Stuart Schnee and Andrea Rapp have raised concerns and points of view
that deserve a response. Without going into any rhetoric about the actual
issues involved, I would like to say that there is more than one point of
view about was has been taking place within Israel both before and after
1948. Authors such as Tom Segev and Meron Benvenisti (not to mention the
several "new historians") have looked at archival sources that can lead
to alternative perspectives and amy present challenges to the older and
established histories. As librarians we should not shrink from these
alternative views, even when they seem harsh and contrary to what we may
have been taught, as long as they are documented by reputable writers.
To do otherwise is to do a terrible diservice to our library users and
denegrate one of the foundation stones of our profession.
B'shalom,
Bernard Katz, former Head, Special Collections and Library Development
McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph
and founding Treasurer, AJL - Ontario Chapter
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