Chayav Bidei Shamayim, Kohlberg post conventional morality - Pros and Cons of allowing the NIF marching in Israel Parade

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I am very upset with Zev Brenner.

Tonight Zev Brenner of Talkline Communitcations Network featured Rabbi Michael Miller of the JCRC who spoke about the upcoming Israel Parade which JCRC is hosting and organizing.  

If you have been getting my emails you know about the campaign of the Committee for a Pro Israel Parade to ban NIF from marching in the Parade. Recently, many myself included, have approached Zev Brenner and asked him to host Richard Allen of JCCWATCH and let the audience know how upset we are that the NIF (New Israel Fund) is a participant in the Parade.  We had hoped that Zev Brenner would provide a balanced forum for this controversial debate whereby both Richard Allen and Rabbi Michael Miller would each present their side of the story and Zev would be the "impartial" moderator. Let the audience decide whose side has merit.  Unfortunately this was not the case and the presentation on Zev Brenner was very lopsided with Rabbi Michael Miller promoting the Parade period. Richard Allen wasn't given a chance to present his point of view and the point of view of the Committee for a Pro Israel Parade. 

While Richard Allen and the Committee for a Pro Israel is also for promoting the Israel Parade, they are dead set against allowing NIF to be a participant. Ron Jegar asks the same question in his OP ED in Arutz7.

Op-Ed: Celebrate Israel Parade, an Expression of Zionist Pride

Published: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 8:46 PM by Ron Jegar

How can the Celebrate Israel Parade include an organization that backs those whose true goal is the destruction of Israel itself?

In answer to Zev Brenner's questions about who is allowed to march in the Parade, Rabbi Michael Miller hinted at the negative campaign surrounding this years Parade and said that the Parade was for a diverse community of Jews and non Jews alike covering a large spectrum of  left and right similar to the Israeli Knesset.  He seemed to imply that those who try to protest this diversity serve to hurt the unity, ruining it for all who come out to enjoy a wonderful time to Celebrate Israel. 

Rabbi Miller, surely no one, especially the Committee for a Pro Israel wants to alienate the Non Jews who love Israel from this Parade.  No one wants to alienate the secular Jew that loves Israel from this Parade!  We simply want to alienate those who TRUE GOAL is the destruction of Israel.   Richard Allen could have clarified why there is such a strong objection to the NIF marching but he was not given a chance.

What motivated Zev Brenner with choosing this particular format to promote the Israel Parade?

Recently, I discussed Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development with a student of psychology. Particularly interesting to me was the Post-Conventional stage.  Level 1 is pre-conventional which includes 

Level 1 (Pre-Conventional)

1. Obedience and punishment orientation

(How can I avoid punishment?)

2. Self-interest orientation

(What's in it for me?)

(Paying for a benefit)

Post-Conventional

The post-conventional level, also known as the principled level, is marked by a growing realization that individuals are separate entities from society, and that the individual's own perspective may take precedence over society's view; individuals may disobey rules inconsistent with their own principles. Post-conventional moralists live by their own ethical principles—principles that typically include such basic human rights as life, liberty, and justice. People who exhibit post-conventional morality view rules as useful but changeable mechanisms—ideally rules can maintain the general social order and protect human rights. Rules are not absolute dictates that must be obeyed without question. 

It seems to me that rather than Zev Brenner hosting a program which objectively analyzes the pros and cons of allowing the NIF to march, level 1 (Pre-Conventional) stage with a self interest orientation, seems to have won over post conventional morality.

While no earthly court can sue Zev Brenner for this program, (patur BiDei Adam),  but in a heavenly court, (that can not be bought with earthly dollars),  he will be judged as per whether he excluded testimony that is necessary for a fair and just decision as per whether the NIF should or should not be allowed to participate in the Israel Parade by the organizers. This exclusion of information and failure to challenge NIF gives NIF credibility and respectability to misrepresent themselves under the Pro Israel tent.  This in turn empowers NIF  to inflict additional harm upon Israel and the Jewish People. It seems to me that this is what is considered in Baba Kama as a case of Chayav Bidei Shamayim.  One is accountable in a heavenly court even though he is not liable in an earthly court. 

Theorists believe that few can achieve the Post Conventional Level morality and my own personal observation is that almost  all  of us are guilty to a certain degree .  That is why the expulsion of Gush Katif happened. Yesha Council members acted in a Pre Conventional level  whereby their individual preference and view took precedence of the society view and won over Post conventional morality. 

 Let us hope and pray that we all rise to the occasion to both live and act according to our ethical principals even when our individual preference takes precedence over the good of society. 

fyi

Pro-Israelparade@jccwatch.org

www.proIsraelParade.org

Check out the fliers and posters sent out the Pro-Israel Parade. Print multiple copies and distribute at the Parade.   We will turn lemons into lemonade so that the crowd at the Parade will be educated as per the wolf in sheep's clothing, and that the NIF is providing grants to very anti Israel NGO's.  Thanks

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Sincerely,

Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan)  a great activist and lover of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichrono Baruch.

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com 

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.