If J Street allows itself to be co-opted by those of us who make a practice of using hyperbole to routinely denigrate Israel, I don’t think it’s going to command the widespread support among American Jews that, in principle, it ought to garner.

The best thing the organization could do on its own behalf is to distance itself from the acid rhetoric of self-styled prophets who predict Israel’s imminent demise, liken it to Nazi Germany, or subject it to a standard of moral judgment from which other nations, including its erstwhile adversaries, are exempt.

Marty Peretz would absolutely detest the name of my blog saying it was an effete misuse of Jewish tradition for partisan political ends. But he’d be wrong. Those of us who embrace the term are doing so in ways that are in consonance with the best traditions of Judaism. Has Marty forgotten our thundering Prophets? Wouldn’t Amos be marching with Heschel if he were with us? And Isaiah too? Would that we could see Martin, Abraham, Amos and Isaiah marching for justice not only here in this country but in the Middle East as well. I can see it in my minds eye. Marty has lost the ability to feel rochnomis unfortunately. How sad for him. His Judaism is one of narrow constraints. Ours is broad and deep.