Six locals nominated as Jewish heroes

Jewish Heroes has just removed Cecile Surasky from the list of nominees, since she represents a virulently anti-Israel group, JVP. Hurrah.  JVP’s true agenda is the destruction of the State of Israel, which makes all their leadership ANTI-heroes.  Ever talk with a JVP leader?  They will never, ever, publicly condemn a Palestinian—or any Arab—for violence against Israelis or even their fellow Arabs.  They are frauds. Take your self-loathing somewhere else, Cecile.  The Jewish community at large rejects your antisemitism.

could have nominated someone like Cecile. Outside of JVP’s arena, she has earned nothing but scorn for her anti-Israel polemics…

Often, I hear folks say, things to the effect that “I have nothing against Jews,I’m just anti-Zionist, not anti-semitic.” “Anti-Zionism” is political shorthand for standing in opposition of the assertion of the natural right to self-determination by the Jewish people in their ancestral home land but ONLY the Jewish people.”  The core message of “anti-zionism” is the denial of the “peoplehood” of the Jewish people and their history.  Generally, in place of documented Jewish history, “anti-zionists” prefer to recite the “Palestinian narrative”, in essence, substituting the imagined history and “peoplehood"of the ethnically diverse Muslims that left pre-state Israel, and later given the political label of “Palestinian” by the Arab League in 1964,in place of the real “peoplehood” of the Jewish people. This implied denial and stated preference is certainly discriminatory as to the Jewish people.  The idea that the pre-1948 Arabs were looking for equality with Jews is mistaken and distorts history. The pre-1948 Arab position was that there were NO Jewish political rights,and that Jews needed to be returned to minority status under Islamic authority. “Anti-Zionism” is a sub-set of “Anti-Semitism.”

Surasky’s nomination was clearly an attempt to subvert the rules of the Jewish Community Heroes contest, which state the criteria for the awards:
“The nominee shows exceptional qualities and commitment in line with the mission of The Jewish Federations of North America.”  Clearly the mission of the Federations is not congruent with an organization that presents speakers such as Alice Walker and Ali Abunimah, that supports and endorses BDS activities, and that publicly stands with those who openly support Hamas and Hezbollah.

This incident is just one more lesson, demonstrating that the institutions of our community need to remain vigilant against attempts by anti-Israel extremists to subvert them.  JVP will remain “outside the tent”, but if it wants to come inside, the password isn’t complicated.  Just say “I accept the Jewish state.”

If the Federations nationwide had adopted standards , as our local one has, an anti Israel activist would never have been nominate at all. Earlier this week JVP, along with Al Awda and International ANSWER co-sponsored a protest of the Jerusalem String Quartet.  Protesting musicians. To me, this is simply evil.  If Cecilie or JVP think they represent contemporary Jewish values, they are way off base. I urge all local Federations to adopt a screening process to prevent our local institutions from being subverted in this manner, ever again.

The level of gratuitous vitriol and demonization on this user board is unbelievable. So much for rational disagreement—which seems to have been vacated entirely here. Cecilie and her organization are by no means outside of legitimate discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the contrary, her views are thoughtful, progressive, and eminently reasonable.

I suppose the tenor of the conversation here should not be too surprising, given that the original J Weekly article by Dan Pine renders indirect but obvious, and inappropriate, editorial judgment in crediting the views of Cecilie Surasky’s detractors without offering a serious rebuttal or even a fact-check.

Cecilie and Jewish Voice for Peace deserve to be commended for independence of thought and a brave commitment to nonpartisan human rights—so much needed by Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Nowhere in her nominating statement is Cecilie’s affiliation with the notorious anti-Israel organization “JVP” even mentioned.  Did she think that her paid position with this group would negatively impact people’s opinion of her activism?  Judging by the comments, she was right.  If Cecilie is uncomfortable mentioning her employer, maybe there’s a good reason.  Any group that stands shoulder to shoulder with those chanting. ” Palestine is our land, and the Jews are our dogs” does not deserve a place at the table.

As far as I can see, Cecilie is still listed as a nominee.  I wonder why Marshall Schwartz writes that her name has been removed from nomination?

We might speculate that this person didn’t want to reveal her status as a JVP shill because she well understood that the vast majority of American Jews find JVP’s anti-Israel message repulsive and this fact is in contrast to JVP’s misleading effort to portray theirs as a significant voice in the Jewish community. It never ceases to amaze me that the anti- Israel always seem willing to utilize any subterfuge, concealment, historical distortion or factual mis-representation to advance their agenda.  A truly just cause doesn’t require all that, eh?  But our expectations should be tempered by remembering Arafat saying,“if I’d kill for my cause, don’t you think that I’d lie for my cause?”

As of this morning, the “Jewish” voice for Peace (JVP) representative, Cecilie Surasky has been removed from the heroes list.  This was a thoughtful and appropriate decision from the Federation, and we should each drop them a note of support.  Anyone representing an organization that requires for membership support of the Palestinians fictional “right” to return to Israel and supports and endorses BDS really has no place in this contest. Apparently the list had been peppered with other JVP members, including Rebecca Vilkomerson- Executive director of JVP   She only had 45 votes- perhaps because her JVP affiliation was clearly mentioned in her nomination statement.  Thank you, to the Federation, to the Board of the Jewish Community Heroes and to all who expressed your outrage at Cecilie’s nomination.  Its yet another reminder that “the people united can never be defeated”.  Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful fast.

Cecilie is entirely deserving of nomination.

I have been Jewish for 47 years(that’s my age), and was always taught that one quality of our faith and community is an acceptance of dialogue, debate and advocacy.

On reading the rules, I do not see any ideological requirement.

If she is not a resident of the U.S. or Canada, then she would be illegible, etc.

Was she a semifinalist last year ?

People can vote for the heroes they favor, but removing a legitimate candidate does not honor any Jewish or democratic or humanitarian tradition.

The rules of this contest state:

“The nominee shows exceptional qualities and commitment in line with the mission of The Jewish Federations of North America.”

The core values of the Federation from their website:
“Strengthening Jewish communities in Israel and around the world has always been a top priority for the North American Jewish Community. It is The Jewish Federations of North America’s mandate to promote individual connection through innovative programming that reaches every sector of society.

Global Operations is the international platform providing a wealth of services, information and support, helping to connect the North American Jewish community with Israel and World Jewry. “

The work of “Jewish” Voice for Peace is completely opposed to core principles of the Federation- JVP does not seek to strengthen ties and connections with Israel- it seeks to break them down and undermine them.

A different anti-Israel organizer Hany Khalil,  (United for Peace and Justice) once stated “For Americans to be persuaded [to support the Palestinian cause],“we have to build support across all sectors of the United States, and that will never happen without a significant and visible split within the Jewish community.”

JVP was invented to create the illusion in the community that such a split actually exists.  It doesn’t.  The Renaissence of Jewish Life in the Bay area- the new day schools, synogogues and Hebrew High schools indicate to me a society that is moving back towards the core values of Judaism.

When Yom Kippur ends tomorrow, Jews all over the Bay hour and the world will utter the same words they have said for millenium “Next year in Jerusalem”, reinforcing the ties that bind us with our ancient homeland.

I cant help but wonder what Cecilie will be saying at that same moment.

The more frantically the Jewish Federation tries to silence the growing chorus of voices speaking up for justice and co-existence in Israel-Palestine, the more resonant those voices become. 

At the time Cecilie Suresky’s name was pulled from the Jewish Heroes list, she was among the top ten candidates – the only Bay Area local who made that cut. 

This is another sad example of the Jewish institutional community disowning, for the sake of Israeli Empire, our proud prophetic tradition of speaking truth to power and reaching always toward “justice justice justice”. But people like Cecilie, and the rising generation of Jews who walk the same path, will prevail.  The Federation can remove names from the Jewish Heroes list, but it can’t remove Tikkun Olam as our community’s sacred mission.

The removal of Cecilie Surasky as a nominee is a(nother) clear example of the Jewish Federation’s intolerance of any voice other than it’s own!

It should be in the interest of the Jewish Federation (and of all “pro-Israel” organizations and individuals) to foster and promote open discussion about actions taken by the Israeli government: those that are community building, as well as those that are inhumane and illegal.

It is astounding that, even on the cusp of erev Yom Kippur, the hatred and intolerance of open discussion and of individuals so easily emanates from the keystrokes of so many who imply that Jewish Voice for Peace cannot possibly be a “real Jewish” organization. 

Jews have been at the forefront of human rights campaigns forever - and we still are.  So why vitriol and intolerance about even a discussion about the overt inhumanity of the action of the Israeli government toward its own non-Jewish citizens, and those it continues to hold hostage in the occupied territories?

Adalah NY recently sent out a tweet urging people to support Cecilie’s nomination.  That’s the support she’s been getting.  This is an organization that terrorized Max Brenner, a NY chocolatier because he happened to be of Israeli origin.  This is an organization that organized a cultural boycott of the Israeli Philharmonic orchestra, and led the campaign against the Arava Institute, a wonderful orgnization that promotes mutual co-existence between the Israel and her neighbors. This is an organization leading the campaign against Sabra Hummus, a made in NY snack food.  These are the voices that support Cecile.  These voices are fringe elements that do not represent the mainstream Jewish community.

No, Gitelsura speaking out against Adalah and JVP and yes, speaking out against Cecilie Surasky is part our proud prophetic tradition of speaking truth to power and reaching always toward “justice justice justice.  And the more you try and insinuate yourself into our trusted institutions, the more we’ll fight back. 

You have my promise.

And no, “ajewforjustice” having “Jew” in one’s organizational name does not create a “Jewish ” organization.  Paul Larudee and Yaman Salahi , two anti-Israel and decidedly not Jewish activists both openly claim membership in Jewish Voice for Peace.  JVP does not open its doors to Zionists who want dialog, yet they demand the Jewish community open its doors to anti-Zionists.  Membership in JVP is dependent on the litmus test of “acknowledging the Palestinian refugees’ right of return”.  Being Jewish however is not a requirement.  If JVP is so committed to free expression and debate, let them open their meetings and their membership to those who believe that our best hope for peace is a Jewish State of Israel and an Arab State of Palestine existing side by side.

Last year, a devastating fire killed dozens in northern Israel, and burnt thousands of acres.  Did JVP raise funds to reforest the area?  Did they raise funds to help the families who lost their homes? Did they raise funds to provide fire trucks to remote regions? Did they take a single solitary step to help the people of Israel in their time of need?  Have they ever? No, instead they initiated a boycott of the very organization (the JNF) that seeks to help these people.

I offer my gratitude again to the Federation for acknowledging that representatives of JVP have no business participating in a “Jewish Heroes” contest.

It has always seemed to me that the underlying premise of “Jewish” Voice for “Peace” was deception. Historically, JVP has stood with some really hateful, anti-Israel plus groups, essentially acting as “public Jews” in a vain effort to ward off all too accurate observations of raw expressions of classic anti- Semitism by Israel Haters. Of the few folks within JVP that are actually of Jewish ancestry, most of these Jews have no connection to the Jewish community, and are often committed Marxists etc. Then, advocating a reckless, war mongering policy for the “Palestinians” is obviously not moving towards “peace.” When Arafat announced his 1974 Phased Plan , I remember him saying,“the first thing that we need to do is to divide the Jewish people into two camps, psychologically.” shortly thereafter, I started to notice mysteriously financed “peace” groups.  That’ why JVP seems to be camouflage for some very bad things.

you guys may think that you’ll sell more papers and get more viewership by printing JVP’s garbage but your dead wrong! Jews who collaborated with the nazis are no more part of the broader Jewish community then JVP. AND DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T COMPARE THE TWO BECAUSE I CAN FOR GOOD REASON! JVP’s endless castigation of Israel and “hear, speak and see no evil” of islamic terror plays right into the hands of Israel’s enemies like hamas who happen to be rabid anti-Semitic, homophobic and misogynistic religious fanatics. kate raphael from QUIT, paul larudee from ISM and cecile sharasky from JVP really what’s the difference here!? ALL APPLES FROM THE SAME TREE! what’s next J? columns from al-jazzera?

Open debate, thoughtful interchange, the hearing of conflicting and discordant positions are apparently anathema to many in the Jewish community.  Instead, we get innuendo, ad hominem attacks, unsupported slurs and deluded claims of who is and isnot is a friend to Israel. I would say the Ms. Surasky actions and words represent the best values of Jewish culture and tradition, but she is obviously thought a monster by some here.  This isn’t news, obviously, but it is still sad, and also compelling as to why we need to continue the effort to have a coherent and inclusive discussion across all Jewish groups.  The idea that JVP is “beyond the pale” smacks of the same rhetorical tactics that have demonized so many in the recent past.

like other anti-Israel leftist lemmings these two can’t see what’s right under their noses. but for people who have seen JVP in action and schmooze with the Israel haters who chant anti-Semitic slurs and give nazi salutes while calling for Israel’s complete destruction as an answer to peace we know better. rickibobbi and jewforjustice don’t know anything past their noam chomsky and jimmy carter written reading material. they then in turn jump on the internet with crap like that in their heads and try to sound cool by using buzz phrases like “Jewish values”. notice how neither of them can defend JVP based on anything specific about what JVP does? where as pro-Israel advocate’s condemn JVP for very specific reasons that can be easily verified. all one has to do is go to JVP’s web site and it’s a virtual phone book listing of support for anti-Israel initiatives with only the occasional token condemnation of terror to see what i meant in my first comment here. that’s because leftists like rickibobbi and jewforjustice don’t really know much of anything or about JVP and just like to sound good by talking about “free speech”.

The Jewish Community Heroes contest isn’t a debate, it’s an opportunity to recognize those who serve the community and promote the mission and the ideals of the Federations.  Any JVP activist is undermining the mission and the ideals of the Federations by their anti-Israel actions. 

No institution is obliged to cater to those who not only don’t support its mission,  but actively oppose it at every opportunity.  Does Planned Parenthood have to let anti-abortion activists take part in its meetings?  Does an environmental group need to have spend its time in “thoughtful interchange” with global warming deniers?

While Cecile Surasky,  a Jew who has long worked for peace between the Jews and the Arabs, is kicked off and censored there is another candidate whose views should never be acceptable in Judaism even though I know that what he says is not abhorrant to a few of you on this comment thread.

In an interview with Moment magazine, Chabad Rabbi Manis Friedman said the following:

“The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle),” Friedman wrote in response to the question posed by Moment Magazine for its “Ask the Rabbis” feature.

Friedman argued that if Israel followed this wisdom, there would be “no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war.”

“I don’t believe in Western morality,” he wrote. “Living by Torah values will make us a light unto the nations who suffer defeat because of a disastrous morality of human invention.”

For this immoral man to be allowed to remain as one of the Jewish Federation candidates says something about the federation and it isn’t something that is positive.

Supporting BDS is not “working for peace”.  Supporting those who wish to eliminate Israel is not “working for peace”.
Standing with those waving Hamas and Hezbollah flags is not “working for peace”.

I don’t support what Rabbi Friedman said.  Janice, are you suggesting that if Rabbi Friedman was also eliminated from the contest then you would agree that Cecilie’s exclusion was justified?  Be careful, because you’re getting awfully close to accepting the San Francisco Federation guidelines for Israel-related programming…. guidelines that appropriately keep JVP from participating in Federation-funded activities.

Cecilie’s organization JVP organized the interuption last year of the Federations General Assembly.  Why would any organization reward those that try to silence it? Why should they?

I believe that the Jewish Federation should embrace all Jews, not just those who put Israel first as many of you seem to do.

I believe that both Cecile and the rabbi should be on the list and let the chips fall where they may.

What I don’t understand is that the Jewish Federation is in the US and what I see is that they seem to have more interest in Israel than in the US. No where in the Federation rules do I see anything about candidates needing to play a role in bettering the country in which they live. Only Israel seems to be imporatant.

Sometimes I wonder why Jews who put the welfare of Israel ahead of the welfare of their own country just don’t just give up their US citizenship and get on a plane and head straight to Ben Gurion.

Here is a video made by an Israeli woman who, were she an American,  I would nominate as a hero.  She made this video that shows her true humanity and the depths of her commitment to the true values of Judaism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcGm-gxmxHw

The reason that people disagree with you Janice ( and ilk) is that you have things inverted.  Folks like JVP are advocating a poorly thought out position that, were it to be thoughtlessly implemented would be disastrous for the “Palestinians” as well as Israelis.  When one’s opinions are entirely based on incorrect assumptions, rather than facts, people tend to disagree with those opinions. It wouldn’t surprise me if, behind closed doors, there are some truly malevolent people referring to JVP as “useful idiots.”

Janice, the Federations and other Jewish community institutions do have to draw lines somewhere. Jews for Jesus call themselves Jewish but are not welcome to participate in Federation activities either. 
Why is it that JVP is allowed to have a loyalty oath for new members (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/t/10959/questionnaire.jsp?questionnaire_KEY=1031) that includes support of BDS and of the fictional “right” of return, but other organizations are expected to change THEIR own core principles to accomodate JVP’s extremist view?  I’m Jewish, I have a voice, and I support peace, but I can’t be a JVP member if I don’t subscribe to YOUR vision of peace (which precludes the existence of a Jewish state).
Once again, massive hypocrisy.

I am not a member of JVP and I have never read their mission statement. Thank you for posting the link.

I find no;thing in the mission statement with which I would disagree including the following:

Our Mission
JVP members are inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, equality, human rights, respect for international law, and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals.

(I guess you are opposed to the above.)

JVP opposes anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry and oppression. JVP seeks an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians; a just solution for Palestinian refugees based on principles established in international law; an end to violence against civilians; and peace and justice for all peoples of the Middle East

(You must be opposed to this as well and do not want peace and justice for all peoples in the ME, only for the Jews)

Justice and Human Rights:
We support justice, equality, democracy, self-determination and human rights for Israelis and Palestinians. We oppose all violence against civilians and all anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Jewish bigotry and oppression.

Ditto to my above comment)

Right of Return:
JVP supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right of people to return to their countries. Peace will only be possible when Israel acknowledges the Palestinian refugees’ right of return and negotiates a mutually agreed, just solution based on principles established in international law including return, compensation and/or resettlement.

(If the Kosova Albanians were allowed the right of return to their homes so should every people who were drive out. I guess that you would likely think that the only people that should be denied the right of return are the Arabs of Palestine.)

There us nothing in the mission statement of JVP that can be remotely called anti-Jewish. I know some of these folks and I know that they honor their Jewish heritage.

I also know that there are many in Israel who feel the same as do the people in JVP. These are the Israelis who are verbally and often physically attacked by the growing far right, some might say Fascist, elements in Israel.

BTW, have you watched the youtube video? Do you think that this woman is a self-hater etc. etc,?

Janice, there is no such thing as a “right” of return for descendants of refugees from a conflict—especially a conflict launched by that side. It was invented by the Arabs as a way of keeping the refugees locked up in prison camps as a demographic weapon against Israel. Should Israel be forced at gunpoint to accept 4-5 million hostile Arabs, it would of course no longer be the state of the Jewish people. And only the Jews would lose rights of national self-determination (Palestinians have the opportunity for that in a state of Palestine next to Israel, if they would only agree to live in peace with Israel). 
The Sudeten Germans who agitated for Hitler’s takeover of western Czechoslovakia in 1938 paid for that after WW2 by having to move to Germany. Do you propose that the Czechs be forced to repatriate them?

If you find nothing in JVP’s support of BDS, it’s oh-so-careful excuses for standing with Hamas supporters and presenting a barrage of anti-Israel speakers, and its claims that it’s not anti-Israel while calling for the end of Jewish national rights, then you will be in good company joining them.

The “Palestinians” arrogantly assert that they, but ONLY the “Palestinians” have a unique right.  Although the usual definition of refugee end once the individual is re-located beyond the conflict and are served by one UN refugee aid organization, only the “Palestinians” assert an eternally patrilineally inheritable status of ” refugee” complete with it’ s own UN aid agency, UNRWA that is staffed by and for only “Palestinians.”  UNRWA defines ” refugee” as ” non- Jewish, with one’s ordinary place of residence from 1946-48"as pre-state Israel, recognizing that the vast majority of today’s self- identified “Palestinians” were recent immigrants. Similarly, the majority of Arabs that left Pre-state Israel, did so in order to assist in the Arab High Command’s war against the Jews, albeit, without ever having seen an Israeli soldier. Legally, the position of the “Palestinians” is more akin to that of the Sudetenland Germans in the Czech Republic.  They had, as a group, immediately sided with an ethnically congruent foreign invading entity, and, thus, as sons as the Czechs were able, were returned to Germany. There is no such thing in law as a second generation refugee. It is an expression of Arab Supremicist thought that there exists a ” right” that only is possessed by Arabs.

This is Manis Friedman in his own words.
“The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle),” Friedman wrote in response to the question posed by Moment Magazine for its “Ask the Rabbis” feature.
Friedman argued that if Israel followed this wisdom, there would be “no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war.”
“I don’t believe in Western morality,” he wrote. “Living by Torah values will make us a light unto the nations who suffer defeat because of a disastrous morality of human invention.”

Obviously, to Friedman, even Palestinian babies would not count as “civilians”. Even Abe Foxman calls him a racist. but that’s okay. as long as he does not support freedom and justice for Palestinians, he will get the backing of the Jewish Federation.

While not defending Friedman’s original statement, JVPers of course won’t want to make reference to his followup statement:

“It is obvious, I thought, that any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion. Fundamental to the Jewish faith is the concept that every human being was created in the image of G-d, and our sages instruct us to support the non-Jewish poor along with the poor of our own brethren. The sub-question I chose to address instead is: how should we act in time of war, when our neighbors attack us, using their women, children and religious holy places as shields. I attempted to briefly address some of the ethical issues related to forcing the military to withhold fire from certain people and places, at the unbearable cost of widespread bloodshed (on both sides!)—when one’s own family and nation is mercilessly targeted from those very people and places.” http://www.baischana.org/content/view/120/

One can disagree (I do) with his assertion to act as Israel’s enemies do (recall Gush Etzion, Ma’alot, Samir Kuntar’s atrocities at Nahariya, the Park Hotel in Netanya, and so many more). I think we need to have a higher moral standard, and clearly Israel’s leaders do as well(otherwise Gaza would have been treated the way the Russians dealt with Chechneya).

But those who give moral support and cover to the perpetrators of such outrages are standing on awfully thin ice criticizing someone who calls for a similar response.

The Gush Etzion Bloc was initiated by Jews purchasing and farming this area beginning in the 1920’s, decades before either Israel or the British client state of Jordan were independent. In Israel’s 1948 War of Indepence, Arab forces massacred the entire Jewish population, men, women and children.  Later, Jordan re- named historic,“Judea and Samaria”, the “West Bank”.  After the 1967 Six Day War, Jews returned to farming Gush Etzion. So, Janice, why does the successful ethnic cleansing of Jews from an area by one group of Arabs for 19 years, somehow create an UN- questionable entitlements four decades after it’s end, to another political group of Arabs, today’s “Palestinians.?”. If one really thinks about decades of of intransigence, intolerance, and rejectionismfisrae on the Arab side, it becomes clear that “Palestinian"problems are the result of “Palestians” choices and actions.

and i would urge everyone to demand that max blumenthal’s name be removed from the nominating list

whats next? a nom for norman finklestein?

Where was it written that every Jew must swear allegiance to Israel?

Being Jewish does not mean that one has to walk lock step with Israel’s occupation of the West Bank nor does it mean the acceptance of a religious state that makes those living there who are not Jewish lesser citizens.

Certainly none of you would accept it if the evangelical Christians in this country got their way and declared this a Christian country where every non-Christian would be a second-class citizen.

Many of the people who belong to JVP and other such organizations are proud of being Jewish but not proud of the country that says it is their homeland. They have that right and they are another part of the Jewish community. How dare you deny them that right!

Finally I think that it is time for all of you to give up your US citizenship and pack your bags and fly straight to Ben Gurion . It is more than obvious that many of you put your allegaince first to Israel so show your true allegiance and leave this country soon.

Janice, That’s not been my experience with JVP. Although I have spoken with a few JVP members that are of Jewish ancestry, they are generally un-connected with the Jewish community, culture, languages, religion, history etc. and have some other identity as their primary identity i.e. “Marxist”, “artist” etc. On the other hand, ,most of the JVP that I’ve spoken to aren’t Jewish at all. However, simply having Jewish ancestry doesn’t make one a pundit on the Arab-Israeli conflict. By the way, Israel is a secular state, not a “theocracy” and it’s non-Jewish citizens are not “lesser citizens.” Arab-Israelis serve inthe Knesset,the Judiciary etc, and our recent Israeli vice-consul Ismail Khalidi was Arab-Israeli9 and a career Israeli diplomat. And finally, your call for the expulsion of Jews that support Israel rather underlines the necessity of having a Jewish State. Jews have been expelled from many countries based on many silly excuses and before the State of Israel, there was no country that would permit them in. When people like Janice start the “dual loyalty” canard, threatening to expel the Jews once again, at least it’s good to know that Israel is there.

Where do you draw the line, Janice?

For example, how do you feel about the new wave of “Schivone Jews”,  (after Gabe Shivone, a JVP member with no Jewish heritage), who declared himself Jewish for political leverage in his anti-israel activism? http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/letters-to-the-editor-1.376284

How do you feel about “Norr Jews” (after Henry Norr, who spent Yom Kippor showing anti-Israel films at a local library?) http://www.newbor.com/zCustPages/TCPerspectives/

To me, and clearly to others on this thread, if your identity as a Jew is pulled out of mothballs and aired simply to give you credibility in the fight to destroy Israel,  you deserve little more than pity. 

And when Jewish Voice for Peace demands accepting the destruction of the state of Israel as a precondition for membership (but doesn’t care if you are even Jewish) how can that ever be considered a Jewish organization?

I merely commented that since so many of you seem to put the interests of Israel first perhaps you should move to Israel. I would never support the expulsion of Jews or any other people from the US any more than I support the expulsion of the Arabs of Palestine from their homes and lands. Both are evils.

BTW, since there was a large number of Arabs in the part of Palestine allocated in the parition to the Jews can anyone of you tell me how there could have been a Jewish state with a large number of non-Jews residing in it, non-Jews who would not have taken kindly to packing up and leaving?

Maybe that is why my now deceased brother-in-law,  a member of the Palmach, participated in the ethnic cleansing of the Arabs of what is now northern Israel. When I asked him why the Arabs were kicked out (at gunpoint mind you) his response was “we wanted their land and we didn’t want them on it.”

You wrote that before the State of Israel no country would take in Jews who had been expelled from their home countries. Then how did so many Jews arrive in the US in the 1800s and later, including my great grandparents, all of whom left Russia, Poland and Germany. Where did themany thousands of Jews come from who pressured Harry Truman to support a Jewish State? Did they just drop from the sky? I don’t think so.

In 1924 , the U.S. Enacted the “Immigration Act of 1924.” closings it’s doors to East European Jews fleeing death and oppression ( and Italians, Asians etc).  In 1939 Great Britain issued the ” White Paper"limiting Jewish migration to the re wing 1/3 of the British Mandate of Palestine (after the severance of Jordan) in a vain attempt to appease rioting Muslims.  Jews caught were imprisoned in Cyprus camps by the British until 1948, the same year the U.S. Allowed a trickle of refugees into the U.s.  Many Jews perished in the Holocaust because NO country would issue them a visa at the same time that the British Navy was interdicting ships of Jewish refugees. Are you that naive, Janice?

You must spend all your days and nights on the computer loking, looking, looking for the tineiest evidence of Jews who do not support Israel’s occupation or many of the things that are going on in Israel today. What a busy girl you are!

As for the film that Henry Norr showed here is part of the description.

“In the fall of 2009, a group of US veterans traveled to Israel/Palestine to meet with their Israeli counterparts in an effort to strengthen connections and share experiences.”

Maybe you should also be attacking the Israelis who are fed up with their government and fed up with the occupation.
Maybe you should be attacking the Israelis who have left their country as they no longe wanted to live there. Many have moved to Germany and many are seeking a second passport.

Cadance there are many Jews who are not religious but are culturally Jewish and who consider themselves to be secular. They are no less Jewish than the Jews who daven every morning and who wear fringes dangling from their shirts. Some of those Jews do not consider Jews without kippas and fringes to be real Jews. Do you war a kippa and fringes? Or, if you are a woman do you wear a wig?

Cadance, there are any number of Israelis who have shown through their actions that they do not support what Israel is and has been doing to the Palestinians and to Israeli Arabs. These groups include the reservists who refuse to serve beyond the Green Line. There are also the high school students who have refused to serve in the IDF and who go to prison for exercising their conscience. There are the Women in Black who brave the jeers and spittle of right wing Jews. There are Israelis who demonstrate against the demolition of Palestinian homes both in the West Bank and an East Jerusalem. Other Israelis monitor the checkpoints and daily report on the hunan rights violations by IDF punks against the Palestinians. These Israelis are Jews but I guess you would not consider them as such because they dare to stand up for human rights for the Palestinians as well
as Israelis. They oppose the occupation and all the settlements. They are my kind of Jews.

Janice, if JVP is so anxious for dialog, why do they prohibit comments on their blogs?  Why do they continually hijack mainstream publications, facebook pages and websites?  Why don’t they invite Zionists to their meetings and conventions to discuss these issues?  Why, Cecilie, ooops, sorry, Janice, are the viewpoints of the mainstream Jewish community muzzled by JVP? Why does the door only swing one way?

The anti-Israel crew incidently has sent out massive international alerts to vote early and often for Max Blumental, the last of the anti-Israel shills left in the contest.

Never heard of Max?  Not surprising- he’s of little consequence.  But you can hear him in a few weeks when he makes his local appearance at (oh, this is sweet!) the Muslim Communition Association Meeting.  He’ll be speaking along with Hatem Bazian, and several of the students who interupted Michael oren at UC Irvine. What a role model for Jewish heros everywhere

Maybe its time to give the federation another call, people.

If it’s about the occupation of the West Bank, why keep presenting speakers that oppose Israel’s existence within any borders?  Why stand with those who yell “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free?”.  Why support the BDS movement whose open objective is ending Jewish statehood?

JVP claims to be only against the “occupation”, but they refuse to denounce those who call for the end of Israel—rather, they welcome them, they present them, and they support them.  It’s only about the “occupation” if you define (as Hamas does) all of Israel as “occupied Arab land”.

Oh, and Janice, please look up the “Immigration Act of 1924”.  After that year, open immigration to America ended. While Jews came from Europe before then fleeing poverty and persecution, they were not expelled. Those who were, for example those on the Saint Louis (look that one up too—essentially expelled) were denied entry to the US; most of them ended up in the gas chambers. 

All I want to hear JVP say is “I accept the Jewish state.”  They will avoid that as if the phrase would bring death to them.  Actually, it would kill JVP—by eliminating most of its funding.  They are being supported to Jew-wash the hate of their fellow extremists.  If they claim to support a Jewish state, their role as useful idiots ends.

the Jewish community has spoken and you and cecile have been cast out as befitting the leftist leopards that you are. “Jews” who seek Israel’s destruction are out of the tent, good riddance!

I am not a member of JVP and cannot speak for them. I have never been to any of their meetings and have never paid any dues to them. So get off my case about JVP.

But why don’t you ever address the issues I raise such as the Israelis who feel as I do. Guess you can’t quite call them anti-Semtic or self hating Jews can you?

Michael, I do know about the St. Louis and I find that act by this government to be abhorrant. The US government has done many cruel things to many people. The Jews of the St. Louis have not been the only victims of US policies throughout the decades. There is neither room nor time for me to enumerate some of the horrors for which our government has been responsible.

I also know about the Exodus since that was the boat on which my brother-in-law was part of the crew. When the British captured the ship he managed somehow to get ashore. That was another tragedy when the ship was sent back.

Finally Cadance I have heard of Max Blumentahal and I think he is brilliant. You probably don’t like him because he has gone on several trips to Israel where he has interviewed Israelis and found the ugly side of ZIonism in many of those whom he has interviewed. Can’t shine a light on those bigots can we now?
I didn’t know that he was on the list. Thanks for letting me know so that I can vote for him.

Tammi Benjamin has done more than anyone to safeguard the rights of Jewish students on college campus.  It wasn’t that long ago that   a sukkah at UC Davis was vandalized and swastikas carved into dorm walls at UC Berkeley.  There have been assaults as well. California Day schools simply tell parents not to have their children apply to UC Irvine. Its that bad for Jews.  But Tammi has been documently the anti-Semitism and demanding that university official respond.  Finally, things are turning around.  Lets put our energy behind those actively helping our children.  Vote for Tammi Benjamin, Jewish Community Hero.

Thank you for this article.  My vote for Jewish Community Hero will be for Sandra Cohen the brave UC Berkeley student who spoke truth to power. Prof Dumbledore told the students of Hogwarts: There comes a time when you need to decide between what is right and what is easy.  Sandra chose the difficult path.  To defend Israel publicly on the UC Berkeley campus must have taken a great deal of personal strength and intestinal fortitude, and Sandra’s decisive actions stemmed the tide of the insidious BDS movement.  As Even Hussein Ibish admitted “The bottom line is this: if you can’t get divestment through UC Berkeley, you’re done.”  Thanks, Sandra Cohen for putting the last nail in the divestment coffin at Cal.

I don’t know you, but I appreciate your comments and your willingness to share elements of your family history.

In Hebrew school, I was taught:
” When there are 2 Jews, there are 3 opinions. “

I once read an oral history, translated into English from Hebrew, about profound and painful divisions within kibbutzim in the 1940’s and ‘50s’ (?? perhaps 1960’s) leading to members of families physically separating from each other….
Israel’s treatment of Palestinians was a major source of conflict.

If anyone knows the title of this book or the author(s), I would be very grateful.

I am grateful for Cecilie Surasky and for Jewish Voice for Peace and for the tradition within Judaism of working for Justice and for treating a neighbor as one would like to be treated.

It is too bad that some on this comment thread do not allow for differences of opinion in the Jewish community. I find it sad indeed.

Thank you for your welcome comment. I am sorry that I don’t know the book but I am not surprised that there would have been differences of opinion on the kibbutzim.

In fact the grown children of my former brother-in-law left Israel for the US after serving in the IDF, marrying and having children. They were not happy living in a country where they saw palpable racism against the Arab population and also did not want their children to serve in the IDF as the occupiers of another people.

I wonder if some on this thread will question their connection to Judaism. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

i haven’t seen such a match made in heaven since the last anti-Israel demo that featured the usual islamo fascist and radical leftist crowd. don’t forget to pay your JVP dues ladies.

What a sad case you are.  I guess you also hate the Israelis who don’t go along with your sick line of thinking.

You probably think that you are being funny but, believe me, you are not.

Tell me Sol, what do you think of Israelis who think as I do?

Bet you won’t answer because all you know how to do is to throw out insults and you aren’t very good at that either.

The nominees for Jewish Community hero are a wonderful and diverse group.  In addition to our local heroes, those represented in the contest include Tessa Gerall who helped care for Peter, Aaron & Willa Berry after the tragic death of their parents Joshua & Robin Berry.
Shais “MaNishtana” Rison,  an Orthodox African-American Jewish activist, Neshama Carlebach, daughter of Slomo, who engages us with her angelic voice. and Eliott Mathias, founder of Hasbara Fellowships.  Look through the list.  Vote for who inspires and engages you.  And shep nachas from all the wonderful representatives from our community

. . i shouldn’t insult you. nope you can’t cuz the operative word here is “good” when it comes to giving a good reason why. but don’t fret my dear. my friends and i have never the less chosen to honor cecilie. you can see it in the top right hand of this site: http://proisraelctu.blogspot.com/

I knew it!!

I knew that you would not answermy question about how you feel about Israelis who feel as I do. They are patriotic and love their country but not the direction in which Israel is going.

I’ll bet if you were in Israel you would be among those far right wing Jews who sling slurs and spit at the Women in Black who stand in silent protest of the occupation and theft of Palestinian lands.

I would not be surprised if you were in Israel if you would not be one of those who burn mosques and desecrate Chritian and Muslim cemetaries. Didn’t know that was happening did you? Check out the Israeli press.

If you were a settler in the West Bank I suspect you would be.one of those attacking Palestinian kids on their way to school or uprooting the ancient olive trees on Palesitnian lands while beating aged farmers.

You would be thrilled to be in the IDF, although I suspect that you are too old. I think you would love to burst into a Palestinian home in the middle of the night and drag the family into the street while you ransacked their home.

Maybe you would like to operate a Catepillar bulldozer to demolish the home of a Palestinian family who will sob as you destroy the home in which they have lived for years.
That would be great fun for you wouldn’t it Sol?

Sol, I know you won’t do it but I would like to suggest that you read Journey to Jerusalem by American journalist Grace Halsell who in 1979 spent several months in Jerusalem with Jewish, Muslim and Christians. This was before there were any suicide bombings and what I read of the Israeli treatment of non-Jews in Jerusalem and the West Bank made me sick at heart.

The Israelis I support would not like any of the above criminal actions.

I could go on but you get the idea.

Finally I went to the website you favored but saw nothing at all to indict JVP.  The video maker, however, has a filthy mouth and does terrible camera work.

Is that your son? Wouldn’t be surprised at all.

You have more in common with each other than with anyone else posting here.  You both behave like spoiled immature children, insisting on discussing what YOU want to discuss, regardless of the topic of the article.
Editors, a report spam or off topic button would be most welcome here.  If Janice, Sol and their ilk want to continue their “conversation” let them do it elsewhere.
This is about our community heros. This is not for debating the history of the Middle East or for exchanging personal insults. Janice and Sol, you are both tiresome.

...and so, Janice these relatives of yours chose to move to a racially segregated US so they could avoid military service and make US scale incomes instead of staying in Israel and working to improve things?  That doesn’t sound like anything to be proud of at all. By the way, although people know about the “St. Louis” (because of a movie)from the 1939 “White Paper” until 9 days after the end of the 1948 Israeli War of Independence,the British imprisoned Jewish refugees behind barbed wire in Cyprus in a vain attempt to appease Muslims. The vast majority of the Arabs that left pre-state Israel never actually saw an Israeli soldier. Mohmand Abbas’ family for example, left Safed with all the rest of the Arabs silently, at night.  Some have speculated that those Arabs who were complicit in the 1929 feared they’d be called to justice if caught by the Israelis. There’s a big difference between “refugee” and “fugitive, eh Janice?

My relatives did not avoid military service. They all served in the IDF with one rising to the rank of major.

They did not want their children to serve as oppressors beyone the Green Line and now they live in a neighborhood that is far more racially and religiously diverse than they had living in Israel.

They are not making the huge incomes of which you accuse them. Unlike some of billionaires in Israel and the US they live in a middle class neighborhood in California.

As for working to improve things in Israel it seems to me and to many on the left in Israel that Israel is moving farther and farther to the right and closer and closer to becoming a theocracy to appease the extreme relisious in the counttry.

The father of these two former Israelis was an American who served in the Palmach and particiapted in the ethnic cleansing of the Arabs of what became northern Israel.  He described to me how the people living in the villages were driven at gunpoint into Lebanon not even being given a chance to put on their shoes.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Just read Benny Morris and Ilan Pappe both of whom had access to the Israeli archives and wrote of the ethnic cleansing.

Yes it is true that many of the Arabs left without seeing a Jewish soldier but they knew of the massacre at Deir Yassin on April 8, 1948 and fled for their lives. Probably a wise move given what both Morris and Pappe have written.

I don’t want to get into a big discussion here but I only want to point out that in order to have a mostly Jewish state. the Zionists knew they would have to expel the Arabs from Palestine. Today Benny Morris says that he regrets that all of the Arabs were not expelled.

If Cecile Kurasky were so out of the mainstream then why remove her from the poll?  Surely her vote would be so derisory that that would make the point that the anti-democrats here would want made?

Truth be told is that many American Jews don’t subscribe to the bigotry displayed here.

Cecile Kurasky opposes the Occupation and racism in Israel - little things like living in ‘unrecognised’ villages liable to be demolished as part of the Judification projects or receiving lower welfare benefits or not being able to rent or lease ‘Jewish national’ land.

But I forgot.  Rabbi Manis Friedman of Lubavitch is mainstream, at no. 3 at the moment.  And what does this good Rabbi believe in?  Murdering Arab civilians, yea even including children.

According to a June 2009 article in Ha’aretz, Friedman believes that:

;The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle),” Friedman wrote in response to the question posed by Moment Magazine for its “Ask the Rabbis” feature.’  http://azvsas.blogspot.com/2009/06/lubavitch-rabbi-urges-extermination-of.html

No doubt Friedman is mainstream and welcome to stand as a ‘Jewish hero’ given the heroic nature of the above comments.  Speaks volumes about the level to which Zionism and its defenders sink today that Friedman was considered legitimate.

Manis Friedman was misquoted.  He wrote in reply

“It is obvious, I thought, that any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion. Fundamental to the Jewish faith is the concept that every human being was created in the image of G-d, and our sages instruct us to support the non-Jewish poor along with the poor of our own brethren. The sub-question I chose to address instead is: how should we act in time of war, when our neighbors attack us, using their women, children and religious holy places as shields. I attempted to briefly address some of the ethical issues related to forcing the military to withhold fire from certain people and places, at the unbearable cost of widespread bloodshed (on both sides!)—when one’s own family and nation is mercilessly targeted from those very people and places.”

Cecilie’s work violates the standards that the federation has set for themselves (good for them) and that is why she was removed.  She could not be a less appropriate choice if she worshipped that Jewish carpenter from Bethleheim

If the contest was only open to those who contributed to the Federation, cecilie Surasky would have been largely ignored.  But it was open to anyone, anywhere with internet access- and anti-Israel groups began soliciting their members to vote for her.