Date: Thu, May 1, 2014 at 10:44 PM
Watch a Video of the 100 Shofars Blower Rally! Very entertaining!
http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/275481
Watch a Video of the 100 Shofars Blower Rally! Very entertaining!
http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/275481
Dueling Shofarim
Photo Credit: Orel Cohen/Flash 90
100 SHOFARS – A HEARTENING SUCCESS
Against proposed BDS participation in Celebrate Israel Parade
By: Janet Lehr
MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION
ISRAEL GOVERNMENT COALITION KNESSET CHAIRMAN, MK YARIV LEVIN, WROTE "I am deeply moved... by the courageous stance of friends of Israel involved in the parade, calling to delegitimize those who delegitimize Israel. It is not logical or reasonable for Israel supporters to condone, overlook, or indirectly cooperate with BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel) groups..." (SEE FULL TEXT OF LETTER BELOW)
Crowd of Protestors, Mort Klein, Richard Allen, Helen Freedman,
Lauri Regan, Dr. Paul Brody, Rob Muchnick
Maxine Dovere (JNS) and Russian TV were photographing and interviewing protestors. 100 + stalwarts stood proud, shofrot sounding. We were energized as we repeatedly chanted NO BDS IN OUR PARADE. MORT KLEIN pointed out that the New Israel Fund gives millions to B'Tselem and the palestinian-supporting group Adalah. "Say NO to Mr. Ruskay, UJA/FEDERATION, Mr. Miller, head of JCRC which is supported by UJA/FEDERATION. If you support or condone BDS, you can't march in our parade. Support of BDS is a part of the long, dark history of anti-Semitism. Ruskay, by giving these groups money, wants them to grow." Gesturing to the entrance of UJA/FEDERATION headquarters, RICHARD ALLEN, head of JCCWatch.org, who has nurtured our protests with long hours of work cried, "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. We want to make sure our Jewish Charitable dollars are not misused." RABBI DAVID ALGAZE of Havurat Yisrael, and President of the International Committee for the Land of Israel, opened his remarks with a shofar blast. "There is no room for those who boycott Israel. Organize your own parade. And the crowd chanted:
NO ROOM
NO ROOM
NO ROOM
You want to be democratic? Why don't you ask the Jews who support you. We question Kerry. You are wrong. You should apologize.
STEP DOWN KERRY
STEP DOWN KERRY
STEP DOWN KERRY
…..
THE PARADE IS FOR FRIENDS OF ISRAEL!
RICHARD ALLEN again took the mic. Referencing John Ruskay, Allen noted the short lived CONAME, one of a number of Liberal-Anti-Zionist organizations that sprung up in the aftermath of the Vietnam War where Ruskay worked with Noam Chomsky (1974.) With the help of John Ruskay and Rabbi Arnold Wolf, it morphed into Breira. (For a thorough overview of the various organizations: Torn at the Roots: The Crisis of Jewish Liberalism in Postwar America by Michael E. Staub). "John Ruskay, and his group in UJA, uses Jewish money to push their agenda. We hope our shofars today will open their hearts so we get a resolution."
LAURI REGAN, Endowment for Middle East Peace, spoke of the parable of the Little Kosher Pigs whose first houses were made of straw, houses that were quickly blown away. Regan continued, the Jews of UJA and JCRC build a big tent, but the JEWS OF ISRAEL BUILD A HOUSE OF BRICK. The future of the organized Jewish community in the United States is at stake. All the Jewish leaders who have come out in support of J Street are accepting their support of John Kerry and a two state solution including Hamas. "What does it mean to be pro Israel. DISBAND THE BIG TENT. Surely, if we don't learn from the lessons of history, we are bound to repeat them."
DR. PAUL BRODY, Vice President of the Great Neck-based Jewish Political Education Foundation (JPEF), discussing Talmudic law, proclaimed that during this time of Sfira, 24,000 Jewish scholars died because they did not treat each other with proper respect. "We are protesting out loud against a major Jewish organization. This is because, although according to Jewish law it is forbidden to talk ill of another person, if the situation involves a potential union of two individuals (a "Shidduch"), and a third party knows of a defect in one of the parties that would harm the second party, it is permissible to notify the party of that defect." "We are hereby notifying the UJA-Federation that a union of the Celebrate Israel Parade and the 3 BDS groups it proposes to allow to march, is a DANGEROUS and DESTRUCTIVE union for the State of Israel. We are, therefore, permitted to proclaim that this union MUST BE DISSOLVED immediately and that no BDS groups shall be allowed to march with Israel supporters!"
ROB MUCHNICK, U.S. Director of Manhigut Yehudit, a staunch supporter of a whole Israel and an early supporter of Deputy Knesset Speaker, MK Moshe Feiglin, was the final speaker. He led the crowd of ANTI-BDS WARRIORS IN CHANTING:
2-4-6-8 ISRAEL IS A JEWISH STATE
1-3-5-9 THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINE
2-4-6-8 ISRAEL IS A JEWISH STATE
1-3-5-9 THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINE
ROBIN TICKER, blogger and Israel activist, acknowledged the tremendous work and support of Mattot Arim for the anti-BDS movement and this rally, in particular. Mattot Arim is an Israeli grassroots organization working to educate the public on topics of national interest for the Jewish people. Susie Dym is the spokesperson for Mattot Arim. Their semi-annual report grades MK's on Knesset activity pertaining to National interests. The report, breaks down the legislative, lobbying, and media activity of the MKs – from bills preventing the boycott of products made in the settlements, to media interviews and then puts it in a report card form.
The excited band of Zionists at the Rally had one more amazing revelation to digest: Richard Allen quoted the president of the New Israel Fund as saying, "Why should I worry when the heads of UJA/FEDERATION and JCRC support us." After which Richard Allen roared: "This is not the end, this is only the beginning," He means it. Stay tuned for the next rally.
Dr. Paul Brody concluded the Rally by leading us in singing Hatikvah. It was a powerful moment.
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The author is the the editor and the publisher of the newsletter Israel Lives, and can be reached at JanetLehr@IsraelLives.org
Other major organizations supporting the "100 Shofar Anti -BDS Rally" include UCI, United Coalition For Israel, Esther Levens, CEO and Founder. UCI is well known for its popular newsletter, an aggregate of many Nationalist media links. As reported on their website, UCI has convened an alliance of Christian and Jewish organizations actively working together to generate support for the State of Israel. UCI on their website writes "With more than 200 autonomous partners, representing more than 40 million Americans, we are the largest network of Pro-Israel groups in the world. Through this grassroots coalition, we deliver a much-needed message to the media and Congress."
TZC, Toronto Zionist Council, Mothers for MIA's, and Canadians for Israel's Legal Rights. TZC newsletter has a devoted readership who wait with great anticipation for each week's articles bringing the side of the settlers in Judea and Samaria in a fair light. Most news outlets are afraid to present the settlers in a positive light since it is not politically consistent with the way the State Dept wishes to portray settlers. The State Dept. does not base their report on true and accurate facts which have been thoroughly checked out, but rather on allegations.
SAY NO TO BDS ISRAEL GROUPS IN THE ISRAEL DAY PARADE!
Sponsored by THE HEAR O ISRAEL COALITION:
Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI)
Jewish Political Education Foundation (JPEF)
Manhigut Yehudit
The Nordau Circle
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FULL TEXT OF LETTER FROM COALITION CHAIRMAN MK YARIV LEVIN
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Daniel Sokatch of NIF indignantly responded with this letter:
From: "Daniel Sokatch, NIF" <info@nif.org>
Date: April 29, 2014, 14:29:04 EDT
Subject: We will not be deterred.
Reply-To: info@nif.org
Friend --
It seems silly at first.
100 men and women are planning to blow shofars outside the UJA-Federation office in New York this evening. They're calling on the UJA to exclude NIF, Partners for a Progressive Israel, and B'Tselem from New York's Celebrate Israel Parade based on the phony charge that we support the global BDS movement.
The protestors seek to narrow the margins of debate about Israel. They can't seem to come to terms with the notion that, for many thousands of us, loving Israel means not sweeping Israel's problems under the rug, but rather helping Israelis overcome the most difficult challenges Israel faces: from ending the occupation, to preserving democratic freedoms, to upholding women's rights.
So what's the big deal about 100 protesters in New York City, especially when the UJA, the JCRC, and so many in the organized Jewish community are standing with us?
Sadly, the shofar blowers are getting support from Israeli extremists, including those in positions of real influence. Just yesterday Knesset Member Yariv Levin -- chairman of Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition and the author of anti-democratic legislation -- wrote them a letter of support.
What I have come to understand is that there is a visceral connection between those protesting the UJA and the ultra-nationalist settlers who hold so much influence in the current Israeli government. Both seek to narrow the scope of acceptable discourse. Both are emboldened by the collapse of the peace process. Both want to rip Israel away from its heritage as a liberal democracy.
NIF is committed to the proposition that Israel can be simultaneously a Jewish homeland and a democracy where everyone participates in a shared and just society. You and I know, however, that this vision of Israel is jeopardized by the rise of political forces bent on delegitimizing progressive Israelis, marginalizing Israel's Arab minority, and shutting out women's voices.
We also know that the answer to this threat is to help ordinary Israelis fashion a better Israel. This has been the core of NIF's work for more than 30 years.
The time has also come for us to step up our investment to change the public discourse in Israel and to rebuild the pro-democracy, progressive camp. You will be hearing more from me soon about the bold steps we are initiating to shift the national direction from greater exclusion toward greater openness.
The noisy extremists will not deter us. Not from marching in the Celebrate Israel Parade, nor from pushing for social change. We will continue to provide the support that Israel's champions of democracy need to build a better Israel.
I invite you to join us at the parade in New York on June 1st. Click here for all the information you need.
Also, please take a second and forward this message to any of your friends or family in New York who are committed to Israel and to progressive values.
Thank you for your partnership.
Daniel Sokatch, CEO
New Israel Fund
Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
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