The Climate Emergency makes Zionism obsolete, but Judaism could help save the planet

MY LATEST AT PATHEOS: In this week of climate change protests and a United Nations summit, I'm opening a 'Jewish/green front' in the debate over Zionism.

Here's the opening:

"The Climate Emergency makes Zionism redundant as a future response to antisemitism; it’s already responsible for gross inequality in resilience against climate change; and, in the context of the global crisis we face, Zionism is one of many obsolete ideologies which needs to be ditched if we’re to build a sustainable future for all of us.
In contrast, Judaism itself, shorn of its Zionist overlay, has plenty to offer as we look for radically different ways to relate to each other and the planet." 

Read the full post here 

‘A splendid fellow’ Lionel F. Cohen 1926-2019

Away from the Israel/Palestine beat this month. My father passed away last week and I thought I'd share the eulogy I gave at his funeral and some further thoughts about his life.

Here's an extract:

"Inevitably, the death of a parent takes you to a place of deep reflection. How can you measure their life and draw meaning from more than 90 years of events and relationships? What made them the person they were? How did they touch the lives of others? And what thinking and behaviour have become your inheritance? Every life is unique and special however ordinary it may have looked from the outside. My father led an outwardly unremarkable life but lived through remarkable times as both a European Jew and British citizen. As an adult, I came to love and respect the way he had lived his life more and more. My father was dignified, responsible and caring. What better role model could I have had."

Read the full post at Patheos