There is hardly right now in Israel a more balanced and lucid public intellectual than Daniel Gordis, an author I was given the chance to review in other post a couple of years back. His newest book Impossible Takes Longer is dedicated to analysing at what extent Israel has fulfilled its ´founders´ dreams´, 75 years after the creation of the state.
Quoting documents alternatively with various episodes, more or less known, from the latest seven decades and a bit from the creation of the state, he is asking questions regarding the ups and downs in the life of an extraordinary people and country. If one may have some doubts about the many reasons Israel shall exist, or do have some doubts about the exceptional character - even non-religious people may acknowledge the miracle of a country and especially people that were able to conquer their own trauma.
Gordis analyses the intellectual basis of the state and of its statemen and women, without ignoring the people who built the history: the soldiers, the victims, the children running to the bomb shelter.
The author offers a balanced, neutral view, with the pros and cons, shedding light into the shadows of misunderstanding. Without being complacent, he is severe and do not obliterate the context, but at the same time it also instills a feeling of pride for all the successes of this small yet fierce people.
Impossible Takes Longer is a book to read for anyone interested in the recent history of the Land and people of Israel. If you are rather on the Israel critique side, or just skeptical about the state of Israel, at least for a few minutes you may be proud of everything this country did - for itself and for the others.
Rating: 4.5 stars
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