The cancellation by a Reform synagogue in Newton MA of a J Street event tonight has had a salutary effect. Some folks are speaking out.
J Street has started a petition for more open discussion in the Jewish community:
Know that this is not an isolated example. All across the country, week in and week out, small numbers of right-wing activists and donors regularly intimidate synagogues, Hillels, and other communal institutions out of presenting views on Israel they don’t like. We’ve had enough, and I hope you have too. It’s time to draw the line and say we simply won’t be silenced any more.
Excellent statement. (And will J Street invite non-Zionists to some of its panels?)
J Street has support. Jesse Singal in the Globe blasts Temple Beth Avodah as pulling “a lame evasive maneuver.”
The Boston Jewish Advocate had been on the bill at the synagogue– and presumably will be on the program tonight in the replacement venue, the Memorial-Spaulding School in Newton, 7:45PM– deprecates the decision:
We can’t speak for the synagogue, but our involvement did not amount to an endorsement of the controversial Israel advocacy group, but rather reflected our recognition that support for Israel comes in many shades. We do draw the line, as we did in an editorial two weeks ago opposing Workmen’s Circle open rental policy, which allows its Brookline space to be used by groups that protest Israeli policies by backing boycotts, divestment and sanctions.
Elise Kigner of the Boston Jewish Advocate reports on the temple’s decision:
[Rabbi Keith] Stern, with the support of Bill Friedler, president of the temple board, did agree to Ben-Ami’s appearance, [J Street’s Janette] Hillis-Jaffe said. Stern would not specify who was involved in the decision, but said when it was made no one expected it to provoke backlash.
“The leadership of the congregation and I were enthusiastic about the opportunity to host a moderated conversation with the opportunity for questions and answers, and I was not prepared for the strenuous opposition,” he said.
When congregants learned about the event, a small but very angry group urged the temple to withdraw its offer to host Ben-Ami, the rabbi said.
Sunday, some members of the temple’s executive committee met with congregants who opposed Ben-Ami’s appearance and ultimately decided to withdraw the invitation to Ben-Ami, said Hillis- Jaffe.
