The below article was written by Lisa Armony in the LA Jewish Journal. It concerns a meeting held last night in Irvine by the Orange County chapter of the Zionist Organization of America. The meeting concerned the Olive Tree Initiative at UC-Irvine and the efforts of ZOA to find a venue to hold that meeting. The actual details of the meeting (I was not present) will be reported separately.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/groups_clash_over_public_discussion_of_olive_tree_initiative_20110323/
A couple of comments regarding this article:
First, Dee Sterling has asked for the Jewish Federation to cease any funding to the Olive Tree Inititiative. She has not called for a cessation of donations to the Jewish Federation.
Secondly, in the article, Dr Paula Garb of UCI stated that there have been no meetings with members of the International Solidarity Movement during the Olive Tree Initiative trips. Yet, George S. Rishmawi, one of the main Palestinian contacts, and who recently spoke at UCI at an OTI event, is a co-founder of the ISM. (He says he is no longer a member of ISM.)
This is a growing controversy among the OC Jewish community. There is deep division within the community over the Olive Tree Initiative and its funding. There is also a controversy over whether there is an effort to stifle debate within the Jewish community.
Investigation continues.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
To deny Rabbi Fischer a platform to share his knowledge with the Jewish community, by the temples Shir Ha Ma'alot and Bat Yahm is not in keeping with Jewish tradition of study. Rabbi Steinberg's excuse does not appear valid regarding the cancellation.
Shame on both temples. But it is Hashem that makes the final judgement.
Squid
Squid,
I wonder if either of the rabbis of these temples are affiliated with the Federation.
If the Rabbis are affiiated with the Federation, the plot thickens! Personally, I would follow the teachings of Rabbi Dov Fischer.
Squid
There is a simply way to handle "deep division within the Jewish community."
1) Everyone who supports the Olive Tree Initiative keep donating.
2) Everyone who does not support the Olive Tree Initiative, deny them any support.
Case closed. All the hullaballoo is silly, and if it ever became serious, the demand for lock-step conformance would border on the totalitarian.
Siarlys,
How about donors having full access to the facts of how their money is spent? Remember the United Way scandal a few years back?
Squid,
A little birdie tells me that Rabbi Steinberg sits on the board of the Federation.
Of course, the little birdie could be wrong.
Federation spokesmen deny having anything to do with these cancellations. I think it is a case where everyone knows that the Federation doesn't want anyone to give a venue to anyone who will be critical of them. So the cancellations just happen without any direct communication. The result is the same.
.
Gary, that would be a valid question, IF the donors were the ones complaining. However, it is the NON-donors who are complaining about the fact that some of their fellow Jews are WILLING donors. When the DONORS are asking questions, and complaining that they are being refused answers, I will pay attention. But then, THEY are the ones who have real leverage to express their dismay by REFUSING TO DONATE ANY LONGER. Non-donors, who never were donors, and have no intention of donating, are just spewing a lot of hot air.
The United Way Scandal? I remember it well. When the dust settled, it turned out the guy who was raking in all the dough had STARTED the "National United Way" and conned the locals into signing on. They needed a national office in Washington like a hole in the head. They were doing just fine as independent local organizations in their local communities. The sad ending is, they didn't simply shut down the national office and ask themselves, "Who needs this?"
Post a Comment