tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13487135623392500092024-02-19T00:22:26.515-08:00SF Jewish Film Festival WatchKeeping a watchful eye on the SF Jewish Film Festival.Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-57555032017941701822009-11-22T17:22:00.000-08:002009-11-22T17:22:32.380-08:00Major Rift in the Bay Area Jewish Community;<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The SF Jewish film Festival, the SF Federation, </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>and the Pro-Israel Community</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>by Lawrence W. White MD</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For many years, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF) has run films critical of Israel, often with attitudes bordering on anti-Semitism. This year, the film “Rachel” celebrated the life and death of Rachel Corrie. Rachel was an impressionable young student recruited by the International Solidarity Movement, (ISM), a Hamas-supporting group, who was sent to Gaza to aid in the campaign to demonize Israel. She was accidentally killed when she entered a war zone to try to stop the removal of tunnels used to smuggle arms to Hamas. The ISM loves martyrs, and so Rachel became a glorious sacrifice to the cause of demonizing Israel. And so, one of the many ideologically motivated film makers, made a documentary about the life and death of Rachel. And predictably, the SFJFF decided this rather mediocre film was a must showing for their annual festival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film festival compounded this provocation by co-sponsoring the film with two anti-Israel groups, and by inviting Rachel’s mother, Cindy Corrie, a mouthpiece for ISM, to speak. .The showing of the film was welcomed by the most vocal elements of the anti-Israel community, who hailed the screening as a milestone in getting American Jews to break with Israel. Pro-Israel spokespersons, such as Michael Harris who was invited to give a short presentation before the film to mollify critics, were booed and harassed. Larry Goldberg, who attempted to ask a question after the Cindy Corrie soft-ball interview, had the microphone snatched from his hands by SFJFF goons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there was the showing of Defamation by the film festival, a film that ridiculed concerns about anti-Semitism as if a guard at the Holocaust Museum in Washington had not been murdered recently because of Jew hatred, as if a world-wide outbreak of anti-Semitism has not occurred as a result of solidarity with the Arab masses and manipulation by the Arab sheikdoms. Further, “Defamation” ridiculed teaching about the Holocaust, giving respectability to the views of Norman Finkelstein, a professional anti-Semite and Israel hater, who makes his living speaking to conventions of Holocaust deniers, who refers to the Holocaust as an “industry”, and who ridicules Elie Wiesel as the “clown prince of the Holocaust”. The film mocks Abraham Foxman and the ADL, and glorifies Walt and Mearsheimer, the authors of “The Israel Lobby”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are Jewish film festivals all over the country; none have been controversial. The difference is that the others are about film, about Jewish culture, about history, about real people and honest problems. The SFJFF is largely about left wing anti-Israel propaganda. The CEO, Peter Stein, and most of his board, are ideologues who are less interested in Jewish film, culture, and history than in anti-Jewish propaganda. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result? A major rift in the community between those who support the existence of a Jewish state and want a strong US-Israel relationship, and those whose radical proclivities are far stronger than any feelings for Israel or for the survival of the Jewish people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those supporting Israel, there are two main targets that have emerged; the film festival and its director, and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, which has given its imprimatur year after year to the festival, and contributed funds collected from its donors to the festival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SF Federation has not acted in good faith. When the controversy exploded, leaders and staffers in Federation initiated a letter writing program defending the showing of “Rachel”. The director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, an arm of Federation, published a column in J, ridiculing film festival critics and implying that they were a tiny, angry, and vocal minority, who were unconcerned with the issues of the greater community. The SF Federation nominated Peter Stein as a hero of the Jewish community in a contest run by the United Jewish Communities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Federation CEO, Daniel Sokatch, a founder of the anti-Israel group "J Street" and a member of their advisory board, complained about muzzling of the “progressive” community. Sokatch, who did untold damage to the reputation of Federation in the larger community, compounded the controversy by defending the film festival. As pro-Israel donors began to consider bypassing Federation with their dollars, Sokatch also bailed out by taking the CEO job at the New Israel Fund, another fringe group which, like J Street, is anti-Israel while claiming to be pro-Israel. Why the Federation chose a far-left wing ideologue as CEO says more about the Federation than about Dan Sokatch. At best, it is a demonstration of naïveté, at worst, an indication of the political inclinations of the Bay area Jewish community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, pro-Israel leaders in the community attempted to find a formula to heal the rift. They asked the Federation to pass a resolution that would deny funds to any organizations that advocated harming Israel via boycotts, divestment and sanctions. At the insistence of Federation, the wording was watered down repeatedly. Zvi Alon, Natan Nestel, and others tried to run an advertisement in the weekly Jewish paper, “J”, advocating for this resolution. Then Federation successfully used its muscle to get “J” to refuse the ad. This time the critics fought back, threatening to expose the behind the scenes censorship by Federation. As a result, “J” backed down and reluctantly ran the ad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a contentious meeting on Nov 19, Federation voted against the resolution, promising to reconsider it at their February meeting, and hoping the issue would go away by then. Perhaps they failed to understand that this controversy had now gone international. Media coverage had exposed the rift, and had shown how extreme anti-Israel groups have hijacked both the film festival and the Federation, and acted to accelerate the abandonment of Israel by a growing segment of the American Jewish community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Daniel Gordis, a thoughtful and articulate writer, published an article in the Jerusalem Post on this subject. Pointing out facetiously that the world agrees that “Israel is the primary culprit in the Middle East conflict, the cause of relentless Palestinian suffering and the primary obstacle blocking the way to regional peace” Gordis discusses how the world has instigated a chorus of opprobrium as exemplified by the Swedish organ-snatching blood libel, Norwegian divestment, Turkish severance of military cooperation with Israel, and the US administration notion that the problem in the Middle East can be boiled down simply to the “settlements”, including areas of Jerusalem currently “occupied” by Jews. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the list seems endless. American Jews have now joined in. According to Gordis, Canadian and American Jews have lashed out at the Toronto International Film Festival for its honoring of Tel Aviv. Two American Jewish sociologists have written that 50% of American Jews under age 35 have stated that the destruction of Israel would not be a personal tragedy for them. And on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Gordis pointed out: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In San Francisco, Jewish communal funds were used to support the SF Jewish Film Festival's screening of Rachel, an Israel-bashing "documentary" about Rachel Corrie of International Solidarity Movement fame. Noting that the SFJFF was now effectively in partnership with Jewish Voices for Peace, a well known anti-Israel, pro-boycott organization, many prominent Jews vehemently protested. But the film was shown, anyway.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Federation, now an unindicted co-conspirator in the abandonment of Israel, will not agree to withhold funding from those who demonize Israel. And further they hope (expect) that their critics will forget about this by the time of their next meeting. They won’t. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news is that this is not a new phenomenon. We have seen this drama many times before. Because Jews from Central Europe preceded Eastern European Jews in immigrating to America by two or three generations, they found themselves suddenly embarrassed by those who clamed to be their fellow Jews. The new arrivals spoke Yiddish, lived in poverty, and were completely unassimilated, while wealthy German Jews, who had fully become a part of the larger American community with leadership positions in government, finance, retailing, and professional life, looked down their noses at their co-religionists as they figured ways to set themselves apart from these aliens.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we had the phenomenon of those Jews who put loyalty to Roosevelt ahead of rescue of European Jews. Or Jews who put loyalty to Stalin ahead of saving Jewish intellectuals from show trials and execution. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And again, those elements of the Reform Jewish community who opposed Zionism in the 1940s, formed the American Council for Judaism, and installed Rabbi Elmer Berger as its CEO. Their fear? Accusations of dual loyalty, and a desire to prove beyond any doubt their allegiance to their host nation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And again, when a fight erupted over community control of schools in New York, wealthy Manhattan Jews wanted to ally with the black community more than they wanted to protect the less influential Jewish teachers and social workers. And again, when Leonard Bernstein and his ilk lionized the black Panthers and radical black anti-Semites.(immortalized by Tom Wolfe in “Radical Chic”). Or recently when Michael Lerner (another anti-Israel propagandist pretending to be pro-Israel) invited the rabid Israel hater Alice Walker to give the Yom Kippur sermon at his temple. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard to pick up a newspaper without reading some evidence of a rift in the Jewish community. Samuel Freedman has written a wonderful book called “Jew vs. Jew” in which he profiles many examples of internecine battles among Jews in America over the last 50 years. Though this is not a new phenomenon, the Bay area excels at the sort of venom in which the far left seems to specialize.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what now? Those who want SF Federation to declare their clear intent to deny funding or validation of anti-Israel action or talk are here to stay. At the same time, another group, also large, influential, and well connected, is trying to secure the resignation of Peter Stein. If Stein does not resign voluntarily (which seems unlikely) supporters hope to get funders to withdraw support from the film festival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federation loudly defends itself, pointing out that it has been active in promoting Israel. And the film festival defends itself by pointing to some of its other cosponsors and non-controversial films. However, as long as Federation does not declare its intent regarding support for those who defame Israel, and as long as Peter Stein remains stubbornly recalcitrant and continues calling the shots at the SFJFF, the rift will remain. </span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-56519567980775128142009-11-11T12:53:00.000-08:002009-11-11T12:57:49.737-08:00The SF Jewish Film Festival; Latest Actions<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Lawrence W. White MD</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have previously commented regarding the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the “Rachel” and “Defamation” disasters of 2009, the controversy over the actions of Peter Stein, and the responses of the Jewish Community Federation and the JCRC. Most recently, (10/26/09) I recommended specific steps to resolve this crisis in our community and get the film festival back on track so that it will once again serve the community. Central to this was to secure the resignation of Peter Stein. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently, there are two efforts underway to prevent a repetition of this years events, which not only had a clear anti-Israel message, but also trivialized any effort to oppose anti-Semitism</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first effort is aimed at having Federation take a clear stand against funding any group that supports divestment, boycott or sanctions against Israel. This would actually let the SFJFF off the hook, since as an organization they do not advocate these positions. However, by insisting that any recipient of Federation funding not partner with any group that advocates these anti-Israel measures, this would prevent such actions as the partnership with Jewish Voice for Peace, or the invitation to Cindy Corrie who is a messenger for ISM. Those who are supporting this effort will publish an advertisement in this weeks J, and seek to have Federation adopt a measure to accomplish this stand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second measure is aimed directly at the Film Festival. It seeks the resignation of Peter Stein. The clear logic and rationale behind this are spelled out in the statement reprinted below. As long as this is a Jewish film festival, it must be pro-Israel. And as long as the SFJFF is a non-profit, they need to be an arts organization, not a political organization. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why Peter Stein Should Resign</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, let my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you…”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalms 137, 5-7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are a group of pro-Israel supporters who firmly believe that the resignation and departure of Peter Stein from his current position as Executive Director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF) is an essential step to prevent a continuation of the years of films and programs which demonize the State of Israel and its Jewish citizens. This culminated on July 25th with the showing of the film “Rachel” combined with an anti Israel speaker and sponsorship. This is completely unacceptable for an organization which has enjoyed such substantial and generous support from the Jewish community through the 29 years of their existence. The pattern must be changed! No guarantee is possible but we know this is the way to begin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We do not think that the Federation is the central address for this problem. Rather, we believe that SFJFF and its Executive Director is where the attention should be directed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is clear to us that Peter Stein bears personal responsibility for each of the decisions that led to the terrible event at the Castro Theater on July 25th of this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his role as Executive Director of SFJFF, he selected "Rachel" for the Festival in February when he saw the movie in Berlin. He has final and personal authority on the selection of all films shown by the Festival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter Stein decided to build a program around the showing of "Rachel" and selected Cindy Corrie as the speaker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He decided that the Jewish Voice for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee would be co-sponsors of the program as they had been for a number of times previously. These are both well known anti-Israel organizations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Stein personally conducted the Question and Answer session after the showing of the film in a manner that gave Cindy Corrie an extended and favorable setting for her anti-Israeli message. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has admitted that he did “due diligence” before the event and knew that it would stir a controversy but he went ahead with it anyway. An obvious search request on Google concerning Rachel and Cindy Corrie would show over 32,000 entries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another film which was also part of the recent festival and almost equally disturbing was “ Defamation.” Attention to it was diminished because of the controversy involving “ Rachel.” The film mocked the efforts of our community to fight anti-Semitism and tried to ridicule the importance of the remembrance of the Holocaust...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Stein also withheld information about the controversy he was creating from the President of SFJFF and the members of the Board until the Festival program was printed and received in the mail in June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the six years of his tenure as Executive Director, he has consistently selected films which have an anti-Israel bias and he has, therefore, nurtured the part of the community which shares this political perspective. The audience that was present on July 25th filled the auditorium and substantially represented this group. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SFJFF is an organization basically run by its Executive Director and the Board plays a supportive but inferior role. They provide no oversight to the Executive Director's authority to select all the films and design the programs. The staff is under Mr. Stein’s personal direction and he exercises final authority and responsibility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The decision as to whether a film demonizes Israel is a subjective judgment and depends upon the eye of the beholder. If the beholder is Peter Stein, there can be no confidence that the present and past pattern will not be repeated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To their credit, five members of the SFJFF Board (about one third) including the immediate past President recently resigned. They did so in protest to the actions of Mr. Stein and the other Board members since the current controversy began, as described above. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The remaining SFJFF Board, including a former Acting Executive Director of the Jewish Voice for Peace which was a co-sponsor of the “Rachel” program has a similar political perspective to Mr. Stein and cannot be expected to change either the oversight or his authority. They have been willing partners in the duplicitous and evasive strategy designed by Mr. Stein since the recent controversy occurred. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SFJFF has avoided either accepting responsibility or providing meaningful change from their longstanding pattern of anti-Israel films and programming. Mr. Stein’s strategy, which has been successful so far, is to literally outtalk and outlast those in the community who have expressed deep concern. He obviously wants to stay in control of the film festival so that, with the assistance of a compliant Board, the same political program can be continued in the years ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cannot ignore the fact that the continuing months of public and private discussion have not led to either an apology by the Festival or reasonable assurance that an event such as this will not occur again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, we call for the immediate resignation and departure of Peter Stein from his current position. This is the only way to achieve much needed change. We also believe his resignation would be in the best interest of SFJFF as well as the wider community. </span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-72359620106908470062009-10-21T09:12:00.000-07:002009-10-21T09:12:25.804-07:00Letter from Tammi Benjamin to Chair of Jewish Community FederationDear Mr. Koshland,<br />
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I would like to bring to your attention the article below, in which Lenny Ben-David poses some excellent questions to J Street director Jeremy Ben-Ami.<br />
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In the spirit of Ben-David's article, here are two questions which I would like to pose to the SF Jewish Community Federation Board of Directors: <br />
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Do you think that choosing a member of J Street's advisory council to be the Federation CEO was a wise decision? <br />
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Do you intend to adopt a resolution ensuring that Jewish communal funds will not go to support any organization or event that demonizes Israel, promotes the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement, or lends support or legitimacy to terrorist organizations?<br />
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Mr. Koshland, the Federation's inadequate response to the anti-Semitic demonization of Israel and her supporters engendered by the SFJFF "Rachel" event, coupled with the revelation that your former CEO has strong ties to J Street, have led many Bay Area Jews to lose confidence in the Federation and to question their continuing financial support. <br />
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Your Board's answers to the questions I have posed could go a long way to addressing this crisis of confidence. I and the thousands of community members who will read this email look forward to your reply.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Tammi Benjamin<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Showdown on J Street</strong></span><br />
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<strong>Lenny Ben-David</strong><br />
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October 20, 2009<br />
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J Street’s director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, published an open letter [1] to Israel’s Ambassador Michael Oren in the Jerusalem Post this week insisting that he appear at the J Street Conference at the end of the month. Hopefully, Ambassador Oren will continue to deny the supposed “pro-Israel” organization the legitimacy of his presence.<br />
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J Street’s goals and policies were revealed when Stephen Walt, co-author of the venomous The Israel Lobby, recently proclaimed [2], “This is a key moment in the debate. It will be important whether Obama gets enough cover from J Street and the Israel Policy Forum so Obama can say, ‘AIPAC is not representative of the American Jewish community.’”<br />
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It’s time to call out Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street’s director, to answer the following questions:<br />
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1: You served as Fenton Communications’ senior vice president until you established J Street, launched in 2008. In early 2009, Fenton signed contracts with a Qatari foundation to lead an 18-month long anti-Israel campaign in the United States with a special focus on campuses. The actual text of the contract [3] called for: “An international public opinion awareness campaign that advocates for the accountability of those who participated in attacks against schools in Gaza.”<br />
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Did you sever your ties with Fenton when you began J Street? Do you retain any role or holdings in Fenton today? Did you play any role in introducing Fenton to the Qatari agents or play any role in facilitating the contract? Were you aware of the negotiations or the contract signed on March 12, 2009?<br />
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These questions are relevant because it’s important to know if J Street’s refusal to support Israel’s anti-Hamas military campaign was influenced by your ties with Fenton, whose promotional material claims: “We only represent people and projects we believe in.”<br />
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Were there discussions with Fenton prior to J Street’s refusal to condemn the Goldstone Report on Gaza, a report that certainly serves the Fenton/Qatari interests? Were there communications with Fenton surrounding J Street’s support for Rep. Donna Edwards who refused to sign a congressional resolution supporting Israeli actions in Gaza?<br />
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2: You were recently asked in an interview [4] about funds J Street received from Palestinians, Arab-Americans, and Iranian-Americans, to which you answered: “J Street does have some Arab and Muslim donors — about five. These are individuals, not organizations, corporations or foreign countries. Well over 90 percent of our money comes from Jewish Americans and Christians.”<br />
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Did you really say J Street has only five Arab and Muslim donors? A partial listing quickly extracted from the U.S. Federal Election Commission shows [5] more than 30 contributors, many with ties to Arab-American organizations.<br />
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So far, only J Street’s Political Action Committee has disclosed its contributors, as mandated by federal law. But who are the donors to the main J Street organization? Make that list public, and these pesky inquiries will probably go away.<br />
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When asked about J Street’s funding by the Jerusalem Post — the newspaper that ran the original exposé — you responded [6] “at most 3 percent” of contributors were Muslim or Arab. Now you state that the figure may be closer to 10 percent. One tenth of J Street’s budget of $3 million, or $300,000, is a substantial sum. Why do so many Arabs contribute to an organization that purports to be “pro-Israel?”<br />
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3: Do any Israelis support J Street’s agenda? How many? Look at the list of Israeli speakers appearing at J Street’s Conference, all losers in Israel’s political arena: Ami Ayalon, Colette Avital, Amir Peretz, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Yuli Tamir, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak. They have all failed to secure support from the Israeli electorate or even from their own parties, so they take their messages to the U.S. and plead with the U.S. government to pressure Israel’s government, make the Israelis do things that their citizens have already rejected. The tactic is patently anti-democratic.<br />
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Two retired senior IDF officers, well-known members of the peace camp, recently went to the U.S. to speak on J Street’s behalf. When they got there they discovered that J Street opposed sanctions against Iran. According to a JTA account, Brig. Gen.(res) Israela Oron called for a “timetable that would be tied to punishing sanctions.”<br />
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“The thing that worries me and that worries other Israelis is that [current negotiations are] not limited in time,” Oron said as the faces of her J Street hosts turned anxious, adding [7]“I’m not sure I’m expressing the J Street opinion.”<br />
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Maj. Gen. (res) Danny Rothschild discovered that he differed [8] with J Street’s policies on an immediate freezing of settlements, the halting of settlements’ natural growth, and opposing tough sanctions against Iran.<br />
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And then Labor MK Ophir Pines-Paz spoke to a Washington gathering in early October sponsored by J Street’s co-founder, Daniel Levy, today of the New America Foundation. When Pines-Paz was told he was wrong in “assuming that everyone on the left is aligned on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and threat, [and in agreement] with Israel’s assessment,” he exploded. [9] “Wake up!” he shouted.<br />
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J Street produced a film clip for its site and for YouTube [10] showing prominent Israelis who “speak out in support of a two-state solution and J Street.” But do they actually support J Street? View the clip carefully and discover that only three out of 11 Israelis mention J Street at all — former minister Ami Ayalon and Uri Savir. The third is former MK Colette Avital who is a J Street employee in Israel. Not quite the ringing endorsement J Street had in mind.<br />
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Even the leaders of Israel’s opposition have refused to appear at the Conference, according to sources in Jerusalem.<br />
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4: How extensive is your interlocking directorship? I believe that is the correct characterization of J Street and its allied organizations. J Street’s contributions from the heads of the Arab American Institute and Iranian lobby NIAC have been documented in these pages. They serve on J Street’s Finance Committee which has a minimum requirement of $10,000. As research continues in the files of various federal agencies, we found that the interlocking relations continue into the second tiers as well.<br />
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Take for example, the case of Rebecca Abou-Chedid. She appears in the federal elections records as contributing to J Street’s PAC. Her occupation is listed as “consultant” for “USUS LLC.” But until recently, she was also the national political director at the Arab American Institute where she “was responsible for formulating AAI’s positions on foreign policy … and represented the Arab American community with Congress as well as the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State.” Today, Abou-Chedid is the director of outreach at the New America Foundation’s Middle East Task Force. [11]<br />
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J Street co-founder and Advisory Council member Daniel Levy serves as co-director of the Middle East Task Force at the New America Foundation, an institute that benefits from George Soros’ largess and membership on its board.<br />
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Heads of other pro-Arab organizations, such as AMIDEAST, and Arab foreign agents are contributors to the PAC. But Mr. Ben-Ami claims that no organizations or foreign governments contribute. They don’t need do; their representatives do.<br />
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5: Who drives policy at J Street? It’s difficult to imagine that the unwieldy J-Street 160-member board of advisors directs policy. Some of those members are also foreign agents who worked for Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It also seems unlikely that your big bucks, 50-member Finance Committee provides decision-making guidance. That’s where the heads of the pro-Iranian and Arab-American lobbies sit.<br />
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So who directs policy? A hint was provided by a left-wing blogger, Richard Silverstein, who heard the pre-launch spiel in Seattle given by you and “co-founder” Daniel Levy 18 months ago.<br />
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“It’s always important with efforts like this to examine the board member names,” Silverman wrote. [12] “There are of course leaders of the main American Jewish peace groups. There are rabbis and academics. But most important there are heavy hitter political donors (Alan Solomont), policy wonks (Rob Malley), U.S. ambassadors to Israel (Samuel Lewis), high level political operatives (Eli Pariser of Moveon), Hollywood liberals (Robert Greenwald), business leaders, George Soros’ top aide (Morton Halperin), and even a former Republican senator (Lincoln Chafee) and former Congressman (Tom Downey). … The group founders believe that Barack Obama and his staff “get” J Street’s perspective while they believe a Clinton candidacy might not advance J Street’s mission as aggressively.” [Note, the briefing was given at the height of the Democratic primaries.]<br />
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Soros, the National Journal reported, was present [12] at J Street’s initial strategy sessions.<br />
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Anyone reading Soros’ 2007 manifesto, “On Israel, America and AIPAC [13],” will understand that he is the spiritual godfather of J Street, if not its silent sugardaddy.<br />
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“I believe that a much-needed self-examination of American policy in the Middle East has started in this country,” Soros proclaimed, “but it can’t make much headway as long as AIPAC retains powerful influence in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Some leaders of the Democratic Party have promised to bring about a change of direction but they cannot deliver on that promise until they are able to resist the dictates of AIPAC. Palestine is a place of critical importance where positive change is still possible. Iraq is largely beyond our control; but if we succeeded in settling the Palestinian problem we would be in a much better position to engage in negotiations with Iran and extricate ourselves from Iraq. The need for a peace settlement in Palestine is greater than ever. Both for the sake of Israel and the United States, it is highly desirable that the Saudi peace initiative should succeed; but AIPAC stands in the way. It continues to oppose dealing with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas.”<br />
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So it appears that Soros has created an organization that competes with AIPAC, calls for inclusion of Hamas, and opposes sanctions against Iran. His people sit on J Street’s board, and his other offspring from the New America Foundation and the National Iranian American Council, work in lockstep. It’s a scary scenario that should attract the attention of the best investigative reporters from national news outlets, but the modern day Lotus Eaters have been lulled and ensnared by J Street.<br />
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But just because they won’t ask the tough questions doesn’t mean that they don’t have to be answered.<br />
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Article printed from Pajamas Media: http://pajamasmedia.com<br />
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URL to article: http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/showdown-on-j-street/<br />
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URLs in this post:<br />
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[1] an open letter: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255450643490&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull<br />
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[2] proclaimed: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/aipac-still-chosen-one<br />
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[3] text of the contract: http://www.fara.gov/docs/5945-Exhibit-AB-20090928-4.pdf%20http://www.fara.gov/docs/5945-Exhibit-AB-20090928-3.pdf<br />
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[4] an interview: http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39884/head-of-liberal-jewish-lobby-pushes-back-against-his-critics/<br />
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[5] shows: http://jaystreetcontributors.blogspot.com/2009/10/j-streets-exec-jeremy-ben-ami-was.html<br />
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[6] you responded: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418604334&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter<br />
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[7] adding : http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/07/1007638/iran-policy-could-leave-some-jewish-groups-without-israeli-constiuency<br />
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[8] discovered that he differed: http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/09/16/1007930/j-streets-general-doesnt-always-agree-with-j-street<br />
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[9] he exploded.: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/israels-pines-paz-ignores_b_306195.html<br />
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[10] YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPBxwTqYPM0<br />
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[11] director of outreach at the New America Foundation’s Middle East Task Force.: http://www.trumanproject.org/programs/fellowship/people/rebecca-abou-chedid<br />
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[12] Silverman wrote.: http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/04/17/j-street-new-israel-peace-lobby-launches/<br />
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=Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-70706042328100367732009-10-16T12:21:00.000-07:002009-10-16T12:23:10.382-07:00Statement From the Jewish Community Federation: “Setting the Record Straight”by: Jim Koshland. President, Jewish Community Federation, F. Warren Hellman, Chair, Jewish Community Endowment Fund, Jennifer Gorovitz, Acting CEO, Jewish Community Federation<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Setting the record straight. October 14, 2009</span> <br />
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Months have passed since the Jewish Film Festival’s screening of Rachel and emotions continue to run high. The Jewish Community Federation has been frequently implicated and targeted in the controversies surrounding the film.<br />
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We have learned a great deal from this experience and should have more clearly articulated our position sooner and elaborated on steps the Federation has been taking. Although the Federation’s allocation, made many months prior to the 2009 Festival, provided 1.7% of the Film Festival’s funding, some in our community saw the Federation’s participation as having a greater significance.<br />
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We are committed to improving our communication, transparency and responsiveness. So, given the barrage of misinformation, let us set the record straight:<br />
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• We are unwavering in our commitment to Israel. Last year, $9.5 million was allocated in support of Israel. We were the first Jewish federation to establish its own office in Israel. For more information on our Israel programs, please see http://www.sfjcf.org/howthemoney/programs/#israeloverseas<br />
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• We oppose the boycott/divestments/sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.We do not affiliate with or fund groups that advocate for the BDS movement.<br />
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• We value the contributions the Film Festival has made to Bay Area Jewish life.The Rachel event should not overshadow the Film Festival’s successful 29 year history.<br />
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• We believe that the Film Festival made significant mistakes in its handling of the Rachel event and have conveyed our concerns accordingly.<br />
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• We strongly disagree with the Film Festival’s choice of Rachel Corrie’s mother as the event speaker as well as the co-presenters and deplore the rancorous and offensive behavior of anti-Israel attendees at the event.<br />
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• The Federation does not, nor should it, participate in the planning of Film Festival programming or in the choice of films. The Federation is a separate legal entity, funding the mission of the Film Festival. We are one of more than 115 organizational contributors to the Festival, including KGO and the Consulate General of Israel.<br />
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• We have urged Film Festival leadership to adopt new policies and proceduresto ensure that the specific problems associated with the Rachel event do not happen again, including policies addressing choice <br />
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of co-presenters and speakers.<br />
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• We believe that the Federation’s many stakeholders can share diverse opinions on how best to support Israel as a secure Jewish democracy, while remaining civil and connected as a community.<br />
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• The Federation is surprised and concerned by the counter-productive assertions of a relatively few community members, who, in the name of a pro-Israel campaign, have urged the broader community to discontinue support of the Federation. We have received letters filled with personal insults, some even accusing the Federation of anti-Semitism, <br />
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Nazism, or anti-Zionism. If successful, this campaign will seriously undermine the critical programs we support both here andin Israel.We ask you to join us in ending divisive accusations and rhetoric. The abiding mission of the Federation remains a positive and hopeful one: to build and strengthen Jewish education, culture and identity here in the Bay Area and in Israel. With the needs being more acute than ever during these unpredictable economic times, together, and only together, can we rise to the challenge.<br />
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Jim Koshland, President, Jewish Community Federation jimk@sfjcf.org <br />
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F. Warren Hellman, Chair, Jewish Community Endowment Fund<br />
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Jennifer Gorovitz, Acting CEO, Jewish Community Federation Jenniferg@sfjcf.orgAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-84050642645062963702009-10-13T22:09:00.000-07:002009-10-13T22:09:40.777-07:00The Latest on the SFJFF Controversy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ongoing controversy over the actions of Peter Stein and the SFJFF continues to “fester” Below, please find: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Letter of Rabbi Doug Kahn, JCRC director, that appeared in J. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My comments, deconstructing Rabbi Kahn’s letter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Comments by others, from J web site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a later communication, I will make specific recommendations of what is needed to resolve this controversy. These accounts have been posted at SFJFF Watch, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">JCRC director says, ‘Rachel’ rousers are off-track with attack on Federation</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though the “Rachel” event at this year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival was more than two months ago, it continues to fester.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specifically, the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, one of many institutions that have supported the festival with modest grants, has been targeted by a small group of activists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is one of the most unfair attacks against a Jewish institution I have witnessed in my 30 years as a Jewish communal professional — and I must respond. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although most of our community has not weighed in about the wrong-headed decision of the SFJFF — a remarkable though sometimes uncomfortably edgy cultural institution — to politicize the showing of “Rachel,” this group of activists has decided to beat up on the Federation repeatedly because it did not capitulate to their demands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result of an e-mail campaign and, most recently, a video that distorted the Federation’s role, the Federation has received waves of e-mails from community members expressing their concern about its alleged support for anti-Israel organizations (along with a considerable number of supportive e-mails).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the critical, and too often uncivil, e-mails suggest that the Federation is encouraging or supporting anti-Israel activism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s get real. The Jewish Community Federation for decades has done everything possible to build support for Israel, mobilize the community to contribute to special funds during times of crisis, grow the connection between younger Jews and Israel, and strengthen Israeli society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Federation was the first in the country to establish an Israel office to deepen the relationship further and the first to create a confirmation class trip to Israel as a rite of passage. It has one of the most active and innovative Israel Centers in the country. And it continues to present Israel in the Gardens at a time when other communities have quietly eliminated the largest annual show of solidarity with Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, the Federation also dispenses millions of dollars each year to local educational, social service, cultural and other community institutions that touch people’s lives from cradle to grave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But given the subject of the attack, the focus here is on the Federation’s critical role in sustaining our community’s commitment to Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JCRC receives Federation funds that enable us to mount the most ambitious pro-Israel advocacy campaign in the country — critically important in an area inundated with anti-Israel activism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hillels receive funds that enable their staffs to reach out to students to participate in Birthright Israel programs. Day schools receive funds and increasingly incorporate Israel into their curriculum. If the Federation is held responsible for the decision of an agency to co-present films with groups whose views and</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">behavior on Israel most of us find repugnant, then it should also be credited for every pro-Israel action by an agency it supports. That is only fair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s look at the facts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Many mainstream Jewish organizations and foundations sponsor, co-sponsor and co-present at the SFJFF.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• The Federation made clear its strong concerns about the “Rachel” event soon after the program came to light.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• The Federation does not endorse the co-presenters (American Friends Service Committee and Jewish Voice for Peace) of the “Rachel” event or their views on Israel. Indeed, Federation finds the views anathema and vigorously opposes the boycott/divestment/sanctions movement against Israel.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• The e-mail campaign targeting the Federation has resulted in hundreds of wasted hours — hours that could have been devoted to growing the community instead have been used to respond to unfair attacks.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• The Federation is committed to working with SFJFF leadership to ensure that the kind of polarization that resulted from the 2009 festival does not repeat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federation leaders represent a broad diversity of views, but in giving of themselves tirelessly, they have a common goal: to grow the strongest possible Jewish community to secure our future here, in Israel and throughout the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, Israel activists should embrace the work of the Federation — now more than ever.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what should happen now? The SFJFF, an important community institution with a strong following, has to take specific steps to repair the breach and rebuild trust with many in the community who were profoundly and rightfully upset.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Federation has to ramp up its marketing and outreach efforts about the multiple ways in which it promotes a positive image of Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, rather than leave the discussion to those with the strongest and loudest views, the voices of moderation in our community need to weigh in much more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The vociferous e-mailers need to channel their tremendous energy into disciplined pro-Israel activist efforts so that we can put pressure on Israel’s true detractors rather than some of its champions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s all step back, take a breath and think about how all those who care deeply about Israel — from left to right — can work together in the coming year to achieve common goals. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Doug Kahn is the executive director of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council. JCRC is a beneficiary agency of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federationeration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Response by Lawrence W. White MD</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am disappointed that Rabbi Doug Kahn found it necessary to use condescending language, as well as to allege non-moderate behavior by those who disagree with Federation failures. In expressing his "outrage", he has unfortunately confused the issues and added to the feelings of frustration of many in the pro-Israel community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Kahn is a highly capable individual, but cleverness and flowery rhetoric will not cover up the errors of omission that Federation has committed. Let us deconstruct his remarks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He complains that the issue "<em>continues to fester</em>". This is because it has never been dealt with in an honest and effective manner. When there is significant disagreement, the Federation and the JCRC cannot expect the community to simply accept their "wisdom" without demurral. .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“Targeted by a small group of activists".</em> Contrary to his claim, this is neither a small nor a fringe group, but the great majority of Israel supporters in the Bay area who have finally grown weary of having their concerns regarding the film festival ignored year after year. .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<em>Unfair attacks against a Jewish institution</em>". The involved Jews have been both patient and fair. We are not a bunch of Molotov cocktail throwing crazies. We simply ask the Federation (and the JCRC) to stop obscuring the issues and deliberately missing the point. Rather we ask that you speak to the legitimate concerns of those of us battling the anti-Israel forces in our community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<em>the SFJFF</em> — <em>a remarkable though sometimes uncomfortably edgy cultural institution".</em> Sorry, the board members of the film festival have been selected more on political grounds than any other. Indeed, the film festival is more political than cultural. There was no culture or aesthetics in “Rachel” or in the discussion with Cindy Corrie, who has a single minded agenda. Further the film festival CEO has been disdainful of, and has ignored the criticisms that have occurred, year after year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"To politicize the showing of “Rache</em>l,” Rabbi Kahn, have you seen this film? It is not the critics who have politicized the showing. The last thing the critics are looking for when they attend screenings of the SFJFF is a political controversy. But in this case, “Rachel” itself is a political screed, and the decision to show it and to invite Cindy Corrie was a political act by Peter Stein that was a serious blow to those of us who seek to promote a fair solution to the conflict in the Middle East </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“This group of activists has decided to beat up on the Federation repeatedly because it did not capitulate to their demands.”</em> This wording is very unfortunate, and I expect better from a professional in our community. The statement is gratuitous and completely misses the point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s like saying that the black community beat up on the KKK because they did not capitulate to their demands to stop lynching. No, we are frustrated by the actions of Federation because they are unwilling to act as a moral force in the the Jewish community. Federation has held itself out as being the voice of the community. In this case you failed a large segment of the community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A key point here is that this is not really a demand, but rather a conviction that we will not continue to donate to Federation, when the money is misused in this way. We can accomplish the same goals by giving directly to the organizations that are focused on the issues that matter to us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"As a result of an e-mail campaign and, most recently, a video that distorted the Federation’s role”</em> There is no explanation of how Rabbi Kahn believes that the video distorted the role of Federation. This is simply an assertion, not an argument with evidence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<em>The Federation has received waves of e-mails from community members expressing their concern about its alleged support for anti-Israel organizations"</em> Not alleged. If you give the unfortunate actions of the film festival your imprimatur by donating even a small amount of money, then the support is not “alleged”. The Federation is looked to as a force that showcases the values of the community. (And Federation certainly presents itself as if that is the case) At a time when Israel is being subjected to the worst forms of dishonesty, defamation, and calumny, while the Jewish state is abused with one libel after another, we expect that our Federation will in no way give support to the voices of hatred in our community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does no good to say that Federation does not agree with the positions of JVP or ISM, when it supports (and the amount of support is irrelevant) a film festival that has JVP as a sponsor, and invites a representative of the ISM to be an honored guest at a screening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Some of the critical, and too often uncivil, e-mails suggest that the Federation is encouraging or supporting anti-Israel activism." </em>There are errors of commission and errors of omission. This is one of deliberate omission. The absence of clear denunciation of the role of JVP and other organizations, and the failure to unequivocally be in the vanguard of those defending the Jewish state, leads to only one conclusion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"The Jewish Community Federation for decades has done everything possible to build support for Israel” </em>Yes, but past actions are not the point. You are being judged by your failure to react to this issue, one which we consider to be vitally important at a critical time for the Jewish state. No one disputes the good work of Federation in the past. But if Federation also fails in a vital part of its mission, that needs to be judged on its own merits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“Many mainstream Jewish organizations and foundations sponsor, co-sponsor and co-present at the SFJFF”.</em> Well, yes, and Germany produced Beethoven, Brahms, and Goethe, so why dwell on the National Socialists?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"The Federation made clear its strong concerns about the “Rachel” event soon after the program came to light" </em>No, their concerns were neither strong nor really very clear, and occurred only after criticism came from the community. Federation’s role should be to lead, not react. . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<em>The Federation does not endorse the co-presenters (American Friends Service Committee and Jewish Voice for Peace) of the “Rachel” event or their views on Israel</em>” Why not say so at the time? Why only now? Why not use your moral standing to get those co-presenters removed?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“The e-mail campaign targeting the Federation has resulted in hundreds of wasted hours.” </em>These wasted hours could have been avoided by being more responsible and less devious"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<em>The Federation is committed to working with SFJFF leadership</em>" Sorry. We believe these are empty words. The only leadership involved in this fiasco is Peter Stein, who works alone, does not consult his board who were kept in the dark about the two films in question, and has shown no sign of understanding the issues Further, he really doesn't care, as long as you continue to indulge him as you have year after year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Federation leaders represent a broad diversity of views"</em> Yes, but there are certain red lines that must not be crossed. . I don’t believe Federation leaders are ready to see Israel go down the tubes, but JVP (whose director was on the board of SFJFF) is willing to. You can’t keep invoking “diversity”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“So what should happen now? The SFJFF, an important community institution with a strong following, has to take specific steps to repair the breach and rebuild trust “</em> Unfortunately the film festival CEO believes that it has already done this in their recent mailing containing a non-apology. I have not heard Federation suggest that this falls short. At this point, it is clear that very specific steps are indeed required, the first being to secure Peter Stein's resignation. Anything short of this will only guarantee a repeat further down the line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me be clear. Peter Stein is a decent and intelligent man. But given his actions and inclinations he should not be directing a Jewish film festival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“The Federation has to ramp up its marketing and outreach efforts about the multiple ways in which it promotes a positive image of Israel."</em> Start by declaring that Federation won’t support in any way those who advocate sanctions boycott, or divestment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“Also, rather than leave the discussion to those with the strongest and loudest views, the voices of moderation in our community need to weigh in much more”.</em> Most of those who are speaking out on this issue have indeed been voices of moderation. To imply otherwise is an attempt to silence the critics by using pejorative language. That there are many who are displeased by Federation behavior does not make them radicals or extremists. You would be advised to avoid projecting an attitude of scorn and ridicule on those who are concerned about this issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“The vociferous e-mailers need to channel their tremendous energy into disciplined pro-Israel activist efforts"</em> More scorn and ridicule being delivered from on high. Well, perhaps you haven’t noticed. The emailers are precisely those persons in the community who have been active in “pro-Israel efforts”. Otherwise they wouldn’t care about this issue. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“Let’s all step back, take a breath and think about how all those who care deeply about Israel — from left to right — can work together in the coming year to achieve common goals. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.”</em> Flowery rhetoric is no substitute for the simple actions that have been urged on Federation. No one has asked for anything unreasonable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other Comments</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by Abraham Miller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/10/2009 at 11:40 AM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's Get Real </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s get real, Rabbi Khan; prior good deeds do not give you license to participation in a program that demonizes Israel (Rachel) and casts aspersions on the work of anti-defamation organizations (Defamation). You compelling logic is equivalent to saying Mussolini got the trains to run on time, so all else is forgiven. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by Zvi_Alon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/11/2009 at 08:08 PM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poll the comunity - I will pay </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Rabbi Kahn,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I appreciate this type of communication, more than the silence the JCRC and the Federationeration adopted in the last 2 month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe you have made a sincere effort in composing you response – as you said – you had to do it since this issue is “festering” and is driven by a “small” number of “activists”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, my dear Rabbi, the use of festering is telling the true story – can you not come out and say – we (I and the JCRC) realize we have made a mistake – this time all lines have been crossed and we did not take the proper action earlier! Hence we are going to fix it once and for all. We now realize what five SFJFF board members who resigned from its board realized that the SFJFF cannot be supported in its current mission and structure and a true change is required.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me assure you that this is not a small group of activists, but a large group that wants to work with the JCRC and the Federationeration and jointly set a very clear water mark so that this will NEVER repeat in the FUTURE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You say most of us find this behavior “repugnant” but you fail to say that YOU (I) find it equality repugnant and you (I) will NOT let this happen again; that YOU will organize the community to stop this and channel the communities energy in the right direction – in other words – apply proper judgment and lead this change personally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You enumerate the good the Federationeration is doing. Let me share my view, and I am not alone, that I am NOT AGAINST the Federationeration, the SFJFF or the JCRC. All are doing good things – but this is NOT the issue and please stop changing the topic of discussion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one ignores a red traffic light only once out of 100 times should they not get a ticket?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one avoids paying Tax only once out of 1000 times should they not be punished?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one’s child uses deadly drugs only once in 10000 times should the parents look sideways?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will answer the above questions the same way we will, the “small” group of “activists”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Rabbi Kahn,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start leading, by embracing the fact that a mistake was made. You should lead the effort in getting the Federationeration to adopt a simple resolution that will state very clearly that “The Federationeration should never support organizations, events or participate in funding any activities that demonize Israel or that collaborate with those who call for divestment, boycotts and sanctions against Israel”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not about a marketing campaign you are recommending to lunch, we do not need to get retrained; reprogrammed or re-educated. We need our leaders to have the muscle to do the right thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think that we represent a small and noisy group, then go ahead and, issue an open poll to the Jewish community which is as simple as the following:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Jew(?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please vote YES or NO on the following question.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should the Federationeration adopt a simple resolution that reads? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Federationeration should never support organizations, events or participate in funding any activities that demonize Israel or that collaborate with those who call for divestment, boycotts and sanctions against Israel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes ____ No ____</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The results of this poll will help guide you, the Jewish organizations and all of us; if you need help the same resolution can be adopted by ALL Jewish organizations including SFJFF, JCRC and others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will finance these efforts and make it very transparent eliminating the need for long approval process by committees etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is this not a true democracy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zvi Alon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very concerned Jew </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by john</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/09/2009 at 10:38 AM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doug Kahn miscasts the issue. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The issue is not the Federationeration it is the Film festival event, and the Federationeration’s lack of proper response.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Film Festival glamorized the pro-Hamas ISM. It also co-sponsored its Federationeration funded event with the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Those extreme anti-Israel organizations repeatedly call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By virtue of its ongoing support of the Film Festival, the Jewish Federationeration continues to lend legitimacy to those extreme anti-Israel groups with whom the Festival had been collaborating, as well as the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which is glamorized in the event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole issue would be behind us if the Federationeration would adopt a policy ensuring that it will not fund organizations that demonize Israel or that collaborate with extremist anti-Israel groups advocating boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The issue is prolonged because the Federationeration leadership fails to respond to the issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One would have expected the JCRC Director to lead the effort to stop the support of organizations that defame the Jewish state, and collaborate with groups that call for divestment and boycotts of Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, Doug Kahn is trying to camouflage the Federationeration’s failure to respond in a fashion which will ensure that the Federationeration support will not be misused as is done at the Film Festival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Jewish Federationeration is an important institution in our community, and it is essential that it not support any events that involve groups that advocate boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. We all have the responsibility to speak up when we believe the Federationeration has misallocated our donations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is the issue, and Doug Kahn is evading it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Jewish community deserves much better from its Federationeration leadership! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by john</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/09/2009 at 10:58 AM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can one imagine an African </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can one imagine an African American Federationeration supporting a Film Festival with an event glamorizing the KKK, and co-presenting it with the Aryan Nation? How can the Jewish Federationeration continue to justify allocating donations raised from the Jewish community to fund a Film Festival whose programming is glamorizing the Pro-Hamas ISM and is done in collaboration with extreme anti-Israel organizations?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No mainstream Jewish organization should fund an organization or event that demonizes Israel or that collaborates with extremist anti-Israel groups that advocate boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by Ron Feldman</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/09/2009 at 02:06 PM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Irrelevant Response </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m glad that Doug has at least taken the time to respond in writing which neither he nor Federationeration representatives did to my e-mail. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, his response amongst others in the SF Jewish Community is not sufficient and is largely irrelevant. The Federationerations other activities in support of Israel are NOT the issue, it is the Federationeration’s lack of a backbone to stand up for Israel within the San Francisco community that’s the issue.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not the first time and the Federationeration is not alone. Most of the area synagogues and Jewish organizations do not stand up for Israel when it is attacked in our community. Instead they leave it to poorly funded small groups like SF Voice For Israel to be the only strident pro-Israel voice in the community. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the other commenters mention, all that the Federationeration needed to have done in this instance was come out clearly to condemn the SFJFF and to state unequivocally that future funding for that organization and others that pull similar stunts would be at risk. Instead, to mollify the liberal anti-Israel community at large, the Federationeration and other organizations used bland “diplomatic” language that achieved nothing. Israel is under continuous attack in our country and particularly in SF. If the Federationeration can’t stand up for it, then my money will go elsewhere. Doug - your defense of this grave error is sad and embarrassing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by Jack Kessler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/10/2009 at 08:02 AM </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Answering a Question with a Question </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Della D admits, which Rabbi Kahn does not, that the SFJFF “made a mistake” in showing “Rachel” And we should “get over it”. Does Della realize that this is not an isolated event but a persistent decades long pattern at the Film Festival?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Film Festival has been running the nastiest anti-Israel films it could find year after year. Every year we object and every year Doug Kahn writes these same evasive denials.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe it’s time that the Film Festival stop making the same “mistake” year after year. Maybe it is time for Doug Kahn to either put an end to it or resign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What difference does it matter who else funds the Film Festival? How does that excuse Federationeration funding the screening of hate-Israel flims?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does calling those who object, “bullies” and “martyrs”, excuse the Federationeration’s actions?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How is calling names an argument? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted by Jack Kessler</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10/10/2009 at 06:27 AM </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why Didn't Federationeration Just Say 'No'? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Kahn’s response is a masterpiece of evasion, and changing the subject. The fact is that the SFJFF sponsors an anti-Israel film festival. The Film Festival is anti-Israel EVERY YEAR. And every year we get these double-talk denials. It simply does not matter what else the board does if it persists in funding anti-Israel propaganda. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Corrie” isn’t “edgy” as Rabbi Kahn so cutely and dishonestly put it. It is a deliberate statement of hatred of Israel. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Rabbi Kahn either can’t or won’t take responsibility for his actions, perhaps it is time for someone else to head the JCRC </span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-53360548452508057982009-09-30T14:39:00.000-07:002009-09-30T14:39:13.267-07:00Jewish Community Heroes; Vote for Larry GoldbergThis just in; Lisa Cohen has sent the following message; <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Vote for Larry Goldberg</strong> - Please VOTE for Larry!!!!!!!! He deserves it! Jewish Community Heroes<br />
<br />
<br />
From: bob & lisa cohen blcohen@sbcglobal.net<br />
<br />
http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/california<br />
<br />
Shalom. Hope your fast was an easy one if you observed Yom Kippur last year. I opened this link up today and thought I would send it because one of the many deserving recipients of this award is Larry Goldberg. Larry had the courage to speak up for Israel while surrounded by the Israel hating islamo-nazis that filled the auditorium at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. At the very least, Larry should have more votes than the undeserving Michael Lerner or Peter Stein. I am pretty sure you can only vote once so please,take the time to honor a real hero-Larry Goldberg!<br />
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I second the message, and ask you to go to the site and vote NOW. Lisa is also nominated, so vote for her also. We need to beat Peter Stein.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-73267363528132820752009-09-25T16:39:00.000-07:002009-09-25T16:58:14.946-07:00Federation Statement and Response via Open Letter<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The Federation Statement (a response to the recent video)</span><br />
</strong><br />
<br />
For a century, the Federation has worked diligently as the face of collective Jewish philanthropy. As ever, the abiding mission of the Federation remains a positive and hopeful one: to aid the poor, the hungry, the infirm – and to build and strengthen Jewish education, culture and identity here at home and in Israel. To that end, the Federation has supported the Film Festival for 25 years. The Federation objected to the recent Film Festival event that featured Rachel Corrie’s mother as a speaker. The Federation expects its grantees to exercise responsibility and respect with regard to sensitive program choices. We have communicated these concerns to the Film Festival, and expect that they will take them seriously and respond accordingly.<br />
<br />
We are many communities with diverse opinions, but we are one people. Rancor and vitriol cast a dark shadow on our commonalities, including our support of Israel. The Federation does not support boycott, divestment, sanctions or delegitimization of Israel. On the contrary, the Federation grants more than $10 million annually to projects designed to strengthen Israel.<br />
<br />
Our core beliefs are anchored by a moral obligation to repair the world; toward that great and just end, as we prepare for Yom Kippur, let us begin to repair the breach in our own community and return the community’s attention to our vital work of tzedakah and tikkun olam.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>An Open Letter to Federation</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>regarding problems with the statement</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Ms Gorowitz; <br />
<br />
I have read the statement from the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, and find myself displeased with what is not said, and the unfortunate tone of moral equivalence <br />
<br />
While the statement is clear that the Federation does not support boycott, divestment, sanctions or delegitimization of Israel, it makes no mention that the co-presenters of films shown by the SFJFF, such as Rachel and Defamation, do support these measures designed to undermine and destroy the Jewish state. . <br />
<br />
You refer to such groups as having “diverse opinions”, as if this is simply a friendly disagreement within the family. In fact, some positions are simply “outside the tent”. Do you really believe that there are no red lines that should not be crossed?<br />
<br />
One example; The Jewish Voice for Peace, (JVP), which was a co-presenter of Rachel, is not a supporter of Israel by any criteria. <br />
<br />
The JVP lobbies for elimination of US aid to Israel<br />
<br />
The JVP demonstrates at anti-Israel events, often with signs that say “Kill the Jews”. <br />
<br />
The JVP is the Jewish arm of ISM, a radical, anti-Israel organization that recruits westerners to travel to Israel to obstruct Israeli security operations, and justifies Palestinian terrorism against Israeli civilians<br />
<br />
The JVP believes that the occupation of Arab lands applies to all of Israel<br />
<br />
The JVP believes that any attempt by Israel to defend itself is simply a perpetuation of an unjust occupation<br />
<br />
The JVP believes that the only obstacle to peace is Israel <br />
<br />
Your statement supports the false belief that all those who debate these issues have “commonalities” including support for Israel. The commonalities to which you refer simply do not exist, and it is time to stop trying to fit this into a neat gumbuya/we are all one formulation. <br />
<br />
Further, the “rancor and vitriol” to which you refer is a direct consequence of the support and legitimacy given to the SFJFF by not declaring clearly that you will not support financially or in any other way groups that demonize Israel and work against the survival of the Jewish state. <br />
<br />
It is time for the Federation to cease and desist from giving any kind of legitimacy to those whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state. Organizations such as ISM and JVP must be held accountable, not subsumed under the rubric of “commonalities” <br />
<br />
JVP (and other organizations that the film festival courts and collaborates with) is not a part of our “one community”. It is, in fact, a disgrace to our community, and this needs to be made clear in a forthright manner. And lest you believe that you need to be diplomatic to avoid antagonizing your donors, I can assure you that JVP acolytes will not be among the donors to Federation. <br />
<br />
Your challenge now is to do those things required to prevent losing a large segment of the pro-Israel community from your donor rolls. Many Jews, unhappy with your actions regarding the SFJFF, have already decided to earmark their contributions and give directly to selected organizations outside of the Federation banner. <br />
<br />
You certainly are aware of the problem. By now, you know that the Jewish Film Festival expects that your objections regarding the Cindy Corrie invitation are meaningless; they will do as they wish. It is time for Federation to make a simple declaration that you will not support, financially or otherwise, any individual, organization or event that supports boycott, divestment, sanctions or delegitimization of Israel.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-46399983797570632652009-09-24T17:46:00.000-07:002009-09-24T17:49:31.697-07:00The Video; SFJFF Exposed ; Action NeededThe video highlighted in the post from Ploni Ben-Ploni has been creating a major sensation. Both Federations, who have provided financial support to the SFJFF, are considering statements regarding future support. Prior to the video, many within the Federation communities had hoped that this would die down, but such is not to be. The SFJFF will have a statement out next week (more on that later)<br />
<br />
This is a story with implications far beyond the Bay area. Should Jewish organizations be funding propaganda designed to destroy Israel via boycotts, divestment, sanctions, and incitement (right out of the Julius Streicher playbook?)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A Call to Action</span><br />
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This issue has some urgency. By virtue of its ongoing support of the Film Festival, the Jewish Federation continues to lend legitimacy to the extreme anti-Israel groups that co-presented or provided other means of support to the Corrie event. <br />
<br />
These include Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the Rachel Corrie Foundation (RCF), and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) <br />
<br />
The damage caused by the Jewish Federation's granting of respectability to these extreme organizations can only be undone when the Federation unambiguously states that it will not support organizations or events that demonize Israel or that collaborate with those who call for divestment, boycotts, sanctions against Israel or banning aid to Israel. <br />
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We all have the responsibility to speak up when we realize that our donations to the Jewish Federation are being misallocated. The Jewish Federation is an important institution in our community and it is vital that the Federation remains true to its mission. <br />
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<b>Contact:</b><br />
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* The San Francisco Jewish Community Federation: <br />
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Jim Koshland, President - jimk@sfjcf.org <br />
Jennifer Gorovitz, Acting CEO - Jenniferg@sfjcf.org<br />
Rabbi Doug Kahn, Exec Dir JCRC - dkahn@jcrc.org <br />
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* The East Bay Jewish Federation: Rabbi James Brandt CEO - James@jfed.org <br />
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<b>Tell them:</b><br />
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The Federation that you fund should never support events or organizations that advocate boycotts, divestment, sanctions against Israel or banning aid to Israel, and it shouldn't collaborate with those who do. <br />
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We can continue to donate to the Federation only when it stops its involvement with the SF Jewish Film Festival (and any other such events or organizations that defame and demonize Israel or Jews).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-60062317806774022452009-09-23T16:07:00.000-07:002009-09-23T16:13:57.151-07:00Shocking video: the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - Exposed<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='sans-serif'>This two-part short film about the 2009 SF Jewish Film Festival speaks more eloquently than a 100 blog posts about what is wrong with the Film Festival and how important it is that organized Jewish community act to ensure that something like this never happens again under Federation auspices.<br/></font><p align='center'><font face='sans-serif'><br/></font></p><div class='youtube-video'><object height='355' width='425'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/6c-GYSO12pQ&feature=youtube_gdata'> </param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'> </param><embed height='355' width='425' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/6c-GYSO12pQ&feature=youtube_gdata' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent'> </embed> </object></div>San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - Exposed (Part 1)<br/><br/><br/><div class='youtube-video'><object height='355' width='425'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/rPLQ24snNpQ&feature=youtube_gdata'> </param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'> </param><embed height='355' width='425' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/rPLQ24snNpQ&feature=youtube_gdata' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent'> </embed> </object></div>San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - Exposed (Part 2)<br/><br/><p>There are many shocking moments in this film. To my mind, perhaps the most obscene is the treatment of the sole pro-Israel questioner, who was jeered, manhandled and bullied as he tried to, as some are fond of saying, speak truth to power.<br/></p><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=90efb72b-ce24-8d44-b975-b2666b5a2d12' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-81965505234217864122009-09-18T16:30:00.000-07:002009-09-18T16:30:00.113-07:00The Sokatch SagaAs we all know, Dan Sokatch and The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco have parted ways. Mr. Sokatch is leaving and taking a position as CEO of the New Israel Fund. <br />
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Many questions are being asked. Did this have anything to do with the Film Festival fiasco? Or with other controversial matters? Is he leaving of his own volition or was he pushed?. <br />
<br />
After talking to several people and connecting the dots, here is my assessment of what has happened. <br />
<br />
Dan Sokatch is a young, capable, and idealistic man who once studied for the rabbinate, but switched to public advocacy and administration where he thought he could be more effective. <br />
<br />
Sokatch founded the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) about a decade ago as a vehicle to “bring the Jewish community into the 21st century” Sokatch can best be situated among those Jews who believe that social justice should be the central organizing principle of American Jewry. And with the PJA he was able to realize many of his core passions. <br />
<br />
A little over a year ago, the SF Federation was seeking a new Executive Director. Three features hovered over Federations background that helped color subsequent events <br />
<br />
First, donations had been steadily declining, from a peak of 17 thousand families to al little under 11 thousand, in a community of 250,000 Jews. Some way need to be found to turn this around. <br />
<br />
Secondly, for the past 20 plus years the San Francisco Federation had developed a reputation as being more left-leaning than comparable Federations in other cities. Some of their allocations went to organizations of the sort that more likely to be supported by the New Israel Fund. Further, the commitment to Israel had been declining, much to the dismay of other Federations around the country, . <br />
<br />
Despite this, progressive Jews in the Bay area were suspicious of Federation as being too “old guard”, too committed to Israel with a reluctance to criticize the Jewish state, and demonstrating a long-standing failure to address their concerns. In fact, Federation has always sought consensus and tried to meet the needs of the entire community. <br />
<br />
It made some kind of sense to think that someone like Sokatch would be comfortable with the changing philosophy of Federation, would allay the suspicions of the progressive community, and would lead to the involvement of significant numbers of progressives, both financially and personally. And so the job was his. <br />
<br />
Sokatch was welcomed into the Federation family with much enthusiasm. Universally, there was good feeling about the hire. But there were two red flags that were ignored.<br />
<br />
First, it is never prudent to have a broad based organization like the Federation run by a political operative who represents only one part of the political spectrum. Sokatch’s background was clearly in liberal advocacy, albeit in a Jewish context. When a Federation CEO is not identified with a political bias, the various members of the Jewish community can each project their own personal beliefs and values onto the director. <br />
<br />
Secondly, and more specifically, prior to his hiring he had been involved in the founding of J Street, and was on their advisory board. J Street is a progressive political group founded as a vehicle to challenge the strong political support for Israel that had been nurtured for many years by such organizations as AIPAC. In addition, J Street viewed itself as the Jewish cheerleaders for Barack Obama. When the President wanted to lean on Israel, J Street gave them cover within the Jewish community. <br />
<br />
While mainstream Jewish activist groups had used their clout to lobby on behalf of the American-Israel relationship in such areas as foreign aid and Iran sanctions, J Street took contrary positions However, for the leaders at the SF Federation, wishful thinking trumped any real consideration that this might be a problem. It was accepted at face value when J Street labeled itself as pro-Israel, despite the fact that it was perceived by many as an alternative to AIPAC, an organization that represents the entire spectrum of pro-Israel orientation. Further, J Street had been organized by persons who had marginal commitments to the welfare of Israel. . <br />
<br />
Over the past year, a number of things have happened that caused tension between Sokatch and the lay leaders of Federation. <br />
<br />
The first, and the most important of these, was the community-wide outrage at the actions of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF). The festival, under the directorship of Peter Stein, has had a history of showing films that were often considered anti-Israel, and has come under heavily criticism for this. But this year, criticism reached a fever pitch with the decision to show the film “Rachel”. This is a political polemic designed to enhance the martyrdom of Rachel Corrie, a young woman accidently killed by a bulldozer while attempting to stop the IDF from destroying a home in Gaza that was protecting smuggling tunnels. <br />
<br />
The problem was magnified by the fact that the festival arranged to have the Jewish Voice for Peace, an outspoken anti-Israel group, and the American Friends Service Committee, as cosponsors<br />
<br />
To compound this, the film festival showed a second film, “Defamation”, which mocked concerns about anti-Semitism, ridiculed the Anti-defamation league and Abe Foxman, trivialized the Holocaust, and lionized such figures as Norman Finkelstein, Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer. The final blow was an invitation from the Film Festival to Cindy Corrie, mother of Rachel and a propagandist for the International Solidarity Movement, a radical group with ties to Hamas. <br />
<br />
These poorly conceived decisions by the SFJFF sparked vigorous and broad based outrage, which quickly spread into the national media. . Since Federation was one of the financial sponsors, there was a call for them to defund the festival. Both Peter Stein and the Federation leadership responded to this controversy in a way that can only be described as tone-deaf. They insisted that this was simply an example of “diversity”, and defended the decisions of the SFJFF on\ the basis of catering to a broad range of opinions. <br />
<br />
Sokatch was placed in a difficult position. If he spoke out against the Festival, he would antagonize his progressive supporters. But if he failed to do, he risked alienating many of those who considered this to be a moral issue. <br />
<br />
Federation and its supporters were determined to hang tough. They were not going to give in to what they thought was simply one more group complaining with little cause about Federation. Further, they attempted to garner support for the film festival director, encouraging letter writing campaigns. One additional piece of support for Stein came when he was nominated for an award by the United Jewish Communities as a community “hero”. All indications are that the nomination originated from within the walls of Federation. <br />
<br />
The film festival critics were persistent, and criticism of Stein and the Festival board quickly evolved into a threat to boycott Federation. It appeared that Sokatch might replace Stein as the villain-in-chief. <br />
<br />
Secondly, the J Street connection rankled. AS the year went by, J Street was exposed as an anti-Israel lobby group despite their pro-Israel claims. They helped raise money for lawmakers who took critical positions on Israel, and they vocally opposed the Gaza war. The last straw for many came when it was revealed that J Street donors included individuals who had been associated with pro-Palestinian and pro-Iran groups, <br />
<br />
At the same time, Sokatch did not entirely sever his connections with J Street, and is slated to be a speaker at their convention in October. It almost seemed as if he were testing the limits of what was acceptable. <br />
<br />
Finally, significant donations from the progressive Jewish community did not materialize. Since this was one of the main reasons for his hire, this failure was not helpful. <br />
<br />
Despite the fact that there was tension, and that Sokatch became progressively more controversial, his leaving appears to be his own decision. The position as CEO of the New Israel Fund became available; he initially turned it down, but as things became more sticky, he accepted it. There is no reason to believe that he was pushed out,,and he is leaving with considerable good will.<br />
<br />
Dan Sokatch is a decent and highly capable person. He is sincere about his commitments, and believes strongly that he is doing the right thing for the future of American Jewry. However, I believe that there are significant problems with Sokatch’s thinking. <br />
<br />
The first has to do with his belief that social justice should be the core organizing principle for American Jewry. There is little dispute that social justice is an important component of Jewish thought and action. But if it is to be the central principle, then the question can be asked; why be Jewish? There are many secular organizations that do excellent work in the realm of social justice. And while we must be aware of and attend to social justice as an important feature of Judaism, there are other enduring features, such as religious belief, study of Torah and other texts, and a commitment to the existence of the Jewish state as part of our heritage. We are a diverse people, and not all Jews will be comfortable with all these roles. But without any of these things, and with only a strong commitment to social justice, why not simply join “Ethical Culture” or be active in the ACLU?.<br />
<br />
In addition, Sokatch appears to be a man who is unable to recognize that those who disagree with him on some matters are not all simply reacting reflexively and without thought in the name of support for outmoded policies There is reflexive uncritical thinking across the entire political spectrum, and brilliant ideas come from individuals of both the left and the right. If Dan Sokatch can absorb this, he will go far.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-41724704364470693272009-09-15T16:19:00.000-07:002009-09-15T16:26:09.416-07:00JTA blog: "Sokatch not pushed", but was offered new gig 4 months ago and declined<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='sans-serif'>Jacob Berkman at the JTA <a href='http://blogs.jta.org/philanthropy/article/2009/09/15/1007897/source-sokatch-was-not-pushed-out'>Fundermentalist</a> blog claims that Sokatch was not pushed out but goes on to say<br/></font><blockquote>Sokatch, according to insiders, found himself in the middle of a few major controversies in San Francisco, including the <a href='http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39342/rachel-inferno-gets-even-hotter-for-s.f.-festival/'>heated debate</a> this past summer over the decision by organizers of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival to screen a movie about Rachel Corrie, the pro-Palestinian activist who was killed when she lay down in front of an Israeli bulldozer as it was about to raze a Palestinian house. Several foundations were outraged by the decision and then pushed to the brink when the film festival decided to invite Corrie’s mother to speak.<br/><br/><p>Sokatch had to put out a fire between a hyper liberal San Francisco Jewish populous and major foundations that were upset with the film festival. In the end, he publicly said that he thought the festival should have invited a wider range of speakers, not just Corrie’s mother.</p><p>He later irked some of the community’s more conservative factions by agreeing to speak at the upcoming conference of J Street, a new organization that has lobbied for U.S pressure on Israel (and the Palestinians) and criticized Israel's invasion of Gaza.</p></blockquote><br/>and adds<br/><blockquote><p>Sokatch, according to one insider very close to the situation, was offered the NIF job four months ago and turned it down. But only recently had a change of heart.</p><p>We’ll see if this version of the story holds as more people weigh in over the next day or so.</p></blockquote><br/>Yup.<br/><br/>In any case, good riddance!</div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-76920748105300147742009-09-15T15:52:00.000-07:002009-09-15T15:53:19.994-07:00Breaking: Sokatch out at Federation!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='sans-serif'>Has the SFJFF fiasco claimed its first victim? Daniel "<a href='http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Daniel_J._Sokatch'>J Street</a>" Sokatch is out </font>at the Federation. It will be interesting to learn if he jumped, or if he was pushed.<br/><br/>Here's the email from Federation prez Koshland and from Sokatch regarding the departure:<br/><blockquote>From: Jim Koshland <JimK@sfjcf.org><br/>Date: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 3:19 PM<br/>Subject: Important letters from Daniel and me<br/><br/><div align='left' lang='en-us' dir='ltr'><font face='Arial' size='2'><span>Dear Agency <font face='sans-serif'>Presidents</font> and Executives,</span></font><br/><br/><span><font face='Arial' size='2'>It is with real regret that <span> I announce today that </span>the <span>Officers of the Federation have </span>accepted Daniel Sokatch’s resignation. Daniel is to become the leader of the New Israel Fund, allowing him to have a global impact at this most critical juncture in Israel’s history.<br/><br/>We have dearly appreciated the leadership and vision that Daniel brought to the Federation, and take great comfort in knowing that we’ve accomplished so much in such a relatively short time. Among these myriad achievements: We raised more than $22 million from the community—no mean feat in these difficult and challenging economic times; our Endowment Committee provided crucial funding to fill the gap where the need was greatest; and, we launched the JCF Catalyst, which not only provided emergency funds to the neediest in our community, but also strengthened our synagogues and began the innovative series of projects that take us into the future with optimism and an abiding spirit of hope. From a more international perspective, our Federation, Endowment Funds and Supporting Foundations sent more than $160 million toward important and deserving projects in our local community and throughout the world.<br/><br/>We are pleased to announce that the able and talented Jennifer Gorovitz, who has been with the Federation for five years—most recently as Chief of Staff—will become Acting CEO. Prior to her already distinguished tenure at JCF, Jennifer practiced law for a decade and is a first-rate manager and leader. She has our confidence and trust; we look forward to working with her. We welcome her and wish her very good luck, indeed.<br/><br/>Please also join me in thanking Daniel Sokatch and wishing him the best of luck in his new position.<span> Please see his letter to the community below. </span><br/><br/>Sincerely,<br/><br/><p><font face='Arial'><font size='2'>Jim Koshland, President</font></font></p></font></span><span> </span></div><div align='left' lang='en-us' dir='ltr'><span><font face='Arial' size='2'>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></span></div><div align='left' lang='en-us' dir='ltr'><br/><font face='Tahoma'><font size='2'><font face='Arial'><span><font face='Tahoma'>Enclosed please find important announcement letters from Daniel and myself.</font> </span><span> </span></font></font></font><br/></div><span><font face='Arial' size='2'> </font></span><font face='Arial' size='2'>Dear Friends and Colleagues:</font><br/><br/><font face='Arial' size='2'>I am writing to let you know that I will be resigning my post as CEO of the JCF in order to assume the leadership of the New Israel Fund. This was not an easy decision for me, as I am genuinely sad to be leaving the Federation and its rich history of 100 years of <i>tikkun olam </i>and <i>tzedakah</i>, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead a global organization at a particularly critical time for Israel. </font><br/><br/><font face='Arial' size='2'>Still, I feel completely confident that I leave the organization in capable and passionate hands . I am so very proud of the Federation and all we have accomplished together over the past year. I take great pride in our mutual and committed efforts to accomplish our goal that the Federation—and our Jewish community—remain relevant, vibrant and dynamic in the 21st Century. It is my hope that our meaningful progress continue ever onward.</font><br/><br/><font face='Arial' size='2'>Thank you so much for sharing in this most-important and vital cause; you should all be justly proud. I will miss each and every one of you.</font><br/><br/><font face='Arial' size='2'>Sincerely, and with heartfelt appreciation,</font><br/><br/><font face='Arial' size='2'>Daniel Sokatch</font><br/></blockquote></div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-33000196022135547932009-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:002009-09-14T19:45:45.375-07:00Letter to Peter Stein from Tammy BenjaminDear Mr. Stein,<br />
<br />
I have just seen a recent e-solicitation of yours (forwarded below), extolling the virtues of independent Jewish films and exhorting members of the community who appreciate the value of such films to donate to the SFJFF. In your letter, you also indicate that one of the reasons you are asking donors "to step up" their donations now is that "our detractors are calling for us to be defunded," implying that your "detractors" are motivated by a desire to stifle independent Jewish films.<br />
<br />
As one of the many members of the Jewish community who has been calling for the SFJFF to be defunded, I would like to respond to your egregiously disingenuous solicitation. <br />
<br />
Far from a desire to stifle independent Jewish films, we are calling for the SFJFF to be defunded because of your disgraceful mishandling of the "Rachel" event. Permit me to remind you of why we feel this way:<br />
<br />
1) You refused to cancel the screening of "Rachel" and the talk by Cindy Corrie, despite the fact that many members of our community, including several Holocaust survivors, described how enormously hurtful and offensive this program would be to them and to the entire Jewish community. <br />
<br />
2) You refused to cancel the "Rachel" event, despite knowing that "Rachel" director Simone Bitton and Cindy Corrie had engaged in efforts to harm the Jewish State, including the following:<br />
Simone Bitton signed a petition in January of this year calling on the UN and EU to impose immediate sanctions against Israel.<br />
Cindy Corrie has called for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel, and she is closely allied with the International Solidarity Movement, a group which has aided and abetted Palestinian terror against Israel.<br />
The Rachel Corrie Foundation, which Cindy Corrie heads, promotes divestment and boycotts against Israel; attacks mainstream Jewish organizations such as AIPAC; and funds "Birthright Unplugged," which, according to the ADL, "counters the Taglit-Birthright Israel trips...providing a distinctly anti-Israel view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." <br />
<br />
3) You refused to disavow the Jewish Voice for Peace and American Friends Service Committee as co-presenters of the "Rachel" event, despite knowing of the numerous actions that both of these organizations have taken to harm the Jewish State and her supporters, including the following:<br />
JVP supports divestment, boycott and sanctions against Israel; engages in anti-Israel political lobbying; encourages Israeli youth to refuse to serve in the IDF; viciously attacks major Jewish organizations that combat anti-Semitism, such as the ADL, CAMERA, the American Jewish Committee, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Stand With Us; was a major sponsor of the virulently anti-Semitic Sabeel conference in 2007; and marched at an anti-Israel rally in San Francisco alongside groups holding banners calling for the destruction of the Jewish State. (Just recently the JVP issued a statement supporting the boycott of Israeli films celebrating Tel Aviv at the Toronto International Film Festival. I guess the JVP isn't keen on independent Jewish films, except those that demonize Israel).<br />
AFSC calls for and supports divestment, boycotts and sanctions against Israel, and the organization's Bay Area leadership -- including "Rabbi" Lynn Gottleib, co-director of Middle East Programing for AFSC Pacific Mountain Region and a member of the National Advisory Board of JVP -- has called for vandalizing Israeli products at local stores such as Trader Joe's.<br />
<br />
<br />
4) You refused to acknowledge that the "Rachel" event indeed turned out to be an unmitigated anti-Semitic, anti-Israel hatefest:<br />
The audience at the event was, overwhelmingly, virulently anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, and it included some of the most vicious enemies of the Jewish State in this country, such as ISM and SBM leaders Paul Larudee and Donna and Darlene Wallach, who openly support Hamas and work towards the destruction of Israel.<br />
<br />
Virulently anti-Israel organizations used the event as an opportunity to recruit new members from among festival attendees. <br />
Members of the audience behaved like hooligans and thugs, booing, hissing and heckling token pro-Israel speaker Mike Harris, perversely applauding the mention of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and cheering the mention of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's name. One person even yelled out "Seig Heil" twice during Harris' talk, each time accompanied by full Nazi salute.<br />
When JCRC board member Larry Goldberg attempted to ask the only question that was critical of the event, an SFJFF staff member tried to grab the microphone away from him. According to Goldberg's own account: "We wrestled for the microphone as a second member of the staff advanced on me. The crowd immediately started booing me and yelling as I struggled to keep my grip on the microphone. I could hear a woman's voice across the aisle yelling, 'Shut him up, shut him up.'" Goldberg concluded: "The afternoon was simply the worst experience for our community in many years."<br />
<br />
For these reasons, until you:<br />
publicly admit that the "Rachel" event was an egregious lapse in judgement on the part of you and the SFJFF board, and apologize to the Jewish community for the hurt and anguish you have caused in the community;<br />
produce and publicize a written policy statement indicating that you will never in the future show films or bring speakers that demonize Israel or her supporters;<br />
publicly repudiate JVP, AFSC and any other organization which seeks to harm the Jewish state or her supporters, and ensure that these groups will never be allowed to participate in future SFJFF events in any way;<br />
<br />
I will continue to:<br />
encourage the hundreds of people bcc'd on this email, and the thousands more who will read it on the internet, to withhold any and all financial support to the SFJFF, as well as to the Jewish organizations that fund the festival;<br />
call for your resignation and the resignation of the entire SFJFF board.<br />
<br />
What do you say, Mr. Stein? Will you do the right thing?<br />
<br />
Many of us look forward to your response.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Tammi BenjaminAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-6890956912163430082009-09-08T20:08:00.000-07:002009-09-08T20:23:19.849-07:00Disingenuous: Peter Stein, CEO of the SFJewish Film Festival<b>Disingenuous; –adjective</b><br />
<br />
1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere, cynical, or calculating<br />
2. Pretending to be unaware or unsophisticated; faux-naïf. <br />
3. Unaware or uninformed; naïve.<br />
<br />
Peter Stein has just sent out a fundraising letter on behalf of the SF Jewish Film Festival. I reprint it here; <br />
------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Dear <br />
<br />
What does independent film mean to you?<br />
<br />
If you answer the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, you’re not alone. Here’s why:<br />
<br />
SFJFF films explore themes that humanize the Jewish experience -stories<br />
of what it feels like to be a misunderstood bat mitzvah, of the process of learning to accept yourself for the size and shape that you are, of the delicate dynamics of a Holocaust survivor's family<br />
<br />
SFJFF films tell little-known Jewish stories- tales of Ethiopian Jews caught between tradition and assimilation, of a group of Jewish alumni from Newark who cared enough to restore their high school to its former glory, of how young Orthodox filmmakers document their experiences. <br />
<br />
‘SFJFF films entertain- stories of brazen and hilarious civil disobedience, spontaneous mid-life adventures and cutting-edge animation from Israel. <br />
<br />
SFJFF films ask challenging Jewish questions- whether idealism can make a difference in the Middle East conflict, of what solace can be found when a loved one is held captive, of the Jewish response to anti-Semitism.<br />
<br />
It is precisely for these reasons --- for being an arena for art, d\dialogue, and independent ideas, that SFJFF is renowned as a world leader. It is why we are able to attract the highest quality films and the respect of filmmakers.-.why we are the only Jewish film festival that the National Endowment for the Arts regularly supports. and why our audience is among the most discriminating. Unfortunately, it is also for these reasons that our critics are threatening to defund us. Today, more than ever, we must rely on people like you for support. <br />
<br />
If this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival left you feeling entertained, touched, intellectually, stimulated or positively moved, please take this moment to support us financially.<br />
<br />
Gifts from people like you make up 75% of our budget. Please reach deep and give all you can. Gifts can be made through our website- fest.sffiorg/about/membership or via the enclosed.<br />
<br />
With profound gratitude,<br />
<br />
Peter L. Stein<br />
Executive Director<br />
-------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Either Peter Stein doesn't get it, (or he gets it but assumes that his audience is too dense to get it)<br />
<br />
Does he really believe that these are the reasons why some are working to remove his funding? Those who wish to see him cut off from community funds base their commitment on deeply held principles, and not on the trivial reasons given by Mr. Stein. <br />
<br />
The film festival has always been free to do as it wishes artistically. However, when the films it shows cross the line into partisan politics, use dubious arguments, and rely on polemics, then the festival is no longer serving up art but rather is in the business of indoctrination. <br />
<br />
And when that indoctrination is contrary to the interests of the Jewish community and our core values, it is very appropriate to sit up, take notice, and work to fix the problem. <br />
<br />
To understand the real reasons for opposing funding for Peter Stein, all one needs to do is read through the offerings on <a href="http://sfjffwatch.blogspot.com/">SFJFF watch </a>, or read the articles by Jennifer Rubin, <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/self-loathing-at-the-san-francisco-jewish-film-festival/">Abraham Miller</a>, <a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35743">Ronald Radosh</a>, Jamie Glazov, David Hornik, and others. These writers have explained clearly why many of us wish to deny community dollars to Peter Stein and his questionable agenda. Stein would certainly be advised to educate himself on these issues; he owes the community no less. <br />
<br />
The film “Rachel”, directed by Simone Bitton, has a political agenda, and is fundamentally dishonest. It is designed to glamorize the work of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and to use an unfortunate young woman as a martyr to oppression of the Palestinians by Israel. Along with the accompanying visit by Rachel’s mother, who tours the country on behalf of ISM, it helps spread the gospel of hatred. <br />
<br />
Peter Stein invited Cindy Corrie, Rachel’s mother, to speak after the screening in San Francisco. Because of strong protests, Stein brought in Dr. Michael Harris, who was given five minutes before the screening to make the case against the film, and more importantly to give the appearance of fairness. As many predicted, the film attracted a disproportionate share of Israel bashers, who were there to worship Rachel and the ISM. As one would expect, Dr. Harris was booed, while the Iranian dictator Ahmadinejad was applauded. By contrast, Cindy Corrie answered softball questions for over an hour from an obsequious Peter Stein.<br />
<br />
Dr Abraham Miller has revealed the real agenda as follows; <br />
<br />
"the documentary tours film festivals along with Cindy Corrie, Rachel’s mother and a propagandist for the likes of Hamas and the International Solidarity Movement — groups committed to Israel’s destruction.<br />
Peter Stein, the festival’s director, knew exactly what he was doing in selecting this film. Stein was familiar with both Bitton’s work and her politics. He invited the American Friends Service Committee, now helping with the boycott of Israeli goods, to participate in the showing. Stein also had on his board Rachel Pfeffer, the interim director of Jewish Voice for Peace — a group committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. (Since Rachel Pfeiffer’s outing as JVP director, her biography on the festival web site has been thoroughly cleansed.)"<br />
<br />
The other problematic film, “Defamation”, is in many ways an even more dangerous film. It is a diatribe against Holocaust memorializing, and makes the fight against anti-Semitism seem like a small-minded endeavor, pursued by foolish and petty people. . It trivializes those concerned with these matters, depicting the ADL and its staff as buffoons, showing those Israelis who are concerned about the Holocaust as dinosaurs living in the past, and strongly suggesting that Yad Vashem exists to make Jews angry so that they will persecute Palestinians. <br />
<br />
The heroes of the film are John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, the two individuals who attacked the “Israel lobby”, indirectly raising issues of dual loyalty, and implying that it was impossible to have a rational discussion about Israel. (This is the same message given by Jimmy Carter, who schleps his book all over the country and has a forum wherever he wishes)<br />
<br />
Walt and Mearsheimer are portrayed as calm, rational academics, shown in serene book filled offices, working against the hysteria of those who uncritically support Israel. <br />
<br />
The film lionizes Norman Finkelstein, a man who once suggested that Elie Wiesel was the clown prince of the Holocaust and has written a book to the effect that the Holocaust is simply an "industry" rather than the central tragedy, physical and psychic, for Jews born in the 20th century. <br />
<br />
Finkelstein, though not a Holocaust denier, has become the darling of deniers, and of a gaggle of anti-Israel groups who love to hire him to speak at their functions (Speaking of an industry; Finkelstein is doing very well at this endeavor)<br />
<br />
Many of us grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust. The fears thereby engendered are not ancient history. We believe fervently in the survival of a Jewish state. We consider this to be a moral issue. And while those who work against that goal are free to have their beliefs, we are not obligated to have them promote those messages on our dime. <br />
<br />
The issue here was framed by <a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35743">Jamie Glazov </a>who asked:<br />
<br />
“Why is a Jewish film festival giving a platform to a documentary and to an individual that serve the cause of anti-Jewish hate?” <br />
<br />
Why indeed. And herein lies the real reasons why we believe the community should not fund the SFJFF, not the reasons given by the ever duplicitous Peter Stein.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-46616965677625788112009-09-08T18:13:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:17:04.807-07:00The Affection of the Wife Beater<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Many of the organizations devoted to demonizing to Israel claim to be motivated by concern. Their constant attacks are nothing more than an expression of love and a desire for improvement.<br/><br/>This is bunk. They are, in fact, the affection of the wife beater, who demonstrates his warm feelings for his mate with his fists.<br/><br/>We've recently seen how the SFJFF expresses its love for Israel: by sponsoring films and presentations by Israel-bashers and by facilitating a verbal pogrom against the Jewish state.<br/><br/>The SFJFF is not the only "pro-Israel" organization which can only hurt the one it loves. J Street, the anti-AIPAC lobby with which Federation CEO Daniel Sokatch is <a href='http://www.jstreet.org/page/whos-coming-j-street-conference'>associated</a>, has raised Israel-bashing as pro-Israel activism to a high art, as explained by Jennifer Rubin on Commentary's Contentions blog:<br/><br/><blockquote><h2 id='post-88551'><a href='http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/88551' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link to Myths?'>Myths?</a></h2><span class='author'><a style='color: rgb(130, 34, 38);' href='http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/category/contentions/contentions?author_name=rubin'>Jennifer Rubin</a></span> - <span class='time'> 09.08.2009 - 5:21 PM </span><div class='entry'> <p><a href='http://www.jstreet.org/page/j-street-myths-and-facts' target='_blank'>J Street</a> has apparently gotten so much flack about its perpetual criticism of Israel and cheerleading for every Palestinian propaganda point that the J Street team has been forced to come up with a “Myths and Facts About J Street” crib sheet. Let me just say that if a Jewish organization has to put out a statement denying that it is anti-Israel, pro–Mary Robinson, is funded mostly by Arabs, and has defended a nuclear-armed Iran, then they might as well pack it in. Suffice it to say, you don’t see the ADL or AIPAC or any other genuinely pro-Israel group in such a defensive crouch.</p> <p>Moreover, some of its “defenses” are rather, well, pathetic. Let’s take just two. On Mary Robinson, J Street says it never defended the choice of Mary Robinson for the Medal of Freedom Award. The “defense”? They were mute! Only their friends defended her. No, really:</p> <blockquote><p>J Street never issued a single statement related to Mary Robinson. Individuals associated with J Street’s public relations firm may have done some personal work on the issue — but that had nothing to do with J Street, just as the firm’s work for dozens of other clients is completely unrelated to J Street.</p></blockquote> <p>Wow, that sure settles that.</p> <p>Then there is Iran. J Street denies it has defended Iran’s nuclear program. Well, they haven’t defended it. They just don’t think we should, you know, do anything about it:</p> <blockquote><p>As of the early fall of 2009, we are not of the opinion that the time has come for Congress to move ahead with further sanctions. We agree with those who are calling for ’strategic patience’ at this moment of unrest and uncertainty in Iranian domestic politics and continue to urge Congress to give the diplomatic and political processes currently underway more time to unfold.</p></blockquote> <p>I think the mullahs are the one’s calling for more and more and more time to “unfold.”</p> <p>And so it goes: J Street doesn’t support U.S. negotiation with Hamas; it just thinks Hamas is too important to ignore:</p> <blockquote><p>Ultimately, a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will require Palestinian political reconciliation and we support efforts by third parties to achieve reconciliation and a unity government, whose officials will work within a diplomatic process to achieve an acceptable two-state solution. Further, we would not oppose a decision by the Israeli government, the United States, or other countries to find unofficial, indirect ways to engage Hamas in order to advance U.S. and Israeli interests.</p></blockquote> <p>Sort of easy to see how these “myths” take hold. It seems that crack team at J Street’s PR firm that defended Mary Robinson isn’t very good at its job. But then it has an impossible task—trying to convince the Jewish community that they really, deep down, support a strong and secure Jewish state.</p> </div></blockquote> <br/>It's time for the wife-beaters among us to fess up: they've got a problem, and their habit of taking it out on Israel is simultaneously ugly and psychologically revealing.</div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-16016935623179628782009-09-06T22:36:00.000-07:002009-09-06T23:03:47.762-07:00JPost: Aiding the Destroyers Among Us<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xes5KcYyykMIiaTdVd8Xx5I6DLCxGkTXSCLyiL_0qK2OVGqv4_ENpXbmOODOifMJxRvrrF3ieHEyIjCNWEbzdCKx77TcDv0tQNHbUxJC5GJe6nFjaIg7pO60vxQ-NK70vCTscbrpxJ2-/s1600-h/Corrie+and+Stein.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xes5KcYyykMIiaTdVd8Xx5I6DLCxGkTXSCLyiL_0qK2OVGqv4_ENpXbmOODOifMJxRvrrF3ieHEyIjCNWEbzdCKx77TcDv0tQNHbUxJC5GJe6nFjaIg7pO60vxQ-NK70vCTscbrpxJ2-/s320/Corrie+and+Stein.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378598341162980194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Really, Mrs. Corrie -- Israeli Jews make matzah</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">out of Palestinian babies? How interesting!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hmmm. Sound like a situation that we might be familiar with here?<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><p></p><blockquote><p>Israeli and Jewish Israel-bashers constitute a major, perhaps insuperable, obstacle to any attempt to defend Israel in the court of world opinion. Anyone attempting to defend Israel abroad will inevitably be confronted with some statement characterizing Israel as a racist, apartheid state, perpetrating war crimes against the Palestinians, from the mouth of an Israeli academic or journalist. The fact that the source is Jewish or Israeli is assumed to provide credibility.</p><p><b>Sadly, many Jews who care deeply about Israel's existence help fund its delegitimization.</b></p></blockquote></span>More here: <a href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804481169&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Printer">Think Again: Aiding the Destroyers Among Us</a>.Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-46511051621703487152009-09-05T12:13:00.000-07:002009-09-05T12:13:49.522-07:00Open Letter to Dan Sokatch, CEO SF Jewish Community FederationDear Mr. Sokatch;<br />
<br />
I am writing because I am disturbed at the direction that the Federation has taken in its support for the SFJFF, of Peter Stein, and of their programs.<br />
<br />
I will not recount the damage done by the screening of "Rachel" and of "Defamation", the use of Cindy Corrie, the sponsorship by JVP, and the unfortunate use of language by you, as well as attempts to reframe the issue by Peter Stein. Others have gone over these issues in great depth.<br />
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To claim, as you have, that the SFJFF is independent and that you do not interfere in their programming may be technically true, but misses the point. This would be true de facto if no money from the Federation, or any other form of support, was given to them. However, as this is not the case, you are in part responsible for their actions and any harm that they do to our community. And this being America, you of course can do as you wish; you have only to accept the consequences.<br />
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It is certainly true that the SFJFF has done much good over the last 29 years, including reaching out to unaffiliated Jews. However, if they are not careful, all of the good done over 29 years will be annulled by a few bad choices. And I speak of really bad choices, not just films that are edgy or present a somewhat marginal point of view. <br />
<br />
If the festival selects films based on the politics of their director and executive committee, they have a responsibility to display caution and due diligence. Not every film that elicits opposition is automatically provocative and deserving of a "discussion". I doubt that we would agree to screen a film that defended the practice of lynching (Birth of a Nation), or glorified Hitler (Triumph of the Will). Would Peter Stein claim that these are wonderful films, with outstanding directors (as they were considered at the time), and though controversial, should provide food for thought?. There are some things that are simply beyond the pale, no matter how many persons may want to see them. . The fact that some may like these films is irrelevant; morality is what matters.<br />
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You have received many letters from Federation donors expressing their strong feelings, and their determination to withhold support from Federation. I understand you believe that the Federation can tap the pocketbooks of "progressive" Jews who have not previously been involved, thereby expanding your base of donors. Anyone who has been involved in community work, in politics, or in non-profit fundraising, knows that ignoring your base is always a mistake. I suspect that you will lose far more than you will gain from the few, if any, progressives who decide to support Federation.<br />
<br />
What to do? <br />
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First, you need to stop using buzz words like "diversity", or "depth of feelings and convictions", and start treating members of the community as adults. <br />
<br />
Secondly, you need to stop taking actions to defend and promote Peter Stein. Recently, the UJC recieved a nomination for Peter Stein as a community hero; there are strong reasons to believe that the nomination came from Federation. This, along with a letter writing campaign by staffers, must stop. Federation must not take sides in such a volatile dispute, especially when the side that you take is that of persons who do not wish our commuhnity well. <br />
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These issues are too important. Your choice of hanging tough rather than recognizing this as the serious crisis that it is serves no one. <br />
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I understand that you believe that this is just another instance of a sour dissident group unhappy with Federation, who are balanced by those who support the SFJFF. Let me assure you that those who are upset with your actions are thinking persons of substance, and that this is a much larger crisis than you seem to believe. It is one which you ignore at your peril. Pandering to our enemies (I am not overstating the case) will achieve a loss of respect for you personally, and ultimately a loss of dollars for Federation.<br />
<br />
Lawrence W. White MDAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-15665725030329078452009-09-05T11:35:00.000-07:002009-09-05T12:43:17.956-07:00Where is the Outrage; Hatred Comes to the Bay Area Jewish Community and it Comes From Some JewsI have lived in the Bay area since 1995. I have seen many instances of anti-Semitism coming from Jews, including demonstrations by members of Jewish Voice for Peace, Women in Black, and others, often in collaboration with Palestinian groups. I remember how some of these groups shut down a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu in Berkeley about eight years ago, and the claim by a Jewish leader of one of these organizations (MECA) that “not everyone deserved free speech”. I remember demonstrations in front of the Israel consulate which threatened to turn violent. I have read anti-Semitic diatribes in the pages of the Berkeley Daily Planet. <br />
<br />
But for the first time, the larger community has reacted vigorously to these outrages. The catalyst was the showing of the film “Rachel” by the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, and co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). The JVP has nothing to do with peace and is questionably Jewish; it has become an ostensibly Jewish mouthpiece for the allies of Hamas. Along with the showing of Rachel, Cindy Corrie, a flak for the International Solidarity Movement, was gently interviewed by Peter Stein, the Jewish film festival director. You will read below how that showing degenerated into a hate fest. <br />
<br />
Despite the clear outrage, the SFJFF believes that they simply started a dialogue about something with two presumably equally valid points of view. (By their reckoning, Birth of a Nation, which defended the Ku Klux Klan, or Triumph of the Will, which glorified Hitler, might also be merely controversial and deserving of discussion). The Jewish weekly, “J” ran a point-counterpoint spread presenting both sides of the argument (see Larry Goldberg’s article below). “J” saw no need or value in taking sides. The Film Festival, controlled by a director and board who are far left ideologues, has issued no apology and defend their actions on grounds of aesthetics and free speech (The film was a political polemic, not a well crafted documentary with aesthetic value)<br />
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And the Federation of SF? They are not taking sides either. Their new CEO comes from a progressive background, and is one of the founders of the far-left “J Street”. Presumably he does not wish to alienate his base. Perhaps he really believes that there is nothing wrong in showing propaganda put out by a pro-Hamas group. Perhaps he believes that progressive Jews who hate Israel will suddenly start giving money to the Federation.<br />
<br />
Federation’s minimal response consisted of carefully chosen non-committal words, along the lines of ‘Hey, not us. We have no control over what they do’ Well, never mind that the Federation gives partial funding to the SFJFF. And never mind that the community donates its dollars to that same Federation. And never mind that we expect some leadership on moral issues that affect our community. Is there not some reason to expect our leaders to express some judgment regarding this anti-Israel and anti-Semitic hate fest? Where is the outrage?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-78006451086358117402009-09-04T12:30:00.000-07:002009-09-05T12:37:18.705-07:00Memo to Peter Stein; SFJFF Screening for 2010<b>To: Peter Stein; <br />
From: Lawrence White; <br />
<br />
Subject; It is not too early to consider screening for next year. <br />
</b> <br />
<br />
I recommend that for 2010, SFJFF consider the film described below. There is no downside to doing this. <br />
<br />
Jewish Voice for Peace, which advocates talking to Hamas, will support it. The Corrie family, who spend a lot of time in Gaza, will love it. The ISM, active in hiding terrorists, will co-sponsor it along with Women in Black. This will serve to expand the ranks of our viewers, garner more controversy, more publicity, and more viewers. . <br />
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And for the rest of the Jews? Federation will not get involved, except to throw money raised from the community at us. They will tell us that SFJFF is an independent organization, they will not tell us what to screen, <br />
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A little discussion/dialogue within the community is a healthy thing, and this movie will certainly accomplish this. We need to get past bland pro-Israel programming and look at the issues that divide our community. These differences must be aired. Not everyone is pro-Israel, and we need to accept that we are American Jews, not Israeli Jews, and our concerns are different. <br />
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It is time to look at other voices. This film was made in Palestine. The director is a gifted young man educated in Germany. It has received applause and praise from viewers in Gaza. It will likely be shown at Cannes, <br />
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We have shown many films made in Israel. What's wrong with one film from Palestine? <br />
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Perhaps we can invite someone from CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood to discuss the movie in a Q and A led by you (Peter Stein) , (microphone to be carefully guarded so comments only from those who love the movie.) And oh yes, if those pesky Zionists make a lot of noise, we will let them have a few minutes before the film to air their tired grievances. (What's wrong with those people? Don't they have lives?) <br />
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See you at the movies. <br />
<br />
<br />
Hamas goes to the movies <br />
From The Independent<br />
By Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza<br />
<br />
The audience in the Gaza Strip clapped and cheered as the actor delivered the movie's most memorable line – "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God". <br />
Imad Aqel, which premiered at the weekend, is the first feature film produced by the Islamist Hamas movement and the title is the name of a Palestinian militant whom Israel held accountable for the deaths of 13 soldiers and settlers.<br />
Director of Hamas feature film hopes it will air at Cannes Film Festival<br />
ALEX SORIN and JPOST STAFF , THE JERUSALEM POST <br />
Hamas's first dramatic feature film depicting the life top Hamas operative Emad Akel was aired publicly on Monday to cheering crowds in the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported. <br />
The film's director Majid Jundiya who studied film in Germany said that he hopes the film will be shown in the Cannes Film Festival, and added that the film is one of Hamas's first attempts at breaking into the media industry. <br />
The film received applause and praise from the viewers in Gaza. <br />
The $200,000 budget movie tells the story of Emad Akel, commander of the Hamas military wing, who was killed in a firefight with Israeli troops in Gaza in 1993. <br />
Akel, 23 at the time, was known as "the ghost" for his many disguises, including dressing up as a Jewish settler with a skullcap. In the early 1990s, he topped Israel's wanted list for his suspected role in killing 11 IDF soldiers, an Israeli civilian and four Palestinian informers in a series of attack.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-10762600690213248412009-09-03T12:27:00.000-07:002009-09-05T12:42:27.078-07:00After the Stain, What is to be done?In 1915, D. W. Griffith presented "Birth of a Nation", a blockbuster film that presented a positive view of the Ku Klux Klan. The film was hailed for its pioneering innovative camera techniques, for its special effects and artistic techniques. It was widely viewed, breaking all existing box office records. Unfortunately, it was also dishonest. It claimed reconstruction was a disaster, that blacks could never be integrated, and that the Clan's violent actions were justified. The film was filled with fabrications, and lack of accuracy. More importantly, it promoted white supremacy and gave sustenance to American racism. It was the catalyst for riots in major American cities as gangs of whites attacked and murdered blacks. Despite this, President Woodrow Wilson described the film as "all so terribly true" Thus we saw the power of film to influence public policy and morality. <br />
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I suspect that in 1915 there were well-meaning folk who defended showing "Birth of a Nation" it on the grounds of esthetics, free speech, and the promotion of "healthy dialogue" around "divisive issues". The Cindy Corrie's and Peter Steins of the day undoubtedly claimed that the film promoted healthy dialogue and promoted social justice. <br />
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Fast forward to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF). As the French say, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, (the more things change, the more they remain the same). As most of my readers know, the festival chose to screen a documentary film about Rachel Corrie, a young member of the ISM who was accidentally killed after she chose to enter a war zone in which the Israeli army was operating to destroy the infrastructure hiding smuggling tunnels. In addition, the festival invited her bereaved mother, who has been on the lecture circuit preaching hatred, to come and talk about the film. Further the film is not subtle in its condemnation of Israel, presents no context to explain why Israel was destroying the tunnels, or how the ISM deliberately creates “martyrs”. Further, the film is directed by a person well-known for her anti-Israeli bias.<br />
<br />
Thus, a film that promotes a point of view both dishonest and dangerous, that uses the tragic death of a naïve and uninformed young woman to further an amoral agenda, has now been shown at a Jewish film festival. Like its predecessor of 1915, it is filled with fabrications, and like its predecessor, it is designed to provoke and inflame the darkest of passions. And the response was, predictably, a near riot resembling a gathering of brown-shirts in 1930s Germany. <br />
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I have previously written about the role of Peter Stein, director of the SFJFF, in this sordid affair. Stein’s presence at the helm of the festival has been the major problem. With more astute guidance, this blunder never would have occurred. <br />
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Let me be clear. Peter Stein is not an evil man. In fact, I believe that he is well-meaning. He is knowledgeable about the esthetics and the production of film. Unfortunately, Stein is out of his depth as director of the SFJFF. . He has not a clue about community and group dynamics, and lacks any understanding of the historical and sociological background of the films that he is screening or the audiences to whom he is presenting. He fails to appreciate how film can be used (and often misused or abused) as a polemical device, one that has been dangerous historically. And he is completely unsophisticated about the ethical and moral requirements of a civilized society<br />
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Screening this film, inviting Cindy Corrie, and appealing to an audience of anti-Israel folks, were all errors of judgment. And there were many individuals who warned him of these errors. Rather than examining the arguments on their merits, or engaging his critics, he chose to go into lockdown mode, trying to reframe the debate as an issue of free speech, or of esthetic freedom, or of healthy dialogue between different points of view. It never occurred to him that there are some points of view that are simply too abhorrent to be discussed.<br />
<br />
Quite apart from the message of hate, this has cast a serious cloud over the Jewish Film Festival. After all, it is the board and funders of this organization who selected Peter Stein and did little to guide him in the need for caution and circumspection <br />
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Consider the many mistakes he made. For starters, the selection of the film showed no ability to distinguish between a one-sided political polemic and a serious and informative film. To not understand that this is a propaganda piece designed to discredit the Jewish state, is to fail to be attuned to the needs of the Jewish community. <br />
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Secondly, Stein wrote a publicity piece about the film in which he took the inflammatory words of Jewish Voice for Peace and disseminated them as fact in order to promote the film. This material, presumably representing his own point of view, runs contrary to any concept of truth and justice. His positive statements about Rachel Corrie, and about the film director Simone Bitton, his claim that at worst Rachel was "perhaps naive", while on the other side there was an "inadequate military investigation", show an ignorance and bias inappropriate for the director or a major film festival. <br />
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Third, after the controversy erupted, he remained oblivious to the consequences of his insistence on showing the film, and of inviting Rachel Corrie’s mother, an activist representing forces of hatred and division. He demonstrated a willful ignorance of the moral implications of his actions. <br />
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Fourth, Stein refused to give serious consideration to the many admonitions from community leaders. Most advised against showing the film, and almost all advised against inviting Cindy Corrie. Stein stonewalled, claiming to be an honest broker in trying to promote a dialogue, and insisting that the show must go on. That this would become a hate filled event was no secret to those who warned Stein about the wisdom of showing the film and inviting Cindy Corrie. That he chose not to listen led to the predicted fiasco, one which might have been avoided.<br />
<br />
Fifth, Stein did not understand what was happening the night of the showing of the film. It is instructive to watch video of the presentation by Mike Harris prior to the film, to understand how completely this event was simply another hate fest. The people who treated Dr. Harris with rude jeers are reminiscent of the same people who shouted down Dan Pipes when he was in Berkeley and who prevented Benjamin Netanyahu from speaking to a group here a few years ago <br />
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Despite the one-sided display by much of the audience packed with Zionophobes, despite the hatred received by Dr. Harris as he attempted to give some balance to the film, Stein chose to lob softball questions at Cindy Corrie after the film, showing no thoughtfulness or reflection about what had just happened. <br />
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Finally, anyone can make errors of judgment. But after seeing unequivocal evidence of the error, Stein could not bring himself to acknowledge that he may have made a mistake and suggest positive steps to prevent a recurrence. <br />
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What Stein did say was the following;”This has become a lightning rod for a tremendous controversy: Is it appropriate for a Jewish film festival to screen a movie <i>critical of the Israeli government?</i>” (Italics added) <br />
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These few words show that either he is attempting to reframe the issue or totally fails to understand the problem. Changing the terms to "critical of the Israeli government", thereby treating it as a legitimate political debate, can best be labeled as "nice try" But he still doesn't get it. The movie is not about the point of view of the Israeli government (at the time of Corrie's death it was a left of center government). <br />
<br />
The movie glorifies a woman and organization that were dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state, not the replacement of the government. These are people who support organizations that glorify suicide bombers, and worship a man (Ahmadinejad) who has promised to commit a second Holocaust, <br />
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It cannot be ignored that a board member of the festival, Rachel Pfeffer, was the national director of Jewish Voice for Peace, and wrote a letter to "J" referring to the showing of the film as part of the film festival’s message of "social justice"<br />
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Let me be clear. Contrary to Stein's claims, this is neither an artistic nor a political issue. Neither is it a “teachable moment”. It can only be described as a moral issue. The pro-Corrie people support organizations that favor annihilation of the Jewish state. The other side seeks a lasting peace for all those living in the Middle East. What is there to debate?<br />
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I applaud Michael Harris for being willing to enter the belly of the beast and face the derision of modern day yahoos and ISM groupies, The hostile crowd might have become violent at any time. Dr. Harris’ words after the event bear repeating. As he put it <br />
<br />
"The question that this poses to the Film Festival, and its supporters and funders, is this: Is it appropriate programming for the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival if it attracts an audience that not only boos a pro-Israel speaker, but applauds not only at the mention of boycotts/divestment/sanctions against Israel but even worse, at the mention of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?" <br />
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That is the key question that should be addressed. Instead Peter Stein is still making excuses. <br />
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If the perpetrator is Peter Stein and those on his board and staff who supported him, the victim is the Jewish film festival. An annual event that ought to be grounds for celebration has been badly stained. Not every controversy merits discussion; a civilized society does not debate the pros and cons of racism, of slavery, of genocide. . Sometimes dialogue lends credibility to matters that should be kept under a rock. <br />
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Stein’s bad judgment and obstinacy have brought discredit to the SFJFF. The festival board, the Jewish community, the San Francisco and East Bay federations, the funders and the various organizations that support the festival need to ask themselves how they permitted this to happen and more importantly how they can rectify it to prevent any continued deterioration in the reputation of the film festival <br />
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An initial step would be to replace Peter Stein and consider changing the composition of the film festival boardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-34556430780640956102009-09-03T11:02:00.000-07:002009-09-03T11:06:55.064-07:00Peter Stein as a "hero" of the Jewish communityAs we all know, Peter Stein is the director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It was he who decided to screen "Rachel" and "Defamation". And he was the one who invited Cindy Corrie, mother of Rachel and supporter of ISM, to appear with the film "Rachel". <br />
<br />
Now there appears to be a desperate rogue operation to honor Peter Stein. The United Jewish Communities, the umbrella group for the various Federations as well as successor to the UJA, is running a competition for heroes within the community. This year, Peter Stein, director of the SFJFF has been nominated. <br />
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See http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/peter-l.-stein/<br />
(In response to demands from the community, by the time you read this the nomination may have been removed)<br />
<br />
On the UJC website, it appears that the nomination came from the East Bay Federation. However, the CEO of the EB Federation states they had nothing to do with the nomination, and indeed his other statements about the film festival confirm that. At this point, no one knows where the nomination came from. <br />
<br />
I was one of those who mistakenly sent out emails about this, that held the East Bay Federation responsible. This was based on the entry on the UJC website, as well as the funding for the film festival by both the East Bay and the SF Federations. Mea culpa, I apologize, The question now is how did this happen?<br />
<br />
Here is what the nomination says: <br />
"Peter L. Stein directs the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the oldest and largest Jewish film festival in the US. He has brought the festival through countless storms. Most recently, he stood his ground in introducing a controversial film, "Rachel," to the festival's audiences. Stein deserves to be celebrated because he sees the role of a Jewish community organization and its leader as grappling with the complexity of modern Jewish life, not circling the wagons in defense against it. Peter Stein has been a peacemaker. When the Jewish community was divided politically, as it often is, he has refused to take sides but has been willing to bring people -- and ideas -- together."<br />
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Can you believe this? <br />
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Stein and some of the powers within the SF Federation have been busy getting people to write letters in support of Stein, the film festival, and the Federation. (See recent issues of "J") So the question is, did some of these same supporters enter this nomination as a desperate measure, basically attempting to "make a purse out of a pig's ear", (pardon the metaphor), i.e. to turn a deteriorating situation into something brave and "heroic"? <br />
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Both Federations have known of this since last week, but as of this morning have not removed the nomination or tried to learn who was responsible. Some persons in the community suspect that one or both CEOs are trying to have it both ways. <br />
<br />
Federation is bleeding donors as a result. This is tragic, since with the exception of the film festival, the Federations do outstanding and important work. But the CEOs have mishandled this. Even though it appears to be a rogue operation, they have been slow to respond, raising further suspicions. Nothing will stop this except full candor and full disclosure.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-71575084020226245232009-09-03T10:44:00.000-07:002009-09-03T13:24:29.477-07:00SFJFF: Brutus, and Jewish Voice for Peace.In Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar” Mark Antony gives the famous "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" funeral oration. In this speech he repeatedly condemns Brutus, but each condemnation is followed by "But Brutus is an honorable man" implying that Brutus' actions are virtuous. <br />
<br />
As we all know, the now infamous showing of "Rachel" was cosponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). This organization routinely describes itself as a "supporter of Israel." This is the same distortion used by J Street. The formula is to take the most dangerous positions on Israel, then add "but we are pro-Israel" I refer to this as "the Brutus disclaimer".<br />
<br />
The words and actions of JVP show this to be grossly inaccurate. The JVP has been pushing for boycotts, sanctions, divestment, and withdrawal of US aid to Israel. This is a strange form of "support". The JVP regularly delegitimizes, demonizes, and slanders Israel. It makes common cause with Hamas. It provides a platform to avowed anti-Zionists and anti-Semites who wish for annihilation of the Jewish state. It routinely collaborates with the most extreme anti-Israel organizations, including ISM and ANSWER.<br />
<br />
By co-sponsoring Rachel with JVP, the film festival is collaborating with Israel haters. It is of interest that selections of persons to serve on the film festival board are not based on knowledge of film or of Jewish culture, but rather whether one has sufficient left wing credentials. Zionists are not allowed. <br />
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Funding by the San Francisco and the East Bay Jewish Federations provides the imprimatur of community support. In addition to a waste of our valuable dollars, they are thereby providing respectability and legitimacy. <br />
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Anyone who doubts the role of Federation should go to the following website; <br />
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http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/peter-l.-stein/<br />
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Surprised? Shocked? I was. I will have more to say on this. Stay tuned.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217769537044082352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-60380181549585867082009-08-07T09:50:00.000-07:002009-08-07T09:53:51.335-07:00A question for those circling the wagons<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='sans-serif'>Generally the members of the local Jewish bureaucracy cover for each other when one of their tribe comes under attack. </font>Most recently, we saw this in the case of the outrageous goings-on at UC Berkeley Hillel, where "community" organizations united to smear pro-Israel student activists and stick up for a clearly incompetent and wrong-headed Hillel leadership.<br/><br/>The reaction of the Jewish nomenklatura at 121 Steuart Street this time around is no different. They're sticking up for the SFJFF, with at most a head shaken sadly at the "mistake" of not better paving the way for communal acceptance of Israel-bashing at the Film Festival.<br/><br/>Here's an open letter from a pro-Israel activist calling out the head of the local JCRC, the self-styled experts in "community relations," on their egregious failure of leadership with regard to the SFJFF. It will be interesting to see how he responds.<br/><br/><blockquote><br/>Dear Doug,<br/><br/>As someone who has been quite vocal about her opposition to the “Rachel” event and the failure of Jewish communal leadership to properly address it, I would like to respond to your recent report (forwarded below) documenting the JCRC’s role in handling the event. Then, I would like to ask you a couple of questions.<br/><br/>Although the JCRC was not “a sponsor, endorser, funder or co-presenter of the Festival,” the organization you direct does play an important leadership role in the community. As you have noted in your report, JCRC is respected for the guidance it gives other Jewish agencies regarding controversial community issues. Therefore, having recognized early on that the “Rachel” event was an egregiously inappropriate SFJFF program that could do tremendous harm to the Jewish community, in your respected advisory capacity, I believe you should have advised Peter Stein to do the right and honorable thing, and cancel the event. Of course Mr. Stein did not have to take your advice, but for you not to have offered this advice and urged Stein to accept it, is, from the perspective of many of us in the Jewish community, a major failure of leadership.<br/><br/>In justifying your decision to not press the Festival leadership for the cancellation of the event, you offered a few reasons, chief among them the idea that canceling the film would backfire and lead to accusations of censorship. It seems to me this is an extremely disingenuous claim. For had the SFJFF wanted to show a Holocaust denial movie produced by an “Israeli” follower of Neturei Karta, invited David Irving to speak after the film and partnered with “Jewish Friends of Ahmadinejad” for the event’s promotion, I am certain you would have acted swiftly and decisively to have the event canceled, cries of “censorship” notwithstanding. Such an event would clearly have “crossed the line of Jewish legitimacy,” and been extremely destructive to our community. <br/><br/>So, too, if you thought the virulently anti-Israel “Rachel” event and the participation of organizations that vilify and demonize the Jewish State had “crossed the line of Jewish legitimacy” and would bring harm to our Jewish community, you would have ignored the accusation of censorship and pressed for the cancellation of the event. That you did not, suggests that, as distasteful as you found the “Rachel” event and its co-presenters, you still considered them to be acceptable within the “big tent” of our Jewish community. <br/><hr class='jump'/><br/>And therein lies the heart of the problem: I believe the vast majority of Jews in our community understand that this event and the organizations which promoted it indeed “crossed the line of Jewish legitimacy.” Furthermore, they see your unwillingness to articulate this truth as another major failure of Jewish leadership, one which has certainly backfired, bestowing legitimacy to an anti-Israel, anti-Semitic program, and the groups who promoted it.<br/><br/>I for one feel that if the virulently anti-Israel “Rachel” event is considered a legitimate form of expression in our community, and if organizations which demonize Israel and her supporters, such as the Jewish Voice for Peace (see below for the latest example of JVP’s disgraceful behavior), are considered legitimate in our community, then it is a Jewish community that I neither want to be part of, nor support. Moreover, you would be seriously mistaken if you were to think that my position represents a right-wing, pro-Israel fringe in our community; I truly believe that most Bay Area Jews feel as I do.<br/><br/>This recent controversy has demonstrated to many of us the need for a clearly articulated statement from our Jewish communal leaders about what constitutes legitimacy within our Jewish community. In this regard, I would like to ask you, as director of the JCRC, the following 2 questions, which I would be most grateful if you could answer:<br/><br/>1) Do you believe the “Rachel” event constituted a legitimate form of artistic expression within our Jewish community? <br/><br/>2) Do you believe the Jewish Voice for Peace is a legitimate organization within our Jewish community?<br/><br/>I and the hundreds of blind-copied individuals on this email, as well as the thousands of people to hom this email will be forwarded or who will read it on the internet, look forward to hearing your answers to these questions.<br/><br/>Thank you and Shabbat shalom.<br/><br/>Sincerely,<br/>Tammi Benjamin<br/><br/>August 3, 2009<br/><br/>-------------------<br/> <br/>BEHIND THE SCENES AT JCRC CXIII<br/><br/>A candid frequent briefing by Rabbi Doug Kahn,<br/>JCRC Executive Director,<br/>for Jewish Community Leadership<br/><br/>THE CONTROVERSY OVER “RACHEL” AT THE<br/>JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL AND THE ROLE OF JCRC IN RESPONSE –<br/>A SPECIAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES REPORT<br/><br/>Introduction<br/><br/>One of JCRC’s core functions is developing consensus within the organized Jewish community on issues of vital concern, and then representing those consensus views to the broader community. In carrying out this function, JCRC works closely with Jewish agencies and synagogues to assist them on sensitive community relations issues. JCRC’s expertise is called on regularly and routinely– by our Federations, JCCs, Hillels, cultural institutions, day schools, summer camps, synagogues and other valued institutions.<br/><br/>We are proud that agencies know that they can count on us for guidance at difficult times, and that they can trust that our goal is not publicity but achieving results – most often behind-the-scenes. Agencies also know that we respect the boundaries of decision-making – that the organizations we work with ultimately make and are responsible for their own decisions.<br/><br/>The “Rachel” film and event at this year’s Jewish Film Festival exposed a significant rift within our community and resulted in several hundred emails opposed to and in support of the JFF’s program. Several emails raised questions or made suggestions about the JCRC’s role in responding to the controversy. Because of the unprecedented community reaction to the Jewish Film Festival’s “Rachel” film and program, we thought it would be helpful to share with key community leadership this report on JCRC’s response to the controversy.<br/><br/>“Rachel” and the JCRC Response<br/><br/>This memo documents our efforts – largely in coordination with the Jewish Community Federation – to address the concerns around “Rachel.” It should be noted that JCRC was not a sponsor, endorser, funder or co-presenter of the Festival. It should also be noted that the Film Festival is no stranger to strong criticism over some of its selections in years past, including from JCRC, but this year the criticisms clearly reached a new decibel level. <br/><br/>1) Shortly after learning about this program, JCRC’s Executive Director Doug Kahn called Peter Stein, Executive Director of the Jewish Film Festival, to convey strong concerns about the program and to alert the Festival leadership that there would surely be significant criticism. <br/><br/>2) Extensive conversations with Peter Stein and Shana Penn (who subsequently resigned as President of the Board of the Film Festival) ensued. JCRC had significant concerns about the film itself. At the same time, because 1) we had not reviewed the film;2) it was clear that the Film Festival planned to proceed with the film; 3) efforts to press the Festival to cancel the film would backfire and lead to a major battle over claims of “censorship;” and 4) we believed that it was not the film in isolation but the film combined with the invitation to Cindy Corrie to speak that shifted the program into a more highly politicized event, we focused on the overall “Rachel” program. In the first J Weekly story on the controversy, Doug Kahn was quoted as saying that he had not seen the film but that he believed that inviting Cindy Corrie was a serious mistake. Throughout this period, JCRC worked closely with the Jewish Community Federation and the JCF of the Greater East Bay.<br/><br/>3) Conversations with the Festival confirmed the wisdom of focusing on the overall program. The Festival is an independent organization that is immersed in both the Jewish and the cultural arts community. It has prided itself on presenting a broad range of films that touch on the many aspects of Jewish life in Israel and throughout the world, sometimes critically and pro-actively. Based on our assessment of our community’s general openness to a big tent approach, including through the medium of film and artistic expression, and of what actions might be achievable, we proposed three specific steps to the Festival leadership. We believed that these proposed steps, consistent with our community’s longstanding support of responsible free expression, would help demonstrate that the Festival acknowledged and heard the legitimate criticism with respect to the construction of the “Rachel” program:<br/><br/>a. To offer an alternative viewpoint – one that would convey the extent of concern about the role of groups such as the International Solidarity Movement of which Rachel Corrie was a part; <br/><br/>b. To apologize for not fully appreciating how polarizing the program would be;<br/><br/>c. To acknowledge that lessons had been learned from this experience and that controversial programs would be addressed with much better care in the future. <br/><br/>4) To their credit, the Festival responded positively to all three suggestions, issuing a statement that explicitly addressed these points, and extending an invitation to Dr. Mike Harris, co-founder of San Francisco Voice for Israel, to speak before the film. Mike agreed to do so.<br/><br/>5) For the sharpest of critics, this action was deemed too little too late. We believe, however, that these steps were significant. <br/><br/>· Mike Harris made a forceful statement about the role of Palestinian terrorism and ISM in the conflict. Though some in the audience were offensive in their taunts and boos, Peter Stein made a strong call for civil discourse and returned to the microphone several times so that Dr. Harris could continue his statement.<br/> <br/>· The Festival acknowledged that it had learned important lessons. The biggest question is how the Film Festival will address controversial subjects in the future. In that regard, we are pleased that the Festival has asked JCRC along with the Federation to help convene meetings with key leaders to talk through the difficult issues that came to the surface this year and next steps. <br/><br/>6) JCRC played a critical role in persuading the JFF to respond to the criticism of “Rachel.” We could not have played that role effectively had we engaged in a public campaign aimed at forcing the Festival to do something that it was not about to do – cancel the film – or at encouraging community members to boycott the Festival. We are a fellow Jewish communal institution and we want the Film Festival to solicit our advice – as do dozens of other organizations in the community – on key community relations issues. And we want to and will work actively with the the Festival leadership to address programs on controversial issues with much greater care in the future – something that they have already committed to doing. <br/><br/>7) As an organization that promotes civil discourse in our community, we are concerned that too many communications on the subject of the Festival went way beyond the boundaries of civil discourse. As lines are sharply drawn and polarization increases, such communications not only detract from otherwise legitimate criticisms but make it harder to really accomplish the changes that we seek. JCRC is committed to every reasonable effort to protect civil discourse – including vigorous but respectful disagreement. The Festival is an important institution within our community. It does remarkable outreach work and has earned an international reputation as a serious film festival. At the same time, it can do much better in being sensitive to and responsive to our community. And we can elevate the level of civil discourse in our community -- even on issues about which we are so passionate. <br/><br/>8) This entire chapter in our community’s life demonstrates something that JCRC has been observing for some time – that we are in a period of increased polarization and heated passionate debate. From booing by individuals during Mike Harris’s comments, to calls to withhold funds from the Federation even though Federation is not and cannot be responsible for JFF’s individual programming decisions, passions exploded. As we move beyond this year’s Festival, the hard work ahead remains. Our community relations work – including our efforts to expand civil discourse and our broad-based Israel advocacy efforts – has never been more important.<br/><br/>Rabbi Doug Kahn<br/>Executive Director, JCRC<br/>121 Steuart Street, Suite 301<br/>San Francisco, CA 94105 <br/><br/>JCRC: Pursuing a Just Society and Secure Jewish Future<br/><br/>The JVP fundraising email that Tammi refers to may be found <a href='http://jffjustthefacts.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/jvp-fundraising-email-regarding-the-sfjff-corrie-event/'>here</a>.</blockquote></div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-11108355031238730362009-08-07T09:12:00.000-07:002009-08-07T10:54:14.342-07:00Jennifer Rubin: Repercussions of Bay Area Outrage<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;">Daniel <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Daniel_J._Sokatch">"J Street'</a> Sokatch and Peter Stein appear to have bitten off a bit more than they can chew. Here's another piece by the formidable Jennifer Rubin about the fallout from SFJFF </span>anti-Israel fiasco:<br /><blockquote><h2 id="post-75612"><a title="Permanent Link to Repercussions of Bay Area Outrage" rel="bookmark" href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/75612">Repercussions of Bay Area Outrage</a></h2> <span class="author"><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/category/contentions/contentions?author_name=rubin" style="color: rgb(130, 34, 38);">Jennifer Rubin</a></span> - <span class="time"> 08.07.2009 - 8:25 AM </span> <div class="entry"> <p><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/75051">On Sunday</a> <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/index.php/rubin/75051"> </a>I wrote about the San Francisco Jewish Federation–sponsored Jewish Film Festival, which featured the Palestinian propaganda film <em>Rachel</em> and descended into a display of anti-Israel venom. If the letters to the editor in this week’s <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39449/letters29/">JWeekly.com </a>are any indication, there are plenty of very upset Jews in the Bay Area. One writes:</p> <blockquote dir="ltr"><p>Many people think that the recent showing of “Rachel” at the SFJFF was meant to stir controversy in the Jewish community over Israeli policy. It has accomplished more than that. Some people wanted to see the film for what it was and did not anticipate the repercussions; i.e. the intolerable rudeness toward Dr. Mike Harris and the stomping out of his opposing point of view. They thought that Cindy Corrie’s presence would add credibility to the film, not knowing that she is a pro-Palestinian propagandist who was photographed smiling next to Arafat.</p> <p>Some other accomplishments were:</p> <p>1. That changes will be made on the SFJFF board;</p> <p>2. That people are annoyed with what seems to be spinelessness in Jewish leadership;</p> <p>3. That a major contradiction is “free speech” and discussion are for some, but not for others — an issue to be examined;</p> <p>4. That there are “peaceniks” who have disdain for any peace, but instead, behave like violent thugs.</p> <p>It’s an accomplishment that the broader Jewish “community” has woken up here and elsewhere in the States and world.</p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Another writes:</p> <blockquote dir="ltr"><p>In donating to the federation I trusted and empowered a group to manage my contribution in a responsible way. They agreed to use proper judgment with any investment. The federation has no right to use diversity as an excuse to justify their support of predictable behavior similar to Hamas or KKK as demonstrated by some anti-Israel organizations.</p> <p>Holding an anti-Israel, hate-fest film festival with our federation donations is not what I would consider Jewish behavior. Nevertheless, the film festival has the right to screen any film or invite Cindy Corrie to be a speaker — all of which I strongly oppose.</p> <p>Following several failed attempts to influence the federation to reconsider their position and instead apply good judgment and leadership, I finally understood that they have deliberated, considered all sides carefully and made a final decision. One which, with my minimal wisdom, I cannot support.</p> <p>I had no choice but to stop all my donations to the federation. I will be redirecting my funds, as well as additional money, to pro-Israel groups who demonstrate better judgment and have no difficulties leading.</p></blockquote> <p>And Natan Nestel writes of the federation:</p> <blockquote dir="ltr"><p>Federation CEO Daniel Sokatch camouflages the Federation’s failure to oppose the incessant ideological assault on Israel by invoking buzzwords like “diversity” and “depth of feelings and convictions.” He ducks the real issue — how best to counter extremists, their propaganda and their political machinations.</p> <p>The anti-Zionist crowd cheered Ahmadinejad, anti-Israel boycotts, divestment and sanctions and screamed “Sig Heil” — all with Federation (your) funds and its tacit approval.</p> <p>This “debate” is about life-and-death issues regarding our brethren in Israel, not a local dispute with friendly disagreements. Sokatch’s failure to see that distinction is indeed disturbing; Federation leaders don’t seem to get it.</p> <p>Federation’s misguided effort to grant legitimacy to anti-Israel organizations must stop. Simply put, the Federation shouldn’t support organizations or events that promote anti-Israel venom and that collaborate with anti-Israel groups and individuals.</p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Perhaps the Jewish Film Festival and its federation sponsors misread their greater audience beyond the netroot film crowd. If so, some good may come of this horrendous lapse of judgment.</p> </div><br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br /></div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348713562339250009.post-41350486760294176082009-08-02T00:48:00.001-07:002009-08-02T00:48:50.946-07:00Mike's Place bombers attended a Rachel Corrie memorial<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>In late April 2003, two Muslim British citizens attacked the Mike's Place pub in Tel Aviv. One attacker's bomb exploded, which the second attacker's bomb failed to detonate. The result: three dead and more than 50 wounded.<br/><br/>What did the bombers do prior to the attack? They attended a <a href='http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=293354'>memorial service for Rachel Corrie</a>.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=c5cd610a-25ad-8a13-9303-eb11a2ed10bd' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Ploni Ben-Plonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291499439496467097noreply@blogger.com0