Jewish Voice for Peace has started a petition following up on the last minute cancellation of a youth-led workshop on Palestinian nonviolent movements at New York’s 14th Street Y. The video above shows what went down over the weekend, and the petition reads:
Dear Stephen Hazan Arnoff, Executive Director of the 14th Street Y:
I am concerned about your decision to cancel Young Jewish and Proud’s “Go & Learn” event that was to take place at the 14th Street Y this past Sunday, May 27th. I hope you will reconsider and allow the event to be rescheduled at the 14th Street Y.
No matter what one believes about Palestinian non-violent movements and the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, we must allow these conversations in Jewish communities. Open, honest critical debate strengthens the Jewish community. Let’s talk about what our real questions are; and if people disagree, let’s respectfully hear each other out. The 14th Street Y—a Jewish community center—should not shut out young Jews eager to gather for learning and discussion. To the contrary, in a time when the Jewish community is deeply concerned about keeping younger generations engaged with Jewish life, we should celebrate a new generation of Jewish leaders trying to wrestle with the hard issues that are facing our community. We should do all we can to widen the circle of young Jews engaging in that conversation. Please open your doors to these young Jews.
You can sign the petition here.
I think it’s a real pity when people who find themselves in the middle of a scene don’t have the awareness or insight to comment on what’s happening. Imagine if the black security guard whose function was to act as a relay between 2 groups of Jews had observed back to JVP: you can’t have this meeting because if you do the Jewish community in NYC will move one step closer to a civil war which will rent the community asunder. Your elders are afraid of you.
Zionism has to have censorship, otherwise the truth will sink them. And they know it.
“We should do all we can to widen the circle of young Jews engaging in that conversation. Please open your doors to these young Jews.”
I mean c’mon, it’s not like they’re going to let any Gentiles in or anything.
Okay, now I know what’s been bothering me. Ever since I was old enough to know ethnic cleasing from spiritual fulfillment and self-determination (hint: one doesn’t leave bodies behind it) I considered Zionism to have a parasitic relationship with Judaism, that it was something which attacked and attached itself to a weakened creature. And sucked what it needed without regard for the host.
I tried very hard to avoid the idea that the relationship might be symbiotic, but I don’t know if that’s possible any longer. And that’s an awful thought.
Having trouble with the audio. The movement and awareness about facts on the ground that has grown in the young Jewish community and even in the older Jewish community the last five years has been incredible to witness. Although I have over heard conversations and talked with some in the “Young Jewish and Proud” group at the Occupy Aipac gatherings. Warning watch out for your egos taking over and inferring that this decades long movement began and ends with your group. I heard some out of control arrogance and claims being repeated by members.
Always give attention to those who have come before you on an issue. Always. Be honest about this movement and awareness growing in the Jewish community as new. That for decades many of the facts have been deliberately ignored and shut down by some in that same community. Be honest about these facts