Every year, students in my Zionism class are desperate to talk about current events – the hot-button stories that dominate their social media feeds. In response, I have to implore patience – and explain that without learning about the past, they cannot truly understand the present. The examples are countless: Protesters who justify the massacre of October 7 who know nothing about the formation of Hamas, its charter and explicit goals, or the fact that Israel had completely withdrawn from Gaza nearly twenty years before. Or pundits who claim that Zionism is modern and colonial without knowing about the Jewish People’s ancient and continuous connection with the Land. Or politicians who blame only Israel for Palestinian statelessness with no mention of the multitude of opportunities they had and rejected. Ignorance may be bliss, but justice it is not.

Still, there is an argument that ongoing recitations about history are of limited value when trying to forge a different future. But constructive discourse about what’s next requires honest descriptions of what’s now. To be sure, Israel is imperfect and even her steadfast supporters have recently argued that the next government has serious work to do in order to improve the State’s international standing. Consider a Wall Street Journal article here, Tal Becker’s comments here, or Rahm Emanuel’s interview here. Yet too many influential leaders continue to peddle misinformation ranging from hyperbole to mendacity.........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)