LA Jewish Journal Wants Outreach

"Put down that rifle, Davy. Outreach is the answer."


The Los Angeles Jewish Journal is a major on-line publication representing the Jewish community of Southern California (I guess). From my limited exposure to this paper, it appears that they try to represent all voices within the Jewish community-a monumental undertaking in itself. (Contrary to popular belief, Jews are anything but a monolithic population all devoted to Israel. They are very fragmented in their beliefs. That also includes when it comes to Israel and dealing with problems like anti-Semitism.) Now comes Rob Eshman, editor of the Journal, with an op-ed that argues against the so-called San Francisco guidelines. The San Francisco guidelines were put into effect last year in response to Jewish Federation participation in showing a  film at the SF Jewish Film Festival in 2009 about Rachel Corrie, a young Jewish-American activist who joined the International Solidarity Movement, went to the Holy Land, and was run over by a bulldozer which was in the process of demolishing a house connected to terrorist activities. Corrie's mother, an anti-Israel activist, spoke at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, which offended many members of the Jewish community. The guidelines address the question of funding any activities or production that is deemed harmful to Israel including support for BDS ( Boycot, Divest and Sanctions against companies that do business with Israel).

Here is Eshman's op-ed.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/rob_eshman/article/just_say_yes_20110216/

As much as I respect Eshman's concern about censoring any Jewish voices, I still maintain that nobody should have to put up with or financially support efforts by those who are trying to destroy you. Eshman criticizes Jewish Voices for Peace, but defends them as one more voice that deserves to be heard. To me, this organization is little more than Jews for Jihad; it is an organization that wants the end of Israel as a Jewish state. They are aligned with those who would destroy Israel-including by military conquest. In short, Jewish Voices for Peace is a far-left group of people who happen to be Jews.

The same argument is playing out in Orange County over the Olive Tree Initiative, which is spreading from UC-Irvine to other UC campuses. Ironically, some in the local Jewish community who are speaking out against the OTI are being subjected to a form of censorship as we speak as some major Jewish groups are trying to discredit them-and even keep them from speaking to Jewish groups about the OTI.

So is it right for Jewish groups to shut off support for some controversial forms of expression while defending others? Should they say yes or no to Rachel Corrie's story and the speeches of her mother? Should they say yes or no to the Olive Tree Initiative? Should they say yes or no to those who criticize the Olive Tree Initiative? Yes to all three? Philosophically, it is a hard question. Constitutionally, it is easy. Virtually everyone has a right to express their opinion. They are not entitled to the support and funding of those who feel they would be hurt by such expression. That is what the San Francisco guidelines are designed to address. Say what you will, but we don't have any obligation to provide you with the soapbox or the money.

Eshman's "solution" for the issue is "outreach, outreach, outreach". I respectfully disagree.It is useless and counterproductive to reach out to those who are trying to destroy you. Israel has tried it. Synagogues (and churches) in the US are trying it now. Nothing changes.


Warsaw ghetto uprising

"Put down that gun, Jakov. Outreach is the answer."


I have been called an alarmist when I compare world events to Europe in the 1930s, but I believe it is a valid comparison. Along with the efforts to destroy Israel, anti-Semitism is once again on the march. Whatever happened to that quaint little phrase I used to hear, "Never again"?

OK, OK. I'm not even Jewish. That's just my two cents worth.