Professor Shlomo Sand, a historian at Tel Aviv University, has written a trilogy of books that includes "The Invention of the Jewish People" and "The Invention of the Land of Israel." In his latest book, "How I Stopped Being a Jew: An Israeli Point of View," he examines various Zionist narratives with a critical eye. The book has been translated into Arabic by Antwan Shalhat.
In this concluding volume, Sand subjects numerous Zionist mythologies to historical scrutiny. His previous works have already addressed significant topics: the first volume deconstructs the alleged continuity of Jewish history, while the second volume dismantles the mythological connection between the Jewish people and the land of Palestine, revealing how the "Land of Israel" was transformed from a religious concept into a geopolitical one to justify Zionist colonization.
In "How I Stopped Being a Jew," Sand explores the factors that led him to renounce his Jewish identity. He critically analyzes the fraudulent and boastful nature embedded in the Jewish definitions within the State of Israel, arguing that labeling the state as "Jewish" rather than "Israeli" is undemocratic and jeopardizes its existence and survival. Sand particularly focuses on how the ethno-religious definition of Jewish identity in Israel affects state policies towards non-Jewish citizens, including immigrants and Palestinians under occupation.
Sand also tackles the development of a non-religious Jewish identity, arguing that it often leads to ethnocentric and quasi-racist attitudes in Israeli and international Jewish communities. He links this identity to widespread support for exclusionary policies and the enduring occupation.
About the author:
Shlomo Sand studied history at the University of Tel Aviv and at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales, in Paris. He currently teaches contemporary history at the University of Tel Aviv. His books include The Invention of the Jewish People, L’Illusion du politique: Georges Sorel et le débat intellectuel 1900, Georges Sorel en son temps, Le XXe siècle à l'écran and Les Mots et la terre: les intellectuels en Israël.
