised her.
Why was it so good? It was very readable in a way that non-fiction books are not always readable. I felt like I was reading a story that a friend wrote. It was extremely informative, even though much of what the author wrote. I already knew it Fleshed out a lot of things that I didn’t have the details to know so completely as she described. It is a very important book in this day and age as far as the Middle East as we need some balance, and we need some solutions of how to achieve peace in the region and this book really helps with that.
Although it’s not a book that everyone would want to read, especially those on the right side of the political spectrum, it is a book that I wish everyone would read. I say that knowing that someone who is very right wing would read it and feel that it was not something that they liked, but even so perhaps one of those people could find a kernel of something in this book that they could hold onto and it might make them realize the value in Elana‘s words.
Thank you, Elana for one of the best books. I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t put it down. And I am now bringing it to my daughter in Israel for her to enjoy it as I promised her.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews