Help rescue American Jewry! Tomorrow at 1 p.m., at 63d and Madison, there will be another protest at Leviev, the fancy diamond mart lately opened by Lev Leviev, a leading backer of the illegal settlers' movement in Palestine. Adalah-N.Y., the human-rights group, will be doing Palestinian dances outside the store, and also bringing in a band to celebrate Hanukah. Wonderful; makes me love being Jewish again.
Leviev has been open for three weeks, and Adalah's protests are getting to him. He's responded to their statements in a trade publication.
Leviev's representatives asserted in a November
21 National Jeweler Network article that the
protesters are not aware of Leviev's worldwide
humanitarian work. However, according to Ethan
Heitner of Adalah-NY, "Leviev's philanthropy in
other parts of the world is small compensation
for his contribution to inflaming arguably the
world's most important political conflict. While
Leviev touts his charitable donations to UNICEF
and Oxfam, up to 50% of the Palestinian farming
village of Jayyous, where Leviev is building the
settlement Zufim, is now receiving food aid,
according to the Financial Times."
Celebrate Hanukkah by spreading light and hope.
Long ago, a hellenistic Syrian regime tried to squash freedom of worship and conscience and imposed heathen ways and customs, even introducing idols into the Temple in Jerusalem.
The banner of revolt was raised by a brave few, the Maccabees. Not everyone had the courage to follow. But eventually their efforts succeeded. National freedom was re-won. The Temple was cleansed. The eternal light (menorah) was rekindled. The celebration was named Chanukah, "dedication".
Every year Chanukah is marked by the kindling of lights. The ceremonies take place in Jewish homes, but also outside them, because Chanukah has a message for everybody.
It says that the human spirit can not be dimmed for ever. It says that any attempt to withhold human freedoms is bound to fail. It says that miracles do happen, helped along by the miraculous spirit of optimism and faith. It says that people have the right to believe – or not to believe. It says that everyone is entitled to love and respect, even if they differ in creed or colour, opinion or ethnic origin.
The protest didn't stop human rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz from doing his shopping. (In fact it was probably the reason he went.)
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