The Bay Area Jewish community tolerates a wide diversity of opinions. When it comes to Middle East politics, the conversation can grow heated, even angry at times. This just comes with the territory in a vigorous democracy.
But our community should never tolerate threats, acts of vandalism or other criminality. Those who glued insulting posters to a fence in front of Rabbi Michael Lerner’s Berkeley home this week certainly crossed the line.
We harshly condemn this brazen and childish act.
Compared to vandalism Jewish communities elsewhere in the world too often face –– spray-painted swastikas, broken windows, overturned headstones –– the acts committed against Lerner’s property were relatively mild: four 5-by-7-inch posters and a defaced copy of Lerner’s magazine, Tikkun, left at his doorstep.
As can be inferred from our story on page 2, it seems obvious the vandals were Jews politically to the right of Lerner. The rabbi has long been a lightning rod for staunchly pro-Israel Jews, who decry Lerner’s frequent criticism of Israeli government policies and his defense of the Palestinian national cause.
We, too, have disagreed with Lerner, who has often positioned himself close to the left-wing fringe of discourse within the Jewish community. His recently announced decision to honor Judge Richard Goldstone, author of the U.N.’s infamous Goldstone Report, with Tikkun’s annual ethics award is a questionable move, to say the least.
Disagreements aside, though, Lerner has an absolute right to speak out, as well as a right to live without any fear of vandalism or threat of physical harm.
The Jewish Community Relations Council, Anti-Defamation League, Northern California Board of Rabbis, S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay issued a joint statement condemning the “criminal acts perpetrated against Lerner’s home” shortly after the incident.
Even the ardently pro-Israel StandWithUs/ San Francisco Voice for Israel denounced the acts, saying in a statement that disagreements “must be presented in accord with the law and with common decency. Acts such as these … create a dangerous precedent that can place many of us at personal risk.”
Jews feel passionately about Israel and the Middle East. That passion can swing wildly to the left and right of the political center. We must keep the passion, but must always keep things civil among us.
After all, we are still one.