Peter BeinartSpeaker and Booking Agent Information

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: Why Jews Need a New Story about Who We Are

There is a joke that every Jewish holiday has the same plot: “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” Peter Beinart draws on his deep understanding of Jewish texts and Jewish history to argue that having been the victim of atrocities does not make one incapable of committing them, and that this self-conception permits moral evasion in our understanding of current events, undermining the safety of Jews and Palestinians alike. While addressing one of the most bitterly divisive topics of our time, Beinart models a generous approach to conflict that acknowledges the shared humanity and obligations we bear even to those with whom we most passionately disagree.

Disagreeing in a Divided World

Peter Beinart likes to quote the Talmud: “Who is wise? The one who learns from all people.” He has strong opinions about some of the most painful and divisive issues of the day—especially Israel-Palestine—and yet goes out of his way to cultivate close relationships with people who disagree. He argues that there’s nothing inconsistent between holding strong beliefs and treating those who disagree with respect and kindness. Because there’s always the possibility that you’re wrong, and there’s always more to learn, especially from people who see the world in a different way.

Why Anti-Zionism Isn't Antisemitism

No one is better suited to lead this conversation. Once a poster boy for liberal Zionism and a prominent center-left supporter of the war in Iraq, Peter Beinart has spent the last decade reconsidering those positions; an observant Jew who no longer supports a two-state solution, he offers a unique voice within the fraught dialogue. Without turning away from the horror of October 7th or the historical atrocities Jews have suffered over centuries, Beinart teases out the false equivalencies and moral elisions that have justified a regional status quo incompatible with liberal values.