Tribute to Uri Goldberg, Uncompromising Public Intellectual
Translated & summarized from Local Call by baba
Dr. Uri Goldberg, an uncompromising public intellectual, has died. His friend Assaf David eulogizes Goldberg, noting his bleak post-October 7th writings and his evolution from a security consultant to an independent thinker. Goldberg was a co-founder of the "Regional Thinking Forum," advocating for Israel's integration into the Middle East. In his final years, battling cancer, Goldberg's writings became intensely focused on his own decline and the perceived destruction of Israel and Gaza. David reflects on Goldberg's legacy as a "local hero" who insisted on confronting harsh truths.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dr. Uri Goldberg, an independent and critical public intellectual, has passed away.
- Goldberg's post-October 7th writings were characterized by a bleak and paralyzing perspective.
- He was a co-founder of the "Regional Thinking Forum," which aimed to foster Israel's integration into the Middle East.
- In his final years, battling cancer, Goldberg's public discourse focused on his own decline and perceived societal destruction.
- The author Assaf David reflects on their differing views and Goldberg's legacy as a "local hero."
This piece is a tribute to Dr. Uri Goldberg, an independent, uncompromising, and sharply critical public intellectual who passed away recently. The author, Assaf David, recounts his last communication with Goldberg, a complex exchange via message during Sukkot, which was followed by Goldberg's death just four days later. David reflects on their past friendship, which became more fragmented as Goldberg's thought and writing grew more abstract and independent.
David expresses difficulty with Goldberg's post-October 7th analysis of reality, not due to fundamental disagreement but because of its bleak and paralyzing nature. He notes Goldberg's frequent use of the phrase "Life screams" in his writings on Gaza, the West Bank, and broader Middle Eastern violence, a sentiment David agreed with but found lacking in Goldberg's actual words. The author suggests Goldberg's own death was foreshadowed in his writings.
The article delves into Goldberg's early involvement with the "Regional Thinking Forum," co-founding its blog "Efshar Lehishtot" in 2011 and later contributing to its foundational "credo." Goldberg's 2013 draft articulated a vision for Israel to shed its "villa in the jungle" mentality, break down barriers with its neighbors, foster empathy, and integrate into the Middle East as an equal. David notes how this vision evolved over 13 years, with the Forum's influence diminishing and its focus shifting to professional and public discourse, and later to resisting what they saw as "Judeo-fascist" trends.
Goldberg himself also evolved, moving from external security system consultancy on Iran and Shiite theology to becoming an independent intellectual. David recounts Goldberg's departure from Reichman University and his increasing isolation as a "lone wolf." The author suggests this divergence, particularly Goldberg's post-October 7th stance and his withdrawal from nuanced discussions, widened the gap between them.
In his final years, Goldberg was diagnosed with colon cancer, and his public posts shifted to a somber documentation of his decline. David observes that Goldberg's personal and political struggles merged, leading to a shared descent into oblivion. The author concludes by reflecting on Goldberg's legacy as a "local hero" within a small radical left community, predicting broader recognition for his insistence on confronting harsh realities, even if his final writings offered little solace or hope.
The piece includes a lengthy excerpt from Goldberg's 2013 "credo" for the Regional Thinking Forum, detailing its goals of challenging Israeli perceptions of the Middle East, fostering empathy, and promoting integration. It also features Goldberg's thoughts on religious pragmatism versus moderation, citing Professor William Aginton, and concludes with reflections on the Tao Te Ching and the music of Mark Knopfler, whom Goldberg admired.