The Accidental Zionist: What a Priest, a Pornographer and a Wrestler named Chainsaw taught me about being Jewish, Saving the World and Why Israel Matters to Both - Hardcover

Ian Pear

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0981503209 ISBN 13: 9780981503202

Publisher: New Song Publishers, 2008

Synopsis

Has Judaism failed?

Well, kind of. To be sure, Judaism has enriched the lives of billions of people over the millennia, Jew and non-Jew alike, providing profound wisdom, ethical guidance and comfort & community in every generation. However, fundamental to Judaism s core mission is the fulfillment of a messianic vision that entails the perfecting of the world. Evil is to be destroyed; pain and suffering are to be eliminated; peace and prosperity are to reign supreme. The lion is to lie down with the lamb.

And that, unfortunately, has not happened or as Woody Allen once put it, The lion may lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won t get much sleep. Judaism, therefore, despite its many impressive accomplisments, has yet to succeed in the one thing it has deemed most important. Why?

The Accidental Zionist suggests that the answer is to be found by exploring an essential and often overlooked aspect of the reborn State of Israel. By relying on traditional Jewish texts as well as a piercing analysis of modern political philosophy, international relations and major trends in statecraft not to mention an ample supply of hilarious stories and fascinating encounters with a motley crew of interesting characters this exploration (and the Israel it hopes to engender) might just offer the means to rectify this historic failure ... and lay the groundwork for the fulfillment of Judaism s most lofty goal.

This is a book for anyone who ever wondered why Israel matters whether to him or herself as an individual, to the Jewish people as a whole, or to the world in general.

About this title

About the Author

Rabbi Ian (Haim) Pear is the founder of Shir Hadash, a popular Jerusalem Synagogue, Educational Institute and Community Center. A one time aspiring stand-up comic, he holds rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, as well as degrees in law from New York University School of Law and International Relations from Georgetown University s School for Foreign Service. Thanks to a keen ability to synthesize Jewish wisdom with secular knowledge, and make both relevant (and humorous) to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, Rabbi Pear has become a highly acclaimed lecturer in Israel and North America. Rabbi Pear lives in Jerusalem with his wife Dr. Rachel Pear and his four children.

Edition details

• Publisher: New Song Publishers
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0981503209
• ISBN 13: 9780981503202
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 296