Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #538771 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-16
• Released on: 2008-11-16
• Binding: Hardcover
• 296 pages

Review

"... a passionate argument for why Israel matters and its power to inspire a new generation of Jews ... a provocative combination of traditional text and modern political philosophy, leavened by Pear's engaging voice and a parade of interesting characters ... a persuasive case."

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix

"A valuable insight into how Judaism can be relevant to one s life, and a powerful call to action to ensure that such a life becomes relevant to the world around us."

Senator Joseph Lieberman

"[This] is a treatise on the state of Israel that all should know. It is a work full of humor, charm, compassion and experiences that will resonate with your own life. Rabbi Pear speaks directly to you and pulls you into his orbit, a funny, valorous, warm place to be. Enter into this conversation with Ian Pear; you will emerge from it wiser.

Author & Activist Blu Greenberg

"Ian Pear is not only an extraordinary storyteller; he also has an extraordinary story to tell, filled with compelling anecdotes, sharp insights, and a profound love for Judaism, the Jewish people, and all humanity. A book written by a man with a large heart matched by an equally large brain. What a combination."

Best-Selling Author, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

"a thoughtful and original exploration of theology, politics, faith and identity ... [that] draws readers to Rabbi Pear's vision of ... an attractive, reinvigorated and purpose-driven form of Jewish life. His idea of Universal Zionism suggests that the return to Zion by the Jewish people, and their reestablishment of the Jewish state is ultimately the most powerful way for the Jewish people to also return to their Universal roots, and in so doing, offer their greatest gift to the world.

The New York Jewish Week

The Los Angeles Jewish Journal --Various Reviewers

A valuable insight into how Judaism can be relevant to one s life, and a powerful call to action to ensure that such a life becomes relevant to the world around us. Senator Joseph Lieberman

[This] is a treatise on the state of Israel that all should know. It is a work full of humor, charm, compassion and experiences that will resonate with your own life. Rabbi Pear speaks directly to you and pulls you into his orbit, a funny, valorous, warm place to be. Enter into this conversation with Ian Pear; you will emerge from it wiser. Author & Activist Blu Greenberg --From the Back Cover

The shofar is a call to review, rethink, renew, revitalize, to shake things up a bit, to go deeper. This season, a ... new book also challenge[s] readers to think anew about their connection to Judaism and to Israel. [The Accidental Zionist is] a thoughtful and original exploration of theology, politics, faith and identity ... [that] draws readers to Rabbi Pear's vision of ... an attractive, reinvigorated and purpose-driven form of Jewish life. His idea of Universal Zionism suggests that the return to Zion by the Jewish people, and their reestablishment of the Jewish state is ultimately the most powerful way for the Jewish people to also return to their Universal roots, and in so doing, offer their greatest gift to the world. --The New York Jewish Week / The Los Angeles Jewish Journal

About the Author

Rabbi Ian (Chaim) 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 Rachel, a PhD Candidate, and his three daughters.

Customer Reviews

Oh wow
This book offers a unique and fresh way of looking at Jewish law and the State of Israel. It is filled with Jewish ideas, history, and legal concepts, interwoven with amusing personal stories throughout the book. The stories make the book "light" enough to hook the reader in and keep the reader entertained, and the ideas themselves are deep enough to force the reader to contemplate what Jewish law and Zionism mean today, even between reads and once the book is completed. The book is able to combine ancient Jewish texts, the modern socio-political world scene, and the Rabbi's personal life journeys in order to outline its own philosophy on what Israel means to the Jewish people today, as well as to humanity as a whole. It offers a fascinating perspective on Jewish law and international obligations to Israel, and ought to be read by anyone curious about the place Israel plays in the hearts of Jews and non-Jews alike, all over the world today.

Inspiring
As a reform Jew this book gave me some great insight into a different way of thinking about Israel.

The authors' way of story telling and insight into the Jewish Religion was both educational and entertaining.

The book was a fun, fast and thought provoking read. I highly recommend.

Fantastic!
Accidental Zionist

This book is fantastic! It presents a paradigm-changing outlook, appropriate to the globalization of the Twenty-first Century. It is told with wisdom, humor, and original insights, and brilliantly brings together the worlds of politics, history, psychology, as well as Talmudic scholarship, and Chassidic stories. The concepts are geared to a new generation of young people. Very highly recommended. Makes a great present!