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 Some see signs of growing strife within American Jewry over the issue of Israel. American Jews confront internal rancor over IsraelBy Joe Sterling, CNN Atlanta (CNN) - When the editor of a Jewish newspaper here wrote this month that the Jewish state might consider assassinating an American president, his column made national headlines and provoked a Secret Service inquiry. The most striking criticism came from the Jewish community itself, which collectively held its nose and harshly denounced the column by Andrew Adler, who is also the owner of the weekly paper, the Atlanta Jewish Times. Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman called Adler's words "irresponsible and extremist." Adler apologized and resigned as editor, but some see the episode as the latest example of an increase in divisive, over-the-top rhetoric within American Jewish communal life, revolving largely around the hot-button issue of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians. The tensions have provoked Jewish groups across the country to launch programs aimed at lowering the political temperature in their own religious communities. Israel is not "one of the great unifying factors" that it once was in the Jewish community, said Samuel Freedman, author of "Jew vs. Jew: the Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry.”
"Since the Lebanon invasion and the First Intifada, it has become a dividing line,” he said, referring to the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation in the late 1980s. “It's probably deeper now than I've ever seen it." Tensions within American Judaism are rising as some Jews detect an "existential threat" to Israel, with Iran's nuclear aspirations and Islamist parties coming to power during the Arab uprisings, he says. Freedman also sees broader trends at work, including the fading line between private and public talk dissolving in the era of blogging and tweeting. The Atlanta Jewish Times incident, he says, is a reminder that words that sound bold in private will "resonate really differently when they are out in public." Ethan Felson, vice president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, says emotions have been much more "intense and destructive" lately as ideological camps within the American Jewish community harden their views over the contentious U.S. presidential campaign, tensions between Israel and Iran, and issues from health care to marriage. "This is going to be a brutal year," he says. "We're looking at a scorched earth political environment." Felson’s group spearheads a nationwide civility initiative and held a "civility institute" last year to help Jewish leaders with conflict resolution, listening and "communicating across polarized divides." Leaders from 15 Jewish communities across the country participated. The council recently issued a civility statement signed by a range of prominent Jewish entities, saying the effort has "deep roots in Torah," the Jewish sacred text, and "in our community's traditions." But the statement also spoke to a troubled Jewish landscape. "The expression and exchange of views is often an uncivil, highly unpleasant experience,” it said. “Community events and public discussions are often interrupted by raised voices, personal insults, and outrageous charges." Jane Schiff, a Jewish Council for Public Affairs board member who is also on the group’s civility task force, says she has seen the hostile atmosphere take its toll in her Atlanta community, with rabbis backing off from talking about Israel. "They are afraid it will affect their employment. I'm seeing friends saying to each other, 'I'm not talking to you about that because I want to stay your friend,' " she said of controversial issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Judy Saks, the community relations director for the Jewish Federation of Nashville and editor of the federation-produced community newspaper, can attest to the vituperation. In May, an online video surfaced about Muslims in Nashville that said they were fomenting pro-terrorist ideas. Called “Losing our Community,” the video was produced by a Boston-based group called Americans for Peace and Tolerance. A video on the group’s website says one Nashville Muslim figure it regards as radical has been embraced by “self-described progressive Jewish religious leaders," including a rabbi, and is respected as an interfaith activist in the community. Saks said that the original video blasted three Nashville rabbis but that two were removed after several weeks. Americans for Peace and Tolerance did not respond to a request for comment. "It brought out such divisiveness in this community,” Saks said. “It pointed fingers at our rabbis for doing what rabbis do." The organized Jewish community decided to draw up its own civility statement, which supports "robust and vigorous debate about critical issues – as long as it is civil and tolerant" and disagreement "without threats of reprisal." "This willingness to listen to other points of view honors Nashville's spirit as an open, welcoming and friendly city, our nation's history and our Jewish heritage," it said. "We will not engage with those who threaten the safety and security of our community." In California's San Francisco Bay Area, controversy erupted over a film about Rachel Corrie shown at a 2009 San Francisco Jewish film festival. Corrie, an American member of the International Solidarity Movement who was killed in Gaza nine years ago by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer, symbolizes for many the battle on the left against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Corrie's mother spoke at the event, angering some Jews, who said her appearance politicized what was supposed to be an artistic moment. The reaction to the film reflected the political fissures in the Bay Area Jewish community. In response, two community leaders, Abby Michelson Porth and Rachel Eryn Kalish, co-founded Project Reconnections, which included an initiative called the Year of Civil Discourse. The well-funded effort throughout 2011 worked to bring Jews of different political stripes together for dialogue and deliberation, study and workshops. It also focused on reconciliation in four synagogues beset by political enmity and engaged community leaders over issues such as the Middle East. Porth, also associate director at the Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council, says the project helped infuse the community "with the skills and the opportunity to have a rich, meaningful and civil discourse." She says it got people on opposite ends of the spectrum to stay at the table to understand the other person's point of view and to to deliberate thoughtfully over disagreements. Kalish, the Year of Civil Discourse project facilitator, saw people’s "fight or flight" instincts shift as they learned to communicate thoughtfully and gain a deeper understanding of issues such as Jewish settlements and the status of Jerusalem. A healthy conversation, Kalish said, helps people think and understand that "maybe there's a third way" to approach a stubborn issue. She recalls an interaction in one synagogue between an older man who lived through Israel's War of Independence in 1948 and the Six Day War in 1967 and a young woman who sees Israel through the prism of its criticized actions in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. The two synagogue members came to understand each other and now work side by side as dialogue "facilitators" at their congregation. Kalish cites this as an example of "pretty dramatic change" in learning how to listen and speak honesty and respectfully. Mitch Chanin, executive director of the Jewish Dialogue Group in Philadelphia, offers dialogue programs for Jews in synagogues, colleges and other organizations and trains people as dialogue facilitators. The group formed in 2001 and has done work across North America. Chanin, who says his group refrains from promoting political opinion, says the dialogues have included talking through the tough issues around the Middle East conflict. "People grapple with the questions of what risks are we willing to take and what actions are ethical. Who can we trust and not trust?" Chanin said. "The likely consequences of Israeli policies. What are the intentions of Palestinian actors? “What can we do to be safe? When is it OK to kill? When is it necessary? When is it wrong? When are there alternatives?" |
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does anybody out there realize that this is just one idiot columnist talking and he does not speak for anyone but himself? what does what this moron atlanta journalist have to do with the rest of the jewish community? he is just some idiot extremist that should be arrested for threatening the president.
the author in NO WAY promoted the killing of our president. the article was about ensuring the safety of israel, and he threw out three possible scenarios, one of which was getting rid of NObama. he never, i repeat, NEVER, advocated the killing of him. he threw out a scenario that may or may not have ever crossed the mind(s) of a radicalized supporter of israel, jewish or not. please do yourself and your country a favor and perform due diligence for making yourself look like an embicile.
I agree with you. This man sounds like the other racists who have hatched plots to hurt the president. He did not say someone "should" harm the president but he implied that it would be a viable option. In any case he should be interviewed by the FBI. Who cares if he is Jewish or not.
In last night's debate presented by Wolf Blitzer (CNN), a Palestinian man asked what the candidates would do about the situation in the Middle East. Both Romney and Gingrich said they would stauncly defend Israel, our ally, and said nothing about the poor Palestininas. Mr. Bliltzer did not even ask Ron Paul for his opinion.
We are not fair and balanced about the Middle East, and I am sure that is why we are so disliked in that part of the world. I wish the American Jewish people would stop supporting Israel by sending money to the Israelis and start talking about the injustice that is occurring in the Middle East.
do yourself a favor and listen to a voice of reason:
this from a guy who used to support the pali cause and was harshly critical of israel.... that is until he saught the truth.
Otter,
A very silly comment. You do not sound very intellegent.
I thought if you threatened the President, that the FBI or Secret Service would come after you – why isn't this knucklehead getting interrogated at Guantanamo?
because, silly, had you read the article, before the liberal left media skewed it so far out of context, he never promoted such an outrageous notion as to off the president!
the author in NO WAY promoted the killing of our president. the article was about ensuring the safety of israel, and he threw out three possible scenarios, one of which was getting rid of NObama. he never, i repeat, NEVER, advocated the killing of him. he threw out a scenario that may or may not have ever crossed the mind(s) of a radicalized supporter of israel, jewish or not. please do yourself and your country a favor and perform due diligence and realize that most everything reported in regards to israel is certainly bent against her.
Screw Israel's safety. The American's safety comes first.
Internal strife is a good thing. It means some are thinking outside the box.
Very good sign that the people are engaged in showing rejection for such thoughts; a nice balance of moderates, left, and right ideas for the win. This unhealthy domination of the left and right wings can only lead to more extremist ideology.
These Jews are cool:
http://www.nkusa.org/
THEY AREN'T "really cool"
I find this article troubling. The United States has given Israel many millions of dollars in aid. I feel that the Parisians have a right to a homeland of their own. The actions of Israel towards the Parisians border on genocide. Now a Jewish news paper is suggesting murdering our president. Is there something wrong here or am I missing something?
Parisians already have a homeland. Its called Paris.
Try *billions* in aid.
I once overheard two Jews having a heated argument. One Jew had cheated a third person and the other Jew didn't like it. Finally the honest Jew pointed to the dishonest Jew and said, "It's people like you that made Hitler do what he did." The honest Jew obviously knew the lesson of history, that you always treat other people fairly and with respect because when you don't people remember it.
Joe, I get your reasoning but Hitler was a mad man and did what he did to Consolidate his power base and to get the "German" People behind a common enemy.
NOTE: Jews made up a bit more than 1/2 of the total people that Hitler and his minions killed, Why do I not hear about the other 5-6 million that were killed?
JohnQuest – To understand what led to the ethnic hatred in Germany during that period you have to analyze the social and economic history of the Wiemar Republic. Without doubt, there were injustices committed against the German people. Not all the injustices were committed by Jews and not all Jews were involved. But the honest Jew had been in Europe during the war and must have seen certain things to say what he did.
If you go to the Holocaust Museum and many places in Israel, non-Jewish victims of the Nazi's are frequently mentioned.
I've ofter said that "Schindler's List" is an excellent movie, but it should be part 2 of a series. Part 1 should focus on the pre-war period. The Holocaust was the effect and the world needs to understand the cause so something like that never happens again.
Hitler murdered many many Roma. Millions died in Russia and millions died elsewhere because of the war. Holocaust is total sum of all these people not just one minority.
THAT CHICK IN THE YELLOW AND WHITE NEEDS TO GET TIITTY F' ED.. LOL
Crap, that was the first thing I noticed in the picture !
I will not be quiet for Zion's sake
The pro-Israel lobby is so powerful that the President, every president, must go give a speech to AIPAC every year. (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee)
To Timothy,
I don't think Ron Paul was invited and I think that was a feather in his cap. Go Ron Paul, the only one who has the gumption and moxie to speak his mind about the Israelis unfair takeover of Palestine.
America should send a blunt response to Israel. NO MORE FIGHTING WARS FOR ISRAEL. Enough is Enough!
I am just appalled that all folks running for pulic office have to do allegence for survival of Israel and kiss Israel's PM ring.
Like Barrie said, some Jews in America might have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, and get Obama elected. Unfortunately, Obama has more important things to take care of, especially for we, the people of the United States. So, Israel just have to wait in line.
"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto." – Thomas Jefferson
I'm just going to leave this here...
You know, from what I've read in these comments, my Christian friends and I support Israel more than the Jewish posters here do. That is sad. Maybe that's why they've allowed themselves to be persecuted throughout history. They don't seem able to tell their enemies from their friends.
You guys are just morons that's why. Nobody should back Israel. America is paying the whole price because of that. It's not American responsibility to defend or back Israel. They should take care of themselves.
I am Jewish an I know my enemies. I support Israel 100%.
I am Jewish and I know my enemies. I support Israel 100%.
That's because christian nutjobs need the jews to fulfill their biblical fantasy.
the land of Isreal belongs to Hebrew/Jews, look at history, 1948 was new birth of what was once. It belongs, Palestine does not there are plenty of other arab countries where Palestine can go.
Actually the land was the Canaanites that the Hewbrews stole. The Israelites ruled for about 300 years. The land has been Governed by non Jews (Arabs) for a much longer period of time. Also by the Romans, Crusaders and the British. The Romans controlled the land longer than the Isrealites. Italy has as much claim to the land as the Jews. Get your nose out of the Bible and into a History Book.
Is history repeating itself again? How many sat by thinking Hitler was a passing phase and things would never happen they way they did. Wake up America. I'm pro -Israel and proud of it.
This is RACISM, pure and simple. And no- not against mexicans, against blacks, against asians, or even dirty europeans; this is racist against the good people of the Middle East. When someone proposes the assassination of an American President, its a huge deal; but when someone says "We should invade iran" or "we should nuke iran" or "we should kill that iranian nuclear scientist" its not a problem at all. Is the life of a pious follower of one of the oldest religions in the world any less valuable a member of society than the president of the United States? Are the lives of millions of Iranians less valuable than his? Is a country's freedom to choose it's own way, to dictate religion and culture, to pursue the development of safe nuclear technology (which numerous other countries already have) less important than the life of ONE MAN? It's time to open your eyes to the world people!
To all of the Jewish community who support this inflammatory rhetoric. It's time for you leave and immigrate back to Israel. You're not wanted here. A 2 state solution is the ONLY answer. End of story.
@pump-uh-dump
the author in NO WAY promoted the killing of our president. the article was about ensuring the safety of israel, and he threw out three possible scenarios, one of which was getting rid of NObama. he never, i repeat, NEVER, advocated the killing of him. he threw out a scenario that may or may not have ever crossed the mind(s) of a radicalized supporter of israel, jewish or not. please do yourself and your country a favor and perform due diligence for making yourself look like an embicile.
Otter, isn't it time you had your medication. Your shrill, irrational, histrionic, illogical tired rhetoric is getting tiresome. Lol. Ignorant tool.
"the author in NO WAY promoted the killing of our president. the article was about ensuring the safety of israel, and he threw out three possible scenarios, one of which was getting rid of NObama."–Otter
Where does PumpNDump say the author 'promoted' anything? And by the way, promotion is to help something happen or develop. Something as inflammatory as what that author wrote could fundamentally spark something. Let me stop; I'm probably talking to a wall.
So if a Muslim had said this today I wonder what you clowns would be saying?
We would say that Seal Team is coming your way. Just as it should for this Adler guy! We give Israel 2 billion a year and all they do is thumb us in the eye. I am appalled as an American tax payer that even $1 is given to a nation that shows us zero respect. A lot of our grandfathers gave their lives to liberate Europe and save the Jews. Israel in turn does nothing but whine.
They'd saying the same thing! One man's hero is another man's terrorist. Americans defend Isreal because it is the birthplace of Christianity so any ill action against it is considered sacreligious. But what we fail to realize is that while the country is the birthpalce of Christianity, doesn't make it above reproach. My earlier statement about heros and terrorist, during the period of 1945 to 1948 Israelis wage guerilla warfare and terrorist actions against both the British and Palestinians in a fight for independence. Notable Israelis who later became leaders in the nation participated in those actions so now how are the Palestinians of today any different? I can understand the mentality of Israel, the feeling of being under siege and constant threat but constantly using force to bring about their policies hasn't, isn't & won't work.