On One Foot: A Middle East guide for the perplexed or How to respond on your way to class, when your best friend joins an anti-Israel protest

About this book

The purpose of this book is to present accessible and balanced information to help readers respond to complex, often emotional claims against Israel. No democracy is perfect. Yet, no other democracy in the world is regularly condemned solely because it exists. The book is organized by topics - Roots of Conflict, Peace, Disputed Territories and Settlements, Human Rights, Refugees, Jerusalem, Violence and the United Nations. On One Foot can be read through as a reference guide to help you achieve an overall understanding of the confusing, often mythologized rhetoric floating around campus, or wherever else you may travel. We recognize that the complex issues relating to the Middle East cannot be comprehensively addressed in such a short volume, so we encourage readers to go to our other resources, Myths and A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict and the Jewish Virtual Library web site. The name of the book is taken from the famous Talmudic story of Hillel the Elder who is confronted by a man demanding to learn Torah. The man wants knowledge, wants it fast, and insists he get it while standing on one foot. Hillel responds, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire Torah, all of it; the rest is commentary. Go Learn." In our hyperspeed world, we too need to get some fast learning, often while we are on one foot, struggling for balance, seeking truth. You will find at least some of what you seek in On One Foot.