The land of Israel has not known peace for generations, but Jeremy Ben-Ami remains hopeful for his people’s homeland. After a 25-year career in government, politics and communications, including time as an adviser to President Clinton, Ben-Ami, 49, founded J Street, an advocacy group for “pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.” He currently serves as president of the three-year-old organization. On Tuesday at 7 p.m., Ben-Ami is scheduled to speak at D.C.’s Politics and Prose bookstore about his newly published book: “A New Voice for Israel: Fighting for the Survival of the Jewish Nation.” Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?

I am Jewish, and a member of a Reform synagogue. I appreciate most about Judaism the code of morals and ethics that really were pioneered by the Jewish faith. They rest the notions of right and wrong in how we act toward each other here on Earth. Who we are is determined primarily by how we act toward others, and by acting in ways we’d want to be treated ourselves. That idea is so fundamental to the faith.