The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 67 a pre-marriage meeting with a smug Orthodox rabbi who, with the narrow- est of interpretative parsing, declares that Chasnoff is not a Jew. Chasnoff’s fiancée, who accompanied him to the meeting, memorably excoriates the rabbi. After extracting the fact that the rabbi’s sons did not perform military service, she sneers at his insinuation that Chasnoff is good enough to die for Israel, but not good enough to get mar- ried there. One doubts if the rabbi will ever forget that encounter. U.S. analysts too often view Israel as a combination of ancient history and current political “Gordian knots.” They miss the human dimensions of a society wrestling with itself and the fact that such tensions can be laced with humor. Looking back more than a decade at a seminal experience, Chas- noff does not make that mistake. ■ David T. Jones, a retired Senior FSO, is a frequent contributor to the Journal. He is the co-author of Uneasy Neigh- bo(u)rs: Canada, the USA and the Dy- namics of State, Industry and Culture (Wiley, 2007), a study of U.S.-Cana- dian relations. B O O K S U.S. analysts too often view Israel as a combination of ancient history and current political “Gordian knots.” A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May Be Just a Phone Call Away— Home Health Care Adult Day Care & Respite Care Prescription Drug Copayments Transportation to Medical Appointments Durable Medical Equipment For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-Mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org The Senior Living Foundation may be able to help you or someone you know. Some examples of assistance are: SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION