Shalom Pollack: Book Review

 I am reading a fascinating book written by an outstanding man, Rabbi, Doctor Yakov Herzog (Dr. of international law).

Herzog, uncle of the current president of Israel and son of Israel's first chief rabbi, began his career in the 1930s and 40's, supporting his father's efforts to save European Jewry.
Later, he was appointed head of intelligence of the pre-state "Haganah"
After independence, he served as advisor to Israel's leaders and emissary abroad.
"A nation that dwells alone" was published in 1975, three years after his death at age 50.

The perspective that he brings to this book is of a person who was deeply involved in the micro and macro of the rebirth of the Jewish state and its first  25 years.
Uniquely, Herzog tries to understand the ground-shaking events not only as a "secular", professional scholar. He argues that a  PhD's explanation of the  "abnormal" events surrounding the Jewish people does not provide "normal " answers.
His intimate relationship with his father, the late chief rabbi of Ireland and then Israel, provided a perspective that was useful in his day, as it is today.
Historians and philosophers have never been able to explain the unique phenomenon that is the Jewish people.
Dr. Rabbi Herzog, when serving as Israel's ambassador to Canada, had a famous debate with the philosopher, Professor Arnold Toynbee.

Toynbee called the Jewish people a" fossil nation" that was not relevant to history anymore and, by natural right, should not have lasted this long in any form. The Jews are an anomaly of history that frustrates the laws of history and historians. (and many anti-Semites).

By most accounts, Herzog won the debate.
The tools of history, sociology, psychology, and other social sciences do not adequately explain how this  "fossil" still breathes and flourishes - against all natural law and odds.
There is something stronger at work.

In his book, Herzog identifies growing challenges of the Jewish people from within and without,  in Israel and in the lands of Exile.

The problem of Jewish identity and continuity in the Exile, especially in the USA, concerned him in the 1960s and  70's.
He had a dim view of continuing Jewish identity amongst those who were ignorant and thus either indifferent to their Jewish identity or took radical steps to disavow it. Jewish students joined our enemies to acquire some kind of identity - any kind that would afford acceptance.
The self-hating Jew disappointed  but did not surprise him

In his day, when in Israel,  secular, "socialist" rule was the norm, he sensed the coming spiritual-identity crisis that would lead to their demise as ruling elites in the Jewish state. A body without a Jewish soul can not for long be called Jewish and thrive as such.

He understood that secular Israel has nothing to offer secular Jews living in wealth and comfort abroad.
He realised  that Israeli nationalism or socialism was not going to interest the assimilated Jew in America, let alone entice him to move to the embattled  "Jewish  homeland."

He realized then that the "fossil nation secret" was not to be found in secure borders or a  mock America.

His thoughts were not shared by his peers in the halls of power. The prime ministers that he advised could never grasp his message. They were either too entrenched and invested in their secularism or simply lacked the required Torah tools.
His voice was far lonelier then than it is today as the old elites are fighting their last battles for hegemony.
In this, he was a pioneer.

His brother, former president Chaim Herzog, and his nephew Yitzchak, the current president,  decided to disconnect from the learning and faith of their prominent forebears and joined the secular, anti-religious establishment. They were going to make  a "new, more accepted Jew" minus the Torah and faith of their luminous ancestors

One can only imagine Rabbi Dr. Herzog shaking his head as his relatives redefined what it means to be a Jew and how to rebuild the Jewish Nation.

His view of the external enemies of the resugenet Jewish commonwealth was equally guided by his traditional Jewish perspective and faith.

In his book, he discusses the impossible odds facing tiny Israel in his day. The  Muslim world, the Communist world, and anti-Semitism in all its forms in the West seemed insurmountable.
How can two and a half million Jews hope to defeat the rest of the world?

Indeed, no "practical " expert had an answer.

He had to admit, too, that geopolitical explanations did not suffice. We should, by right indeed, be a fossil;  certainly not winning wars, and a beacon of advancement and blessing to the world ( that hates us).
It does not make "sense"

As the title announces, we are not like other people. We are, as the biblical blessing states, "A people that dwell alone, and not be concerned with the other nations".

Fifty years later, as the world still rages against Israel and the Jews, his book reads like the morning headlines.
What to do?
 We are advised by "practical"  Jews to understand our enemies.  Make concessions to our enemies and feed them. Surrender.
Only then will we gain acceptance.

Thomas Sowell, the  American philosopher, was asked by a Jewish leader in New York, "How can we alleviate anti-Semitism"?
His answer: "fail"

If Jews don't succeed too much, if Israel stops defending herself so darn successfully, they might tolerate us.

The great Rabbi Kahane, obm said, "he prefers an untolerated Jewish state to a tolerated Auschwitz." I don't want their love, I want their respect."

Today, Herzog would guide us in understanding that the current  round of blood libel and ostracism is not new, and all will be well.  if we are true to ourselves.

In Psalm 2:1,  King David proclaims:" Why do the nations rage? The Lord scoffs at them. Blessed are those who take refuge in Him."

A nation that dwells alone.

Appreciate the blessing

Shan tova

shalompollack613@gmail.com

tour guide and author
"Jews, Israelis and Arabs"