Why I am a Zionist: Israel Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today [Paperback]

Gil Troy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1552346471 | ISBN-13: 978-1552346471 | Publication Date: January 1, 2002

Why I am a Zionist is a penetrating and startling analysis of the challenges facing the Jewish nation today. Author Gil Troy ardently returns to the core issues - What is Zionism? Why is Zionism equated with racism in the eyes of the world? - and the result is a crash course in Jewish nationalism and identity, covering an important range of topics including the Arab-Israel conflict, terrorism, multiculturalism, and the quandary of North American modern Zionism In Why I am a Zionist, Troy addresses the tough questions, exploring recent events such as the current Intifada and September 11. The result is a thoroughly relevant and honest exploration of contemporary issues that cannot be ignored.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Direct, forthright...there is a no more informative, exciting, impassioned and inspiring voice today on Israel's behalf than Troy's..." -- Mordechai Ben-Dat, Canadian Jewish News, 3rd January 2002

It is an intellectual argument from history. Troy has keen understanding about the Jews present and predicament of Jewish future -- Martin Peretz, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman , "The New Republic"

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Bronfman Jewish Educ Ctr (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552346471
• ISBN-13: 978-1552346471
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book about what Zionism really means., April 21, 2002

By 

Mrs. S Green (Toronto, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why I am a Zionist: Israel Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today (Paperback)

It seems like at every dinner or at every family gathering we always start talking about the current situation in the Middle East and Israel and the attitudes that people have towards Zionism. It also seemed that what was really missing from our family bookshelf was a comprehensive book about Zionism seen through the eyes of a Jew living in North America, just like me. We needed an educational book to present the real Zionism that has been lost under the rubble of war and terrorism.
That is why I was so happy when a colleague of mine at work showed me a copy of "Why I am a Zionist."

Troy's focus is the Zionism that can re-unite the Jewish people around universal causes and provide the spiritual anchor in our modern world. More than that, the book also provides a comprehensive guide to the history of Israel, and the important place it has always had in Jewish and world history, in a language that can be understood even by my 10 year old son.
I would definitely recommend anyone who is truly intersted in discovering what Zionism and Israel is really all about, wether Jewish or not, to buy this book and listen to what the author is saying.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Makes All teh Difference, April 19, 2002

By 

Barry Gelman (Montreal Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why I am a Zionist: Israel Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today (Paperback)

Why I am a Zionist is a penetrating and startling analysis of the challenges facing the Jewish nation today. Author Gil Troy ardently returns to the core issues - What is Zionism? Why is Zionism equated with racism in the eyes of the world? - and the result is a crash course in Jewish nationalism and identity, covering an important range of topics including the Arab-Israel conflict, terrorism, multiculturalism, and the quandary of North American modern Zionism In Why I am a Zionist, Troy addresses the tough questions, exploring recent events such as the current Intifada and September 11. The result is a thoroughly relevant and honest exploration of contemporary issues that cannot be ignored.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Speaks The Truth, July 2, 2002

By 

Shira Kogut (Montreal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why I am a Zionist: Israel Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today (Paperback)

With each page I realized why I liked it more and more. The book is written the way Professor Troy lectures simple and to the point. All the issues that he discusses are issues that I'm still learning how to deal with myself like how to sympathize with the Palestinians, but still support Israel, making arguments rather than delegitimizing, disagreeing but still loving and how to deal with Jews who don't support Israel and thereby along with the rest of the world validate suicide bombings as legitimate. The other issue of secular Israeli society being religious at heart is also true and the arguments he invokes about anyone who is Zionist has an element of religion in them whether they would like to think so or not rings very true as well. To read this book while travelling in Israel and experiencing parallel situations made it all the more powerful to read.My countless conversations with soldiers who are exasperated by the situation and see it as a horrible place and then their faces when I finally piped up and said: "Don't ever take Israel for granted. The situation seems hopeless, but you are among your own people that is the most important thing. You will never be alone. To have them say Shabbat Shalom and not have a nice weekend, to not have to fight with a professor because an exam is scheduled on a Jewish holiday. To have the whole country be off for Shavuot to respect it as they please. Never ever take that for granted. " They were all silent and then one of them who had come from Russia looked at me and said: " I know exactly what you mean." The others finally all nodded and never said another word about how horrible Israel was and I hope they keep that with them. It was these types of conversations that highlighted every argument Professor Troy gives in his book and as I continued to read his book and experience Israel (for the fifth time) I realized that everything he stated was true.