THE HOLOCAUST IS OVER WE MUST RISE FROM ITS ASHES

endless trauma. All those who are prepared to ask the tough questions, even if ouranswers are utterly different, and those who, with hand on heart, confess, “We areanxious,” are my partners. And there are many of us.When President George W. Bush declares a war that may seal my fate for betteror worse, I must openly defend myself from him and the manipulations of an Israelilobby that encourages dual loyalties. When force is used in France to prevent anessential dialogue with second-generation immigrants, this is also my concern. Andwhen I have influence, I do my best to exert it. Because this is also part of myJewishness. This is my dual responsibility, as a human being and as a Jew.I have been asked time and again what my father, Shlomo Yosef Burg, would havesaid. My beloved father was utterly different from the image that people hadconstructed of him in their hearts and memories. I have no doubt that he would agreewith most of what I say. Where we might disagree (particularly in relation to hisposition that supported the religious character of the state), he would argue with melike a Jew, not like an Israeli. The Israeli would raise his hand to strike and hiss:“Who do you think you are?” and once I was disqualified (by personal veto) hewould exempt himself from my questions. The Talmudic Jew, on the other hand,would try to understand: “What is it that you are trying to argue here?” He wouldfollow me to the root of my argument and decide whether to adopt my suggestionsand change his mind, or whether to return to his initial position. He would alwaysleave the opposing position intact, documented, and respected, knowing that today’sopposing opinion may become tomorrow’s majority vote.In the meantime, I would tell him, my father, this book’s protagonist: There is roomfor hope. People ask, argue, and seek answers. And I, with them, am looking for thesolution to the current Israeli frustration. This is how we will truly defeat Hitler.In my life I have been involved in many disputes and controversial confrontations.Polemic is not foreign to me. I am a great believer in dispute as part of the act ofcreation. Indifferent or subservient people and lame or worn ideas do not fertilize orbring to life new worlds. Only debate is capable of giving birth to humanity andhumaneness. This is how I understand the culture of Jewish debate, a debate for theeternal renewal of the world. But never before have I witnessed a debate with such a