It looks like the Upper West Side has become a bastion of support for Israel in New York, given its demographics: a lot of older, more conservative/liberal Jews and the presence of community organizations. For instance, an Upper West Side synagogue banished a conversation about whether Israel can be a Jewish democracy; and that conversation took place downtown last night, and a couple of the panel members made jokes about the Upper West Side.
At that event, someone showed me the photo of the blue banner, below, on the Upper West Side, heralding the “UWS” celebration of Israel’s birthday next week.
And this morning I received the promotion for a Jewish Community Center film/birthday party in conjunction with the American Friends of Tel Aviv University, below. Merrill Lynch is a sponsor. I sense there will be very little discussion of Palestinian human rights at that party.
UWS celebrates Israel
American Friends Tel Aviv University event
At last night’s conversation about “Jewish democracy” in Israel (Alex Kane and I will have a report later) J.J. Goldberg said that the synagogue Ansche Chesed, of which he is a congregant, has the perfect right to exclude the debate (even if he wishes it had not), because a synagogue represents an ideological community. But he said that the Jewish Community Center represents the broader community and has a responsibility to reflect the diversity of that community. Surely it was on that conscientious basis that the 92d Street Y invited Roger Waters to speak (an event we hope is rescheduled for June); but the JCC is still a bit thick.
Has any of these organizations invited Ben Ehrenreich to talk about his weeks reporting in Nabi Saleh for the New York Times, and the “shelter” he found in strangers’ homes in that little village when he felt frightened by tear gas and rubber bullets? Or the distinction he makes between Rachel Corrie and activist/tourists who can’t wait to get their portrait made in a keffiyeh? I think folks would be clamoring to hear his observations, all kinds of folks. Seems pretty Upper West Side to me.
Re: “… a synagogue represents an ideological community.”
Does, e.g., a church or mosque do the same?
What’s the difference, if any, between an ideological community and a religious community? It “sure as hell” isn’t faith. A clear belief in heaven? That applies clearly to, e.g., Christianity and Islam, but not to Judaism. Consequently, I don’t get the distinction regarding the synagogue and the Jewish Community Center.
Anybody explain?
PS: The Upper West Side is an upscale, primarily residential area with many of its residents working in more commercial areas in Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
Phil, perhaps you and Alex should bring the discussion about Palestinian human rights to the JCC party. I’d love to hear the report back on that one.
RE: “J.J. Goldberg said that the synagogue Ansche Chesed, of which he is a congregant, has the perfect right to exclude the debate (even if he wishes it had not), because a synagogue represents an ideological community. But he said that the Jewish Community Center represents the broader community and has a responsibility to reflect the diversity of that community.”
MY COMMENT: I wish J.J.Goldberg would explain that to The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA)! ! !
SEE: “Peter ‘Powder Keg’ Beinart is disinvited from gig at Atlanta Jewish book festival”, by Annie Robbins, Mondoweiss, 11/05/12
SOURCE – https://mondoweiss.mystagingwebsite.com/2012/11/peter-powder-keg-beinart-is-disinvited-from-gig-at-atlanta-jewish-book-festival.html
● P.S. YET SOME MORE GOOD TOE TAPPIN’ MUSIC:
Suzanne Ciani: “Sargasso Sea”, from the 2005 CD ‘Silver Ship’ [VIDEO, 03:30] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72AC9iJreQ8
If it’s primarily the older and more conservative, I can forgive them for their ignorance. It is human nature to hold on to idealist historical narratives. When Israel declared statehood, Italian Jews walked backwards through the Titus arch. The 1960 film “Exodus” had an effect on many people in terms of an idealist narrative. Just ask Justin Raimondo! These people, IMO, will never believe the underlying truths in the narrative. It is simply not possible in their minds and futile to introduce the idea. I work my way around it rather than alienate myself from my family and my friends. My friends have told me they lost other friends and have been shunned by family members for trying to speak the truth. This is too much of a price for me to pay. Call me a coward if you like. I’ll introduce a ‘spark’ of an idea now and then and hope it takes off. It never does but I have hope. I am a coward, I admit it, but I love the company of my family and friends above and beyond their irrational ‘tunnel vison’ POVs and opinions. They make me emotional and I ignore them. Even good people hold hateful, irrational, and bigoted opinions. I wish others would understand that before attacking them…
PS, this is not much different than Westerners accepting the Greek and Roman written idealist narratives about history and ignoring everything else going on in the world (in the Americas, Asia, Africa, etc.)
I do not really fault them, I get it. I get the human factor. I do not get those who are young and still learning. They are the ones who should know better.
Come on, Mr. Weiss, when you speak so highly of Ehrenreich and the town he speaks so glowingly of, do you not shudder at the innocents killed by that murderess Tamimi in the Sbarro Pizza bombing? How can you look away at the coldness Mr. Ehrenreich displays in his brief mention of the bombing’s victims, as if somehow eating food in Israel is a crime against humanity, specifically against Palestinians? If they “ate” Palestinians, it certainly would be. Get my point?
Uh, did you order matza without the “requisite” non-Jewish blood baked into it this year? Honestly, there are things about MDW that seem to crucify ordinary Jews, like the overwhelming majority living in Israel, and project them as criminals. I protest; no purpose served in dishing up caricatures of Jews. Goebbels, or however you spell that evil man’s name, did a good enough job.