'The Jewish March of Folly': Vindicating Zionism while warning the Jewish People – review

Amotz Asa-El's book, "The Jewish March of Folly: The Dramatic Events, Fateful Results, and Unlearned Lessons of Ancient Israel's Political Suicide," originally a Hebrew bestseller in 2019, is now available in English. The book argues that Jews have a historical "disdain for politics" and a propensity for "anarchism, tribalism, factionalism, and fatalism," which have led to repeated civil conflicts and threaten their future. Asa-El examines Jewish history conceptually, from biblical civil wars to the dispersal after the Second Temple's destruction, and the development of skills for survival in exile rather than governance. While the book highlights Zionism's vindication in the creation of Israel, it also warns against the nation's current political dysfunction. The review praises Asa-El's historical lens but suggests the post-October 7 ending is too brief and misses opportunities to analyze contemporary issues like tensions within American Jewry.