I look at every administration from Truman to Obama and outline not only the Presidents’ mindsets, but also what the key issues and debates were during that time. Ross: Well, it’s a book that tells a story of the U.S.–Israeli relationship in a way that has never really been told before. Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama?” Can you tell us about your new book “Doomed to Succeed: The U.S. Jlife: You’ve written many books about America and its relationship with the Middle East. That had a big impact on me particularly because my rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Maltzman, gave such good dvar torah that were so thought-provoking that I actually began to become a regular shul-goer on Saturday mornings. That built a level of interest on my part and obviously when we had kids we joined a shul.

She came from a family that was much more observant and conservative and she was much more steeped in Judaism than I was. It became stronger first when I married my wife (we married young).

My own sense of Jewish identity became stronger later on. However, after the Six Day War I became much more interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict than I had been. Ross: I wouldn’t say that the war inspired me to study Judaism. What was it specifically about that war that inspired you? Jlife: I’ve read that you were inspired to study Judaism after the Six Day War. I was aware of a Jewish affinity, but not in any real deep sense if you will. Ross: I was raised in a completely nonreligious household. Jlife: What was your childhood like (in regards to your upbringing with a Jewish mother and Catholic stepfather)?

He is the author of several books on American Foreign Policy in the Middle East and is currently lecturing on his most recent book “Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.–Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama.” Bush, the special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and was a special advisor for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia (which includes Iran) to the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Throughout his distinguished career he has served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. Ambassador Ross is an American diplomat and author. Jlife magazine was honored to have the opportunity to interview Ambassador Dennis Ross before his upcoming appearance at Merage JCC on November 22.

Doomed to Succeed by Dennis Ross