POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH Differing views on the US-Israel relationship –
I find it hard to believe that we have a “jewish” temple here in chappaqua that finds itself confused about supporting israel. No country is perfect - last i looked we just had an assasination in this country, we have high unemployment, we have terrible immigration laws, can’t find affordable housing in chappaqua - and this little temple is trying to decide if it supports israel? I wonder if reform temples in israel are trying to decide if they like america.
I say focus on learning, studying and being nicer to each other and stop wasting time on something that should be easy to support as Americans and Jewish people.
Agree with not a self-hating jew.
It is obvious that those who do not understand the significance of Israel to Jews have never lived anywhere but in America.
Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism in a new guise. It is thinly-veiled hatred and just as vicious and dangerous.
Travel and live in other parts of the world and perhaps then you will understand.
American Jews have been fortunate in this wonderful country, but some need to be more worldly. It must be so frustrating for an Israeli to see such ignorance. They are courageous and productive and have created an amazing society; Israel is a bastion of civilization.
If you cannot experience other parts of the world, then educate yourselves. Read a non-Jew’s analysis of what it means to be a Jew in the world (at least for the sake of your children): Read “Sartre’s Anti-Semite and Jew.” You might also remember Hannah Arendt’s view of the existenital plight of Jews as “pariahs.” Kafka pins it, too.
In America we have anti-semitism but it is not publicly sanctioned as it is in other places, and a questionable philo-semitism, at times, which is equally prejudiced—it is the other side of the same coin. With the latter, it is as if we belong to an exclusive country club and have some secret formula.
Perhaps, some Jews cannot handle reality. It was T.S. Eliot (an overt anti-semite) who said that “Reality is too much for humankind.” Perhaps this reality is too much for some Jews.
By supporting the existence of Israel, you are supporting your own existence.
Perhaps NCN should stick to community based news, not religious based. I assumed that it why there was no mention of Christmas at all this year as if it didn’t happen. How about some balance?
In reference to Old Timer, the article NCN presents IS reporting on a community event. They are not taking a side but rather informing the public of a meeting they can attend. What does informing the public about this meeting have to do with a lack of coverage about Christmas? Perhaps it is the comments written by Jews about being Jewish that offend you but that is not the fault of NCN. As Wake Up! implies, subtle anti-semitism exists everywhere, including in Chappaqua. Perhaps you did not intend to come off as sounding anti-semitic but it is easy to construe your comments in that way.
I find the knee-jerk attack of anyone criticizing the current rightwing coalition governing Israel, especially by American Jews, as disturbing but predictable. For too long, we American Jews have stood silent while the country we love, second to our own, goes down a dark path which can only lead to continued cycles of violence and a complete loss of the moral principles Israel used to stand for. Unfortunately, the Israeli political system gives power to the far right religious groups which cannot be distinguished from the radical Palestinian groups seeking the destruction of Israel. Racism and bigotry on both sides should not be tolerated. American Jews should not stand by quietly while Israel pursues a path that opens itself up to charges of oppression and racism and coincidentally is injurious to its own and America’s interests.
It is in America’s best interest to encourage the moderate factions in Israel to encourage Israel to take affirmative steps to building a lasting a peace, negotiate a withdrawal to the 1967 borders including East Jerusalem and work with the moderate forces in Palestine.
AIPAC has for too long blindly supported these destructive Israeli policies and injured Israel’s standing in the US including participating in troubling incidents such as the Pollard case in which Israel’s spying activities on its greatest ally threatened the very support it needs and wants from the USA. As both an American and a Jew (not by any means self-hating), we have a duty to try to convince a close friend that it has gone far off course.
@Patriotic American and Jew:
Just out of curiosity, did you find that the more liberal government of Livni, Olmert, and Barak more to your liking? because that government oversaw two devestating conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza during which several thousand people were killed.
As a left-leaning former supporter of AIPAC myself, I can tell you that their involvement as a lobby group is just that: a lobby group. They do not set Israeli policy, but rather—(a bit too aggressively for my taste)—seek to influence Washington’s support of Israel. Maybe you should make a point of attending the meeting? I went to the “J Street” meeting a few months ago and it was very informative. It sounds like you should learn a little more about AIPAC (and Israel, for that matter) before you condemn it.
