Beyond Established Boundaries: An Afternoon with Peter Beinart

Understanding Israel-Palestine has long been overwhelming for many in the American Christian community because of conflicting interests and narratives. The established boundary has been to support the actions of the Israeli government over and against the competing interests of Palestinians and others in the region. In his latest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, Peter Beinart, a well-known Jewish journalist and respected commentator, urges fellow Jews to confront the moral reality of defending Israel, expressing hope that they “walk with me ... beyond established boundaries.” Beinart’s arguments, based on Jewish texts and lessons from his early life in formerly apartheid South Africa, are vital not only for the Jewish community but also for the Christian community, which is undertaking its own moral reflection, seeking to promote peace and justice as American citizens whose tax dollars and military are deeply engaged in the region.

Brown Memorial’s sanctuary, with its stunning collection of Tiffany-stained-glass windows, offers a peaceful, introspective setting for this important and timely discussion. In a Q & A format, hosted by Brown’s Lead Pastor, Rev. Andrew Connors, Beinart, once considered among Israel’s top American defenders, will explain why his views changed and how he has navigated the process of publicly admitting he was wrong. While he addresses Zionism, complicity in Palestinian oppression, and what moral reconstruction might look like mainly through the lens of the Jewish community, his deeply ethical and rational approach is equally relevant to Christians.

Beinart has said, “. . . I needed for my own sanity to write something which addressed this moral catastrophe in the hopes that maybe I will change some people’s minds.” This afternoon at Brown promises to be a valuable conversation for those considering how to change their minds and longing for a sane approach to grappling with the moral crisis of our time.

The 90-minute conversation will be followed by a light reception and book signing.

The church is wheelchair accessible. For further event information or financial assistance for tickets, email [email protected]. We hope you will join us!

Peter Beinart, a Rhodes scholar with degrees from Yale and Oxford, is Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He is a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, an MSNOW political commentator, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. His newest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, was published in 2025. Beinart has also written for the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Newsweek, and others. He’s appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Meet the Press, and many other television programs. Currently, he writes the Beinart Notebook on Substack.com.

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