Ideas Cafe: Can a Jewish State Be Truly Democratic? February 27, 2007

A weekly salon. A Jewish environment. Open to all voices.
Hungry for intellectual give-and-take in a relaxed setting? Then join us at the Ideas Café. Meet others over wine, cheese and coffee at small, candle-lit tables and discuss vital current issues that affect Jewish and American life.

It's a meeting of minds where spirited discussions move at a rapid pace—- sometimes with surprising results. You'll find our sessions provocative, stimulating, and fun--and above all, a great intellectual experience

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Can a Jewish State Be Truly Democratic?
Moderated by Daniel Septimus

Israel prides itself on being the only democracy in the Middle East, but of course, it also prides itself on being a "Jewish" state. The State's Jewishness has ramifications for everything from immigration to marriage, and the latter was highlighted last year when a group of intermarried citizens sued the State of Israel because there is no way for people of different religions to marry legally in Israel. Can a state that privileges one religion and people over others ever be truly democratic? What are the costs of changing the status quo in Israel? And what are the costs of not changing it?

Official Website: http://ideascafe.org