I am not going to recapitulate the sad story of what happened at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun in Manhattan this week except to say that progressive Jews (and others) thought a new day had dawned when its rabbis hailed the General Assembly vote on Palestine. (Here is the New York Times story on that development.) But then, within two days, the rabbis at Bnai Jeshurun were forced to clarify following a firestorm of abuse, ginned up by the usual suspects. (Here is the New York Times story on the retraction.)
The rabbis, of course, deny that they retracted anything. That is what they have to say. And they certainly will not confirm that they were threatened by big donors to their congregation, the Embassy of Israel, or other Jewish establishment big wigs for daring to break with Netanyahu. That is all to be expected. Part of the deal, when you accede to pressure, is that you do not reveal what actually went down.
But it is obvious what happened. Threats were made. They didn’t have to be direct. No one has to tell those working for organizations (or synagogues) dependent on donations from the Jewish community what they can and cannot say.
In most cases, they don’t need to be warned. They impose prior restraint on themselves. They don’t believe the line, they think it is disastrous for Israel but they also know that saying what they believe will cost their organizations money and may cost them their jobs. So they mouth the line, over and over again. And they are happy because Israel’s ambassador to the United States pats them on the back, and the donors make clear that the checks will continue to be written.
I do not put the B’nai Jeshurun rabbis in the same category as the organizational types.
Rabbis J.Rolando Matalon, Marcelo R. Bronstein and Felicia L. Sol are known throughout the Jewish community for their moral leadership and idealism. And they clearly thought (read the email that caused the brouhaha) that demonstrating that moral leadership by endorsing the Palestine resolution would not cause the roof to cave in. Yes, they knew they were sticking their necks out but not too far. Surely, it would be okay.
The more politically attuned within the Jewish community would have known better. The pro-Israel community is like the gun lobby. The National Rifle Association doesn’t really believe that the “right” to own a semi-automatic weapon is in the same category as the right to a hunting rifle, but they will oppose any restrictions on owning that automatic none the same.
That is because it thinks any regulation on any firearm is a slide down the slippery slope to confiscation of all weapons. Actually, it is possible that they don’t even believe that. It is just as likely that the NRA just wants to keep Congress and the political community in line. At some point, these organizational leaders just exert power for its own sake (getting politicians to grovel and making more money).
And so it is with the pro-Israel community. Any challenge to the prevailing orthodoxy on the occupation will be met with threats and attacks. Look at Peter Beinart. He is an Orthodox Jew, a lifelong Zionist, and a leader in the community. But when he endorsed boycotting West Bank settlements – not Israel itself, just the products of the settlements – he was condemned by the entire establishment. Last month the Atlanta Jewish Community Center refused to allow him to speak on its premises, as if he was a KKK leader. To its credit, J Street gave him a venue.
Now here is the creepiest part. Virtually none of the Jewish community’s enforcers on matters related to Israel apply the same standard to criticism of U.S. policies (except those policies that are related to Israel). The older ones openly opposed the war in Vietnam (some were war resisters). The younger ones opposed the Iraq war (contrary to common belief, Israel had no clear position on the Iraq war in contrast to their neocon pals here).
If some government official in Washington told them to pipe down, they would scream bloody murder.But when it comes to the occupation or Iran, they march as one behind Binyamin Netanyahu. Why? They are afraid. It’s as if they own a store in a neighborhood that is dominated by the mob. They don’t ask for an explanation of why they need to hire this guy’s brother-in-law or give the assigned “tips” to various people in the neighborhood. They just do it. It is the price of doing business.
A different sort of mob runs the American Jewish community. Fortunately, like Tony Soprano’s organization in that much mourned HBO series, it is falling on hard times. It is dominated by old people while nearly 60% of the young marry out of the community and consider Israel a foreign country – one that they may have some interest in but not all that much. That is why a congregation like Bnai Jeshurun is so successful. It attracts those people, understanding in the timeless words of Whitney Houston that “children are our future.” That is also why one of the few speakers who can attract Jewish audiences where the average age is under 70 is Peter Beinart. To put it simply, the kids don’t like hacks. And they don’t salute and “yes sir” their own government, let alone one 6000 miles away.
But the establishment, and its terrified salary men (there are no women in these jobs) don’t care. They don’t care about what is right. They don’t care about Israel (they know its current policies are destroying it but won’t say what they know). And they don’t care about how America’s Israel-centric policies are hurting this country. As far as losing the younger generation, they don’t care about that either. They will have retired by the time all these thoroughly Americanized Jewish kids are the ones with the money.
But they will speak out on what is happening in the Congo or Burma. It’s not that they care about those places either but they do like to think of themselves as moral paragons. And they are allowed to say whatever they want about human rights abuses perpetrated by anyone except Israelis.
Congratulations to the rabbis of Bnai Jeshurun. One, you did the right thing. And, two, the reaction to your act will only weaken the hacks and fat cats that are the Jewish establishment.
As Steve Rosen, the indicted AIPAC official, once told me: a lobby is a night flower. It thrives in the darkness and withers in the daylight. Rabbis J.Rolando Matalon, Marcelo R. Bronstein and Felicia L. Sol shined a powerful light indeed. And the night flower will feel the withering effects. You did good.
The more politically attuned within the Jewish community would have known better. The pro-Israel community is like the gun lobby. “: This made be become nauseous.
I fear our future as the radical Jewish left will lead us into another crisis of existence. It will soon be 1938
I know calling the western wall “occupied territory” doesn’t mean shit to an anti-Israel, pro-palestinian hack like Rosenberg but to some of us its bothersome.
But it is Occupied Territory, and it’s not 1938. Being emotionally bothered shouldn’t blind us to factual reality.
Deborah, east Jerusalem is not occupied, not in any way. This is where the Palestinains activists fal short, VERY short, Jerusalem was united until the end of the 1948 war, There was a Jewish presence there before any Arab set foot in the city. Under the 1947 partition resolution, Jerusalem was supposed to be under international jurisdiction, To say it is “Palestinian” without you cross-referencing it is intellectually lazy.I mourn the future with pop culture peace activists such as yourself. It brings us closer to 1938
Sammy, I am reading “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” Hitler viciously attacked the Left. People like me. And you do the same. Do you understand right-wing people like you murdered 6 million Jews in the Nazi death camps? People who were unwilling to think for themselves, and blindly followed people like Netanyahu and Hitler. I am sincerely saddened to see Israel sink into the same hole of moral depravity as Nazi Germany. Why don’t you just call me an anti-Semite? What more could you say?
I want you to apologize for your words. Yo have crossed a line by suggesting I’m behaving like a Nazi. Seeing as you are non, Jew, it sounds even worse.
1. Members of my family perished in the Holocaust.-Rovno, Ukraine in 1941.
2. Netanyahu is not Hitler. Israel has never committed acts of genocide like the Nazis, Serbs, Sudanise Muslims, the Khmar Rouge, Mao and Assad. That is just more evidence that you are as intellectually lazy as Deborah.
4. Israel is not Nazi Germany. That is a non Jews way of pressing in a Jewish nerve.
Seriously, what kind of education do you have. Have you even read about the history of the palestinians Israeli conflict. I am not a right wing fanatic, I just ins the lies about Israel repulsive. Armistice lines =international borders, accusations of “genocide”.
I suggest you red the Rise and Fall of the 3r Reich again and then read areal history books about the Palestinian conflicts.
The only Jewish home will not go away just too make you feel good.
Now I suggest you apologize to me. The only vicious attack is coming from you at the memento. I doubt that you would have the courage to call me a Nazi to my face. Writing those words on a message bard are far easier for a coward such as yourself.
Dear Jim and Dear Sammy,
Jim, you cannot possibly know how sad I am to have read what you’ve written here. That sadness is heightened by what you wrote yesterday, to me, in response to my writing about Ada’s blog.
Israel is not Nazi Germany. It’s not even close. Such accusations show an emotional ignorance not only for what happened then but for it’s impact now. We are taking about real people, real lives, real injury and real trauma. Until we understand the pain of the Jewish people, we cannot understand the fear and the importance of a “safe place.”
There is much I could write, perhaps should write, and maybe will write but my heart feels deflated and my sorrow is great. Jim, you do, indeed, owe Sammy an apology.
Sammy, I am sorry that such things were written, with such venom and disregard for your suffering. And even if you hadn’t lost loved ones, I know I can never appreciate fully all the destruction and consequences the Holocaust had on the Jewish people, believe me, I do try to learn as much as I am able in an aim to develope a compassionate response. But you did loose family. Loved ones of yours were murdered and in a most incomprehensible manner. My heart and prayers go out to you. While I read this blog simply out of general curiosity from the engagement of yesterday, I am glad I read this. Glad, which is not antithetical to the sadness I’ve already expressed. But glad that, at the very least, and while it isn’t much, I can offer you my heartfelt condolences.
Shalom, Sammy.
In peace,
Twilla Welch
Sammy, you have to understand people like Wilkinson. Its about Jew baiting, Jew hatred, always has been, always will be. He is the same type of person that has been crapping on us for thousands of years, But what’s throwing him off is that now Jews have guns and don’t go meekly to their deaths.
Jim, I dare say, you’re the one wit the jackboots
I see the jackbooted, Jim Wilkinson, has left the building. I would have appreciate san apology first. \\
Ireally do enjoy those Israel=Nazi Germany analogies that your people love to trot out. Might have a little more resonance if the ARABS hadn’t been the ones to throw in with Hitler, Took them about 12 seconds.
Nice reactionary diversion.
I’m neither Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, Arab or Palestinian, or any other brand of semite. I do live in the region however and I do make an effort to read across the various lines of demarcation. I see one of (note: one of a number, not all) the major ongoing issues increasingly being the attitude of the Israeli establishment. Whenever has acting like an asshat lead to peace? Examples? Same goes for Hamas, despite their so-called justifications for violence. It’s concerning that some Hamas positions are starting to look moderate in light of Israeli commentary. All that said, if the people on all sides can now apply a bit of common pressure to their neo-con styled leaderships, we might just see some progress out of the current situation.
PS – and re UN status: what’s to be scared of apart from scruitiny?
Dear Jim and Dear Sammy,
Jim, you cannot possibly know how sad I am to have read what you’ve written here. That sadness is heightened by what you wrote yesterday, to me, in response to my writing about Ada’s blog.
Israel is not Nazi Germany. It’s not even close. Such accusations show an emotional ignorance not only for what happened then but for it’s impact now. We are taking about real people, real lives, real injury and real trauma. Until we understand the pain of the Jewish people, we cannot understand the fear and the importance of a “safe place.”
There is much I could write, perhaps should write, and maybe will write but my heart feels deflated and my sorrow is great. Jim, you do, indeed, owe Sammy an apology.
Sammy, I am sorry that such things were written, with such venom and disregard for your suffering. And even if you hadn’t lost loved ones, I know I can never appreciate fully all the destruction and consequences the Holocaust had on the Jewish people, believe me, I do try to learn as much as I am able in an aim to develope a compassionate response. But you did loose family. Loved ones of yours were murdered and in a most incomprehensible manner. My heart and prayers go out to you. While I read this blog simply out of general curiosity from the engagement of yesterday, I am glad I read this. Glad, which is not antithetical to the sadness I’ve already expressed. But glad that, at the very least, and while it isn’t much, I can offer you my heartfelt condolences.
Shalom, Sammy.
In peace,
Twilla Welch
Jim stepped over the line, but he is not the 1st one to do so here. There are plenty who come on here to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist. That is not the approach to discussing a conflict.
Dear Sammy,
Thank you for writing back.
I’m not certain Jim was saying Israel doesn’t have the right to exist. However, what he said about Israel being like Nazi Germany was neither accurate nor sensitive. I do still hope he (re)considers what he wrote, in that regard, and offers an apology to you.
You are correct though: delegitimizing Israel’s right to exist is no way to solve a conflict.
Peoples’ fears and concerns have to be acknowledged and validated; people, all people, need to, and have the right to, feel safe and secure.
I very much look forward to the day when Israel is, indeed, a “light unto the nations” (“אור ל