[6][7] In March 2011, Ben-Ami commented, We are witnessing a troubling trend across the board — with Israelis narrowing the boundaries of what's acceptable on a number of fronts....

[8]Ben-Ami's 2011 book A New Voice for Israel articulates a philosophy and an agenda for pro-Zionist, pro-peace Judaism based on religious and humanist values.

[9] Reviewing the book, Sari Nusseibeh wrote "Ben-Ami provides an arsenal of logistical and moral arguments stressing that not only is Israel's occupation over another people a threat to the Zionist dream and American interests in the region, but that it also runs counter to rabbinic values....".

[10] Abraham J. Edelheit found the book's thesis to be one that Peter Beinart has already discussed, and that while he offers convincing evidence that Israeli policies are alienating young Jewish Americans, he fails to "explain how J Street will achieve anything but cementing their criticism of Israel.

[3] Biran, who was working in fundraising at a music school, happened to be the daughter of a cantor from Ben-Ami's childhood synagogue.