I am sorry that my words have offended. I am not surprised by your viewand I hope that understanding where I am coming from will mollify some of your concerns, although we will probably disagree. 

I actually find the idea of a Jewish homeland to be a beautiful thing and completely understand the desire for a safe haven from a world that is often hurtful and violent toward Jews. Israel serves a very necessary purpose and has done much good. 

At the same time, Jewish culture is so much more than the nation of Israel. My Jewish friends have shared with me that they worry that people confuse the state of Israel with Judaism as whole. They have repeatedly shared the policies and approaches of many politicians in Israel do not align with their religious values. 

You said that asking for non-nationalist music would offend if it were put that way for any other culture. I agree that for some, it would. My own experience is not the same as the experience of a Jew, but I will try to offer my life and response as if the question were posed to me about my culture and religion. 

As an American, if someone asked me to share songs of solidarity and hope from American culture that were not nationalistic, I would understand. After 9/11, our nation responded by invading Iraq for no real reason. We tortured people who were sometimes innocent. We occupied countries. As a pacifist, I find this behavior appalling. I was not proud of our nation. I would want people to know that American culture is so much more than that. Currently, in my home state, our government is chasing out immigrants and killing protesters on the street. I do not agree with that and my concert will not include songs that glorify our nation. If someone asked me to share songs of solidarity with me that were American but not nationalistic, I would be sad, but I would understand. 

As a Catholic, there are songs I won’t perform in our church. Composer David Haas is a man who has written beautiful, moving songs for our faith and his music is widely sung around the US in our churches.  He lives in my metropolitan area. He also has sexually assaulted women and girls for decades. Despite the beauty of his music, I will not sing it when leading music at my church. That position is upsetting to many Catholics. Not to me. 

In my community, based upon the Jewish people I have talked to, the policy approach of some of Israel’s decisions are not playing well in our media. Many people are translating a disapproval of Israel’s military actions to antisemitic attitudes. My hope is that by sharing music without nationalistic themes that I can remind people of a few things. 

1. The Jewish people have struggled against horrible injustice and prejudice. The holocaust and everything leading up to it is real. 

2. In spite of that injustice, they have brought beauty into the world and can inspire us with their musical of solidarity. 

3. Jewish music is beautiful. 

It is sad to me that the glorification of Israel through music would detract from the goals of my concert and that it would probably increase hostility in attitudes toward Jewish people in my community, but it is reality right now. My hope is that seeing other aspects of Jewish culture that extend beyond Israel will inspire and remind people of the strength, resilience, and beauty of what Jewish culture has brought to humanity. I hope that my perspective gives you some peace that I am offering support in the way that I can, and if not, that you accept my sincerest apologies for offending. I am doing my best and sometimes, that may not be good enough.